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Chow down: Getting your fill at all-you-can-eat buffets

Posted Jan 03 2008, 04:16 PM by Karen Datko
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You've probably heard about the two big guys in Houma, La., who were charged extra at an all-you-can-eat buffet -- the waitress supposedly said, "Ya'll fat, and ya'll eat too much" -- and claimed they were banned from the place as well. Well, those guys couldn't hold a candle to Nick at Punny Money. We thank Clever Dude for directing us to Nick's side-splitting, belt-busting post, "Eat your money's worth at any all-you-can-eat buffet." Clever Dude also provides a link to getting the most from a side salad when Pizza Hut limits you to one bowl.

Buffets are great for people on a budget. But, Nick observes, "one major problem has plagued buffet-eaters throughout the ages: a few plates later and you can't eat any more." This problem will go belly up if you follow Nick's pre-meal, mealtime and post-meal tips. Forget about starving yourself earlier in the day. If you do that, "you'll usually find that your stomach can't handle the shock of going from 'help, need food' to '12 pounds of beef' just like that," Nick advises. Eat carbs to stimulate your appetite, don't forget to "clear the runway," and "break out the fat pants."

At the restaurant, eat meat, meat and more meat, and sip some water between trips to the buffet. On your fourth visit, you may now try other things. Then take a break, read a book, and rest up for the next go-round. Among the post-meal tips: Stay up for several hours before bedtime and drink water. "You know how your body is normally 70% water?" Nick writes. "After a buffet, it probably drops to about 12% water for a bit. Drink a glass or two of water to refill your body's liquid levels. It'll aid digestion too."

Comments

 

Nothing beats Olive Garden's all-u-can-eat soup, salad, and breadsticks lunch!  $5.95.  And a note to Emily...if your insurance company is weighing you and then raising your rates based on that, I think you should switch insurance companies.  Wow.

Since you can't take a "doggy bag" home at a buffett, how about sneaking your leftovers in a really big purse or backpack(just bring your own baggies or containers). Hey with the price of food these days why not, right!

OK, yes there is a lot of big people eating at these places, but there are also small thin people as well. It is all about choice of foods, you got your meat and you got your vegies, you choose what is good for you, then PIG OUT. I have a family of 6, 4 boys and my daughter.All thin people, but eat me out of house and home, all you can eat places are the way to go for us, but I make sure they eat the healthy food first, then eat what ever you want for the remainder of time we are there.

i go to chinese buffets 2x a month and i don't eat like there is no tommorow. common sense.. just sample a LITTLE bit of everything.. don't blame buffets because the people don't have self-control

I think dieting and budgeting is a personal thing.  I myself find it hard to resist the luscious desserts at the buffets.  I find that when i concentrate on spending less and getting more, leaving out the extra things we shouldn't eat, like snacks (high calorie, high carbs, high sodium), I can buy all the fresh fruits and veggies that I want.  Canned tomatos are actually better for us, except for the sodium(so find the low sodium.)  Using more of the tomatos and "good" grains and pastas help me to save and eat better.  What I don't have in the house I won't eat.  It's what works best for each individual that counts.

Actually when our boys were younger, we used to take them to all you can eat buffets all the time.  It was actually cheaper and the variety of food was amazing back then.  The buffets have gotten a lot cheaper as far as what you get but all in all it's probably the best bet for growing teenagers.

I live alone, and cooking vegetables means a lot of leftovers or a lot of throwaways from the fridge.  A buffet is a treat!  I get lots of fresh salad vegetables, then a plate of my favorite cooked vegetables.  I get a little more salt and oil than I would at home, but I don't do it often. (like I said, it's a treat!)  Most of the time I don't eat meat.  I'm not a vegetarian, but I'd rather leave room for the vegetables.  And dessert is a wonderful selection of fruits in portions I can eat without leaving stuff to throw away.  All in all, I think I get my money's worth when I go to the buffet at Ryan's

The only all you can eat buffet that I like is the all you can eat salad bar at Pizza Hut. I can stuff myself with veggies and fruit and not gain weight, plus it only costs $6.00. At the China Wall buffet in Concord, CA they charge too much for their soft drinks. Also, I won't go to the Todai Buffet Restaurant at the mall  since it costs $24.00 per person since they serve crab, etc.

buffet  bunch us fat fellas eating together

Buffets are great for people with many children-I have a set of triplets and on older son.  When we went to the buffet when my kids were very young they ate for free and later on just 75 cents x their age.  That was a great bargain for us, and they could choose various food items including chicken or steak.  If they didn't like something, they could get something else.  If they really liked something, they could get more.  They got their yummy ice cream with toppings, as well as their healthy fruits.  If it weren't for buffets, we would not get out, which is a welcome treat for me.

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