We’ve all been to an all-you-can-eat buffet (just in case you’re not sure, I’m talking food buffet, not Warren Buffett), I remember back in the day, it was $0.10 per years old you were (when I was seven, it cost $0.70 for my parents to pay for my buffet meal). In fact, I was recently at one and paid $18.95 for the all-you-can-eat. I then proceeded to limp to the car, whimpering with each step because my stomach was so full. I was trying to get my $18.95 + tip and tax worth. It got me thinking, there must be some defined strategies on how you can best get more bang for your buck at a buffet.
Both of us have really high metabolism and added together, we only amount to a bit over 250lbs (yeah, we’re like stick people!) so I would think buffet owners cringe when the see the amount we order or take to our tables.
Here are some (tongue-in-cheek) tips I came up with (some of them are my boyfriend’s suggestions, since he’s the one who requested we go to an all-you-can-eat this last time).
How to Get Your Money’s Worth at an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet
Don’t starve yourself before hand. Contrary to popular belief, starving yourself (e.g. not eating lunch) will not only to cause you to be in pain from the stomach acids digesting away your stomach lining, but it will shrink your stomach, and you will fill it up more quickly when the stomach is smaller. Eat a light lunch to get those juices flowing, and not digesting your stomach lining.
- Wear some loose fitting clothes. Don’t wear that dress that is two sizes two small to look cute. No one goes to buffets trying to look cute. They’re all trying to get in as much as they can, and don’t care about how you look. Make sure you wear some pants with elastic, or at least some low rise pants. I made that mistake the other day and wore jeans to that buffet, and ended up having to unbutton my pants. That’s definitely not sexy.
- Pee before you start. Just like you would give yourself a bathroom break before a big test, or before a big event, you should evacuate your bladder before you start devouring everything in sight. A full bladder will push against your other organs, causing you to feel full faster when there is food inside your stomach/ intestines.
- Skip the carbs. Carbs like pasta, bread, and rice will only fill you up quickly. Once you feel like you’ve got your fair share of the more expensive stuff like prime rib etc, then you can foray into the carb section again.
- Head for the $$$ stuff. Get the meat that is carved for you, or anything that is full service (they had a Mongolian grill type station at this last buffet I went to) because you’re getting more bang for your buck, technically. Meat is expensive.
- Try not to eat the fatty foods too soon into your buffet adventure. Fat causes the body to release more of this hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK for short) which makes you feel full faster. It tells your body “hey, I’m full, I’m good.. you can stop now”. You don’t want that.
- Try a little bit of everything. I feel most satisfied when I get to try a little bit of everything. I remember the buffet in Vegas (Spice Market at Planet Hollywood) was a world cuisine-buffet, you get to try a little bit from every region of the world. Yum!
- Skip the fizzy stuff. When the waiter asks you want you want to drink, the last thing you want to say is anything carbonated. Don’t you think buffets offer all you can drink for a reason? So you will feel full faster. You can ask for ice tea or juice, but don’t drink glasses and glasses of the stuff. Liquid sits in the stomach too and makes you feel fuller, faster.
- Drink warm liquids. Warm liquids can help aid digestion, your body doesn’t have to work twice as hard to warm the liquid up before it starts digesting it. It helps for me anyway.
- Consider a lunch buffet instead of a dinner buffet. Lunch buffets are usually half the cost of dinner buffets, and you have the rest of the day to digest your meal (instead of a dinner buffet where you would feel too bloated and full to even sleep or feel romantic). This is by far the best way to get more bang for your buck. Most lunch buffets serve the same foods as dinner buffets, especially the delicious All You Can Eat Japanese places here in Vancouver.
- Don’t do this regularly. If you want to gain ten pounds or more and acquire heart disease, by all means go ahead. But I would caution against this if you care about your health and well-being. Like all things in life, buffets are best enjoyed in moderation and occasionally.
Well, hope these tips help you the next time you decide to gorge yourself and engage in gluttony.
Any other tips I might have missed?
Good tips, I used to work in this industry, so from the restaurant side, here’s what they will do to ensure they maximize profits:
Bring you water.
Set our smaller plates.
Start the buffet with breads and salads.
Re-use last night’s restaurant’s special as one of the main buffet entree’s.
@Echo- Nice! We’ve got an insider’s scoop now. Ew… re-use last night’s special??? I’ll make sure I pick fresh entrees from now on in. Thanks for sharing Echo! Yes, water can really fill you up too, not just carbonated beverages.
Great tips! I’ll be sure to remember this as I venture to my favorite Chinese buffet getaway!
Great Post! A friend of mine told me to squeeze any garlic bread into a condensed form so you don’t eat any air…coming from a guy who can eat 12 hot dogs in one sitting. Working out before going always helps you eat more as well. I always bugged my wife when we were in Jamaica that talking while eating at the buffet filled you up with air, so leave the chatting til after!
@Addicted2dividends- LOL LOL. Squeeze garlic bread into a condensed form??? So you do that by hand? I think eating with your friend might make you lose your appetite, no? So perhaps eating with him, you WON’T get your money’s worth, unless you don’t mind seeing garlic bread squeezed. hehe…
LOL talking while eating at the buffet you are hardcore man!
You reminded me that another tip is to perhaps AVOID using a straw for your beverage because using a straw does fill you up with air. Thanks!
I’ll try and work out the next time I stuff my face =) great tip!
Where’d you guys go? I like to maximize my stay time at buffets. If lunch is from 11 to 2 for example, then I’ll start at 11 and leave at 2 thank you very much.
@heffer- hey, you’re from Vancouver too! I went to the Tulalip casino buffet at the Seattle Premier Outlets. I regularly do the Japanese all-you-can-eats too (including that sukiyaki hot pot). ugh.. my mouth is watering!! Must stop talking about buffets lol.
Another fun fact: Next time you’re at a restaurant or pub, check out the straw that comes with your drink. If you order a non-stop refill pop, the straw will be super skinny. If you have any rum in that drink, you will get the fat straw.
Tricky devils, eh?
@Echo- Echo, you need to make a post entitled “RESTAURANT INDUSTRY SECRETS EXPOSED!” =) You are right- They give you the bendy skinny straws for non-stop refill pop, and you get the straight fat straw for alcoholic drinks- very interesting…!
Take a break between refills to let your food settle a bit. That’s one thing I would try.
@Money Beagle- Thanks for the tip!
How about take your time – as another tip? If you’re at a buffet, plan on being there for awhile. Otherwise, why bother? Nice tips Y&T. I don’t visit Buffet’s often myself; but when I do; I’m there for a few hours!!!
Some great tips Young!
I especially like the light meal at lunch for the dinner buffet, or even better, going to the lunch buffet!
Warren would be proud
This post was right up my alley. I’m a fat kid at heart. In college (and a few years after which I’m not too proud of), we used to have eating competitions to see who was the best eater! All you can eat pizza, all you can eat shrimp, all you can eat fried chicken, you name it! Now I think I would die if I still ate like that.
You mentioned a Vegas buffett, so I’ll throw another one out. If you haven’t been to the seafood buffett at the Rio you’re missing out. Hands down the best buffett in Vegas!
Testing commenting per your request!
I like to hide the food in a cup. Just kidding.
BTW, I think you have to eat FAST and HARD for the first 25 minutes before your brain gets wind that you have food in your tummy.
Food sprint!
Sam
@Yakezie- Thanks- comments seem to be going to the right posts so far (crossing fingers). LOL food in a cup, or if you get too full you start mashing the food on your plate to make it look less obvious that you can’t finish it all. Food sprint- good point! We have some great ideas here!
Hmmm…maybe that’s why I’ve never experienced a pleasant visit to a buffet. Actually, because my husband and I (both stick people as well – total combined weight about 270) usually share meals at restaurants, buffets have never seemed to make financial sense. When we go to dinner with family and they mention buffet, we cringe. All it means to us is more money spent on the same amount of food we would normally eat; not a great deal!
@Money Reasons- I’m glad Warren is proud! I wonder if he does buffets too? =)
@Car Negotiation Coach- Mmm eating competitions! What did people win for being the best eater? Seafood buffet at the Rio? I gotta try that next time I’m in Vegas- thanks! That sounds like you get your moneys worth period. Seafood is so $$.
@Little House- Good that you guys know what works for you and what doesn’t. Yeah, if you’re going to a buffet and you just do one plate or so, it’s not worth it! =)
Wow, these tips sound very useful and technical… but all I can think is – I don’t want to put so much thought into “maximizing” my meal.
I am a petite lady so I can never eat enough to “make back” my payment, so I’d much rather go to a place where I order individual portions.
I do remember that one of my friends who literally starved himself for a day and a half before hitting a buffet then gorging himself on all the food. He woke up the next day with a huge stomache. Not worth it.
[...] How to Get your Money’s Worth at an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet at Young and Thrifty. There is probably a dedicated guide to efficient food consumption at an all-you-can-eat buffet but these tips will help a whole bunch. I was at one of these places recently and I can’t help going for a little fried rice when I should be fighting other patrons on the shellfish line. [...]
I would have to add, taking time between refills. Allow your food to digest and settle – use that time to talk and enjoy the company…then grab some more!
Great tips!
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We like to show up on the weekends for the breakfast buffet about an 30-45 minutes before it switches over and then enjoy the lunch or dinner buffet that starts afterwards (and is also more expensive) . This only works at buffets where you pay first though.
@Todd- LOL that is intense!! And very smart lol.