What is a good strategy for eating at a buffet?

[imported_Stew]

I've always wondered: What's the best way to get the most out of a buffet lunch?

Should you skip breakfast? In my experience, I haven't found that this works.

I want to get the most for my money, since I eat at the buffet so rarely.

 

[Kalvin00]

To quote the great John Pinette....


When you're at the buffet, don't be lookin'! You grab and move, grab and move!


Anyways though. Just eat. Enjoy.

 

[Tiamat]

no, dont skip meals. Your stomach is of finite size, so this is the limiting agent. If you skip meals you wont be able to cram more food into your stomach just because. Just eat as much as you can, bring a book for intercession, then eat when you are hungry again, assuming they dont kick you out.

 

[akshatp]

Dont try to eat to "get your moneys worth"

Eat until you are satisfied and full. Alot of people that go to buffets overeat and binge eat, just because they want to get "value for money"

They dont realize that by overeating they are stretching their stomach and putting unneeded junk in their body.

 

[everman]

Skip the bread and pasta, go for the expensive stuff like crab, lobster, prime rib.

 

[aloser]

1. Find Buffet
2. Find Table
3. Find Food
4. Find Plate
5. Fill Plate
6. Return to Table
7. Eat
8. ???
9. PROFIT

 

[meltdown75]

the first time up you just get whatever tickles your fancy or looks tasty, and the next time you really concentrate on what you liked the most.

i think i just sounded like the fattest fatty 2 x 4 in the world

 

[ultimatebob]

I'd eat a light breakfast to start with.

Go for an appetizer plate first, and then go for 2 or 3 heaping dinner plates worth of food depending on how hungry you are. Don't eat a lot of bread... that's a suckers move to get you filled up quickly. Make sure to make multiple trips to the seafood section and the carving stations, because that's where all the "good stuff" usually is! Don't let them off easy with those cheap to make chicken dishes... Go for the bacon wrapped shrimp and the prime rib, big man! Make sure to drink a diet Coke with all this, because it helps to ease the guilt and almost makes this feast seem healthy!

I'd recommend the cheesecake rather than ice cream for dessert, since the "ice cream" at a buffet is usually just frozen yogurt.

Make sure to plan two hours for nap time after eating all of this, since you certainly won't feel like going back to work afterword.

Anyway... That's how the "pros" do it, man. Eat like that twice a week, and you'll be ready for a second career in sumo wrestling in no time!

 

[Ricemarine]

Avoid the food with corn starch until the end. Also go for the more expensive foods first. Try not to drink unless you have to, and try and not get kicked out before your two hour time limit is up (or when they start looking at you after the two hours).

 

[theeedude]

If they have Salmon Lox, then it's easy, just eat a whole plate of that until you can't eat it anymore. Then move on to other things. That stuff is like $10+/lb at the store. Supposedly they put it there so you can make a bagel with it. Oh well. Tough cookies for them. Also, if they have Sushi, just eat the fish and throw away the rice. You can get your money's worth of Tuna that way

 

[savvy]

Bring a large bag/purse.

 

[FleshLight]

Avoid the food that's laden with carbs. If they have sushi, scrape off half the rice or something.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Dont try to eat to "get your moneys worth"

Eat until you are satisfied and full. Alot of people that go to buffets overeat and binge eat, just because they want to get "value for money"

They dont realize that by overeating they are stretching their stomach and putting unneeded junk in their body.

QFT. Eat healthy; there's no need to wreck yourself to save a few bucks.

 

[watdahel]

All the Chinese Buffet in Arizona serve pizza for crying out loud.

Anyway, I go for my favorites taking little bits of each. If you're unfamiliar with the menu then sampling is a good bet. Once I figure out what I like I try to go back 2 more times despite the weird looks the waitresses and maitre d' send my way. By the third plate I'm usually ready to explode. I hang tough and cleanse my pallete with a bowl of icecream. I save the fortune cookies last. Right before I leave I read my fortune and laugh. I drop a $1 tip and dash for the door.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: savvy
Bring a large bag/purse.

line it with saran wrap 1st

 

[mh47g]

Cheapass. Go there to enjoy yourself, not figure out how you can save a dollar or two.

 

[Ns1]

don't go to a buffet unless it's in vegas

 

[JJChicken]

eat slow. it ll allow you to eat more in the end. remember its a marathon not a sprint!!

 

[49erinnc]

Definitely don't skip breakfast but eat relatively light. And don't overlook a little salad on the buffet bar. A little salad at first is a good way help clear out the ol' pipes for what's about to follow. Just don't overdo it though because there's not much money value there. Then avoid as much bread/pasta as possible which are nothing but gut fillers. Go for the primo items on the bar and chew as much as possible. The finer you chew your food, the more you can pack into your stomach. Drink water instead of sugary soft drinks. Don't overload your plate because you tend to eat much faster that way. Get smaller portions and just make more trips to the bar.

 

[krunchykrome]

As one who eats at buffets two or three times a week for lunch, there are two things that help....Just go on a day when you're hungryand talk about lunch to your corowkers around 10am helps also.

 

[K1052]

and people wonder why we are a country of fatasses

 

[amdskip]

I'm hungry now, thanks. I had pizza buffet yesterday, it was pretty much amazing as it is always. It's a little local pizza joint, some of the best pizza ever!

 

[Jhill]

Here is some info here

http://forums.anandtech.com/me..._key=y&keyword1=buffet

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I'm hungry now, thanks. I had pizza buffet yesterday, it was pretty much amazing as it is always. It's a little local pizza joint, some of the best pizza ever!

Cici's pizza buffet?

 

[brtspears2]

I just go for the high value dollar items first. No rolls, no soup, no salads since this isn't the Olive Garden. In a typical casino buffet, I go straight for the crab legs and the rib roast.