Logging Chinese Buffet dinner?

I went to a chinese buffet last night for my birthday, how many calories should i put down for that? I didn't get full so I didn't over eat but I don't know how to calculate it.

I would enter each dish you ate as a separate item.
You should be able to find most Chinese staple dishes in the food database.
Just do your best with estimating serving portions.
If you kept portions in check and made smart choices, you should be okay :)
(remember your sodium will obviously be high comparatively though :)

I hope you enjoyed!

MCDerin,
Volunteer Moderator

I've been photographing all my food before I eat it. Sounds a little odd, but it really helps remember what i had and how much of it. Cameraphones make this really easy!

Agreed on the logging the separate items.. it's the only way to do it... a chinese buffet dinner is entirely up to what you make of it. It can be 700 calories or 7000 calories.

the thing is i dont remember exactly what they were all called. i kinda know.

search for chinese food on google images. Maybe you will see what you ate.

Or try describing some of them here and people might be able to identify some.

Or just forget it because last night is past anyway and there's nothing you can do about what you ate.

I haven't ventured to the chinese buffet since I started this diet, when I do... I'm gonna make sure it's a special "non-logging" day :O)

I know you just had a post the other day about having a hard time even reaching 1000 calories a day. Perhaps you should just NOT log the day and let you body rejoice in actually receiving adequate nutrition for once.

If for NO other reason, do not log the day.. simply because it was you birthday ;O)

Happy Birthday BTW

the only real reason i want to log it is the fact that i want to make sure i ate enough. but i am thinking i did. it didn't hurt me, it was my birthday so it was nice to get out. i'm still having a hard time getting near what i am supposed to be consuming.

If you can't get what you NEED at a Chinese buffet, perhaps you need to seek help before you develop a disorder. I really mean that in a kind way, I'm not mocking you.

Original Post by thesnarf:

I haven't ventured to the chinese buffet since I started this diet, when I do... I'm gonna make sure it's a special "non-logging" day :O)

 Perhaps you should just NOT log the day and let you body rejoice in actually receiving adequate nutrition for once.

 I'm with YOU!!!  I have not ventured into a Chinese Buffet since starting this and I usually placate myself by ordering or preparing asian style lean dishes (I'm pretty good at that actually) but lately my Chinese Buffet Cravings have been calling my name hard and today I decided that I would go get some Chinese food.  But instead of going to a Chinese Buffet and stuffing myself (Which is what I would have done, I do not have the kind of control that euskadi has) I ordered a lunch entre to go and then I went to a really nice park with a picnic table and really really really enjoyed it.  It was sweet and sour pork with white rice.  I really enjoyed it and I'm actually really glad I stayed out of the buffet - I can do some serious damage in those places!!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY EUSKADI!!!!

I'm quite the cook, but I can't recreate my favorite dishes from the buffet (General Tso's chicken, fried rice and those yummy fried wontons with cream cheese in them) I used to go at least once a month, but I'm saving it for a special occasion.. my birthday is next month.. yippie! (ugh I miss good hot wings from the local bar too) I try to make some white rice with hot sauce and that usually curbs my craving tho.

My control is very limited but it was a new place and i wanted to try alot of different things so little portions saves alot of room for different stuff.

I don't have an eating disorder. I was talking about the calorie amount. I don't have a disorder of not eating. I do not need help.

Wiley_9 Wrote: I've been photographing all my food before I eat it. Sounds a little odd, but it really helps remember what i had and how much of it. Cameraphones make this really easy!

I just wanted to say that's really a clever idea.  I'm going to try it. Thanks for sharing.  

euskadi - Happy Birthday! I would also google search as others advised to come up with some estimates. I wouldn't be overly concerend as long as you didn't over indulge and don't go to chinese buffets often.   

We don't go very often at all. Mainly as a special treat to us. I dont' over stuff myself I really dont' have anything to worry about. At that point I know I am no longer hungry and I am no bursting at the seems.

calorie counting buffet food?? lol thats kind of joke unless your really watching what your eating. ex. just veggies, rice, carefully selected item. For me that would have to logged as a cheat day and go on. lol

but it sounds yummy

regarding photographing food, has anyone tried nutrax dot com.  That is the point of their site, photo your food with camerapone, upload, and log.  Seems interesting, but do not feel like investing time.

As for logging buffet, jst ask General Tso. Its his chicken.  He should know.

You know what...it was your birthday, so just forget about it and consider it a birthday present.  As to whether you didn't eat enough, or over-ate, it doesn't really matter now, because you can't go back and change it.  If you didn't eat enough, you can't go back and eat more, so it's kind of a moot point anyway.

Just look at it as your day off for your birthday and start over from today.

Good luck!

Robbyn