Chinese Buffet?!

Well, tomorrow I'm being forced to enjoy a nice family lunch at a Chinese buffet. Chinese food is known for it's bad reputation with oils and unhealthy foods.

I know the calories in these food are all very high and it's mostly fat and sodium, but does anyone have any tips to help me out at what options to avoid and what options to try?

What I do know: I'm definitely going to be picking up a plate of steamed vegetables and seafood if I see the chance. I'm going to avoid the sauces and beef for sure as well.

Thanks for any help you could provide me. I really need the confidence! XD

I'd say to avoid the beef.. enjoy the seafood and tofu if you can.  Eat a normal portion unless you end up eating a very small breakfast and lunch, then you can indulge a bit.  Maybe allow 800-950 calories for the dinner, since that's probably what it will be around.  Eat the fortune cookie (they're only about 45 calories usually), and enjoy some sauces, just go light on them, or get it on the side if you can.  Enjoy yourself, stick with a decent portion, and just eat light the rest of the day (don't starve yourself before dinner of course, just choose lighter foods).

You're going to do great- if you worry a bit, maybe ask your mom to help look out for you a bit.  Buffets are always hard (except soup plantation.. after the salad and a bowl of soup and a small cup of soft serve, I'm completely stuffed and popping out of my pants.. well not really), so if you have that support as well as your self motivation, you're going to be just fine!

I just went to Pick Up Stix tonight and had tofu and broccoli and brown rice.  I'm sure there's a lot of calories in the sauce, but it's more than worth it at probably around 600-800 calories!

Have fun!

Katesorad, I don't know how to thank you for all of the help you've just given me. I am really much more confident!

I forgot about the tofu, I'll definitely put some of that on my plate. I'm going to the buffet in the morning, so technically it would be like a brunch for me, not dinner though... I don't know if that would make it any easier. >e<;

I will try to enjoy myself as best as I can, I won't be afraid to try to fill up on the vegetables because they aren't too high is calories. I never really was too fond of sauces either though, so I guess I can live without them. XD

Thanks again for all of your help, you're advice is going to make a large difference in my buffet experience. C:

I'm glad I was a help!!  Just enjoy yourself and stay confident, you're doing great!  You should post in the thread what you enjoyed when you get back!  I love hearing about other people eating haha.. oh, diets :)

portion control.. don't eat more than one piece of anything and no more than 5 items

if you're having rice or noodles have about 2 bites of each

start with soup

there is often a salad bar... if there is, load up on a giant salad

sometimes there's sushi... go nuts on that

if there is anything steamed, go for it

the most important thing is portion control more than choosing specific things over other things because a lot of anything is gonna be too many calories

also drink lots of water and eat really slowly

for dessert there is usually fruit and jello... pretty low cal

diet soda will also fill you up

good luck!!

thin_girl, thanks for the extra advice. I have always had a problem with portion control and I'm hoping that any steamed seafood and vegetables would help me on that. XD;;

I'm not planning on have noodles or rice of any kind because at home I have enough of that, hehe.... I DO love sushi and will definitely take a few bits of those as well.

Thanks again to both of you for the help. I really feel confident today and will enjoy my meal so much more! ♥

...and KatesoRad, I will try to remember to post how I did back in here! This diet has been so much fun with calorie counting help!

Original Post by sakaeru:

 Chinese food is known for it's bad reputation with oils and unhealthy foods.

Well, I've been to China several times and the food there is mostly healthy, nutritious + contains plenty of vegetables and fresh ingredients. I think it is Americanised Chinese food (I'm making a guess - I've never been to the States) that may be unhealthy, not the real thing.

Original Post by thin_girl:

sometimes there's sushi... go nuts on that

Sushi is Japanese not Chinese...

I suggest using the chopsticks available to eat your meal with. It makes you eat more slowly and pay attention to your food instead of eating mindlessly.

Original Post by thin_girl:

portion control.. don't eat more than one piece of anything and no more than 5 items

if you're having rice or noodles have about 2 bites of each

WHAT?!

THAT'S INSANE! 5 pieces of food and 4 bites of rice?!? Good god, don't listen to that!

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Original Post by thin_girl:

sometimes there's sushi... go nuts on that

Sushi is Japanese not Chinese...

I suggest using the chopsticks available to eat your meal with. It makes you eat more slowly and pay attention to your food instead of eating mindlessly.

 umm... duhhh....

but a lot of chinese buffets have sushi

chinese buffets in general are not chinese... they don't eat like that in China [as an above poster said] and they often have things like fries and i've even seen some with pizza

Buffet doesn't have to equal over eating.  I have a few rules for myself depending on how I am feeling that day. One is I take a small scoop of whatever I want and then only eat half of that when I get to the table.  Another is I have a large salad with cold shrimp before I hit the hot bars (that is of course your buffet has the salad option on the cold bar). Sometimes I make myself have a bowl of broth with one wonton before I start grazing. And the last is 'enjoyment with moderation, one day won't ruin all the progress I have made'.  Moderation to me equal one trip to the buffet having whatever I want and then fruit for desert. Also just because its a buffet doesn't mean you have to have whats on the bars, I have been known to order steamed chicken and broccoli with the sauce on the side or anything else and they will make it for you but be aware some places will charge you for the special order AND the bar others just make a small portion and bring it to the table as part of the buffet price. I am an emotional/social eater so I typically pick whichever fits the situation and whom I with better.  I also lay a thick bed of rice on my plate before I put anything else on it, the rice acts like a sponge sucking up most of the sauces and oils and then I just don't eat the rice.

You'll do fine especially since your planning in advance.

Original Post by thin_girl:

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Original Post by thin_girl:

sometimes there's sushi... go nuts on that

Sushi is Japanese not Chinese...

I suggest using the chopsticks available to eat your meal with. It makes you eat more slowly and pay attention to your food instead of eating mindlessly.

 umm... duhhh....

 

but a lot of chinese buffets have sushi

chinese buffets in general are not chinese... they don't eat like that in China [as an above poster said] and they often have things like fries and i've even seen some with pizza

I was that poster.

I was just pointing that out, as it's not Chinese... the only Chinese buffets I have been to have only had Chinese food, but whatever.

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Original Post by thin_girl:

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Original Post by thin_girl:

sometimes there's sushi... go nuts on that

Sushi is Japanese not Chinese...

I suggest using the chopsticks available to eat your meal with. It makes you eat more slowly and pay attention to your food instead of eating mindlessly.

 umm... duhhh....

 

but a lot of chinese buffets have sushi

chinese buffets in general are not chinese... they don't eat like that in China [as an above poster said] and they often have things like fries and i've even seen some with pizza

I was that poster.

I was just pointing that out, as it's not Chinese... the only Chinese buffets I have been to have only had Chinese food, but whatever.

haha i just noticed you were the poster

it's actually kind funny that YOU said that Chinese food at a buffet isn't chinese and yet having sushi there is somehow a blow to their authenticity, and bravo to you on your intricate knowledge of asian culture in regards to one of the trendiest foods in america of recent history and educating us on the common sense fact that sushi is JAPANESE!! thank you soooo much!!  but whatever.

Because god forbid someone who's never been to the states NOT know everything there is to know about america's bastardization and trends using other culture's foods.

Anyway, I agree with jackattack that limiting yourself to 2 bites of anything is ridiculous... Personally, I like to start with steamed veggies, soup, a bit of white rice, and a small serving of my meat of choice. Stir-fried, not deep fried. I mix it with the rice to make it seem like more : )

A nice buffet will have healthy choices. Stir fried shrimp isn't too bad, the soups and veggies and steamed seafood is all good. Make most of your selections steamed and healthy, and then get a little of something you really want that maybe isn't so healthy. I mean, it's a family lunch : )

Original Post by minda_spk:

Because god forbid someone who's never been to the states NOT know everything there is to know about america's bastardization and trends using other culture's foods.

 

...what?

who doesn't know?

Original Post by minda_spk:

Because god forbid someone who's never been to the states NOT know everything there is to know about america's bastardization and trends using other culture's foods.

I honestly don't understand why anyone is mad. All I was doing was defending Chinese food when the OP said it was oily and unhealthy.

Calm down.

she didn't say chinese food is unhealthy

she said chinese BUFFET is unhealthy

her problem isn't that her family is taking a brunch trip to Shanghai and she's worried about the calories

her problem is she's restricting calories and her family is taking a trip to an AMERICAN CHINESE-BUFFET which is definitely oily and sugary and greasy and all of that

Original Post by sakaeru:

Chinese food is known for it's bad reputation with oils and unhealthy foods.

Hmm, certainly sounds like she mentioned all Chinese food here.

I didn't suggest she was going to China. Is it really that unrealistic that she might find an authentically Chinese restaurant/buffet in the US? Huh.

Original Post by thin_girl:

it's actually kind funny that YOU said that Chinese food at a buffet isn't chinese and yet having sushi there is somehow a blow to their authenticity, and bravo to you on your intricate knowledge of asian culture in regards to one of the trendiest foods in america of recent history and educating us on the common sense fact that sushi is JAPANESE!! thank you soooo much!!  but whatever.

 

I didn't say Chinese food at a buffet isn't Chinese, I said Americanised Chinese food may be unhealthy.

I also didn't point out that sushi was Japanese because I thought you didn't know, but because I thought it was odd to mention a Japanese food when the OP was asking about Chinese food... like I said previously, I had only attended Chinese buffets which served only Chinese food, not a mix of different cuisines.

Why you are so worked up about this, I have no idea.

Come on, everybody... I think people were communicating pretty clearly here.  When the OP talked about a Chinese buffet, it was pretty clear that she meant something I would call "internationalized" Chinese food.  I live in Spain, and the Chinese buffets here serve up those same loads of greasy food. And they also *gasp* serve sushi too.  Most Chinese buffets do. It's not about "knowing what Americans eat" or whatever.  Those sorts of Chinese buffets are the same the world over, and I think everybody knows what they're in for when they walk into one.

Real Chinese food? A different story.  But that's generally true of all cuisines.  You get bastardized versions everywhere-- and they tend to be the norm in most places.

I have trouble finding much good stuff at Chinese buffets, so I stick to anything that's steamed.  I like the soups, too.  Egg drop is nice and filling, and healthy if it's not too oily.

Isn't there a nice Vietnamese restaurant you and your family could go to instead? At least you would know more of what to expect. (profile says you are Vietnamese.) Just an idea.  Have fun with your family!