You have to consider the size they slice meats at most Buffets. They slice roast beef very small. Salmon is sliced into strips the width of a French Fry. Steak varies depending on the establishment. I've seen it cut almost as small as a single Sirloin tip before and as as big as 8 ounces. Most buffets tend to keep the meats behind the counter and carve them themselves. OTOH, they keep the Vegetables, Deserts, Fruits, Grains, etc...out where anyone can take as many as they want.
It also a matter of perception. Folks not on a LC Diet tend to perceive the amount of meat a LCer eats as excessive. The reason is simple...if you were eating Corn, Rice, Beans, Potatoes, Cake, Ice Cream, and all that other crap at the same time, it would be excessive. An 8 ounce Sirloin (precooked weight) actually has less Calories than a plate of Pasta with Sauce [which they put out on the Bar, where you can help yourself.] Yet, many folks tend to consider an 8 ounce Sirloin to be excessive, yet don't view the plate of Pasta, which actually has MORE Calories with the same opinion.
Before LCing I never had anyone say a word when I'd get a plate of Pasta or a plate full of Mashed Potatoes, or 2 or 3 Baked Potatoes, despite them being loaded with Calories. Yet, I've had them look at me funny if I come back more than once for meat...even if they cut it the size of single Sirloin Tip.
Its the whole LF lie. They've got people to a point where they no longer comprehend normal serving sizes. For them, 3 ounces of Steak is a Serving, but a plate of Pasta which has 2-3x the Calories is also one serving. So, when they see someone eating 8-12 ounces of Steak, they consider it excessive, even if they're scarfing down on a plate of Pasta which has more Calories.
I usually get my Buffet to Go, which is what some are offering now. You get a To-Go box and pay by the pound. I focus mostly on the meats and some Green Beans, and use my own Veggies at home. It works out cheaper than sitting down to eat, and they're willing to give you more. I've also found that if you go in there later at night, within an hour of closing, they'll give you as much as you want. Though, your choices may be Medium-Well and Well-Done. I can't seem to find Rare to Medium-Rare that close to closing.
Another thing I do is eat more than 1 meat. If they have Roast Beef, Chicken, and Salmon...I may eat all 3. Typically, this one Buffet has Steak and Salmon. They'll occassionally have Pork or Roast Beef also. I tend to eat all of them when they're available. I always get both Salmon and Steak when its available. They tend to accept it more when you get 2 smaller servings of 2 different meats than if you got 1 bigger serving of 1 meat. I also like the Shrimp Night...because they put the Shrimp out where you can take it yourself.
Last edited by cc48510 : Fri, Apr-23-04 at 20:45.
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