The definition of a buffet in the dictionary is this:
"a meal in which guests serve themselves/select from a variety of foods."
This selection can come from a restaurant meal or a dinner at home that you have been invited to or many bring meal items to. In either occassion, you have a "choice" to eat more or less ... healthy or unhealthy. The food is there and you have the ability to make choices that affect your fats, calories, sugars, etc.
Many say that the buffet is unhealthy, but I say that it is unhealthy if you try and eat it all ... lol ... or you eat the things that are not good for you. The buffet is actually a 'lay out' of many kinds of food prepared in many ways ... some saucy, some not, some fat laden, some not, some fried, some broiled/baked. It is all about choice and you are the chooser, you are in control, not the buffet.
So, I say all of this to say that when you attend a restaurant buffet, or a family reunion/ lots of food!, or just a relative's table ... you can make good choices and feel good that the variety of food was there for you to choose from in the right way. I choose the un-saucy ones, the brown rice, the baked, the less-sweet dessert (only a few bites) and the healthy bread if there, like wheat or sourdough. Most buffet's have steamed veggies, and baked/or grilled meats, so just scan the buffet horizon and look for the foods that will not blow up the day's allowance of reasonable calories.
Most adults need around 1,800 - 2,000 calories a day and if you have been good all day you can splurge a little, just make sure it is once a week and not a daily buffet grazing activity!!!
The humble family reunion is the hardest to get through because Mom's, Aunt's, etc., love to pack in the sugar, butter, etc. So, treat it as a 'tasting affair' ... try small portions of the things you want to taste and save room for a small serving of that lucious pie or cake sitting there tempting you. And Good Luck ... making the right choices when eating is not easy sometimes, but if you really want to do the right thing, you will choose to eat the right way for better overall health. After the buffet, just remember to try and get in a little stroll/walk before bedtime. The exercise helps your digestion and helps get those calories burned.
Words of Wisdom:
"The secret of the enjoyment of pleasure is to know when to stop."
"Doing the right thing will gratify some people and astonish the rest!"
Hope this finds us making the right choices when confronted with yummy food.
~ Kuran Anne ~ April 8, 2012 HAPPY EASTER.
