Binging at Buffets

I love my all-you-can-eat specials like the next person, but the buffet, better known as the "smorgasbord-diet-death-trap" has its downfalls. We all like the benefits of buffets like not tipping and eating as much as possible, but beware of your buffet behavior!

A recent study conducted by American Dietetic Association proved that children who ate at fast-food restaurants had a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than those who did not. Well, anyone could have guessed that. What about buffet-style restaurants? You pay $25 and eat until you puke.

My favorite is Crazy Buffet on Dale Mabry Avenue in Tampa, FL. I prefer the sushi, but there are diet no-no's everywhere: Orange Chicken (fried), General Tso's chicken (also fried) and of course my favorite...chocolate fondue. Other buffets are Barbeque or even breakfast foods which can add up the calories, fast. A Cornell Univeristy study found that there is a difference between overweight and normal weight people and their eating habits at buffet restaurants. This study focused on chinese buffet restaurants. Some of these differences included:

• The use of larger plates vs. smaller plates
• Facing the buffet vs. not facing
• Forks vs. chopsticks
• Not having a napkin on their lap vs. having a napkin on their lap
• Ate the majority of the food on their plate vs. left more food on their place
• Chewed less per bite of food vs. chewed more

Just knowing these proven facts can help you in your trip to the buffet. And remember you have the willpower and ability to just say NO.