Can a diabetic eat at buffets?

[TheMachinist]

I love to eat but I try to eat in small portions at a time. What's the best way to eat if I go to the buffets in Las Vegas.

I'm a bit overweight (5'-9 and 169 lbs) but I do try to watch what I eat and control my BG between 90 - 130.

[soso]

I've done the Vegas buffets and thought there were loads of excellent choices... there are also a lot of delicious yet dangerous choices...ya pays ya money and ya takes ya chance....

I love it though... my faves are Bellagio Wynn Paris and Planet Hollywood..
yum.

[notme]

Buffets are set up so you fill your plates with the least expensive food first. Pasta, salad, bread..... Go to the far end and stock up on lots of protein and leave the carbs till the end.

[Handybear]

I spent a week eating at the buffets in Vegas. The trick is to head for the salad and meat. Stay away from the pasta.
At the end of the week I actually lost 2 lbs!

[BigcityRich]

I do enjoy a buffett every once in a while. I make a point to start with salad, then go for the meat and more veggies. Stay away from bread, pasta, rice, anything with gravy and anything breaded, and that sundae bar!

There are nasties at the salad bar too. I enjoy sun flower seeds instead of croutons. Dressing on the side instead of slathering the whole salad.

I have always had great self control at the buffet.

Weakness - I'm doomed with a chinese buffet.

[ihd1111]

Let's be real here, people. Diabetes and buffets are cohorts in some very bad dealings. I for one do not have the cojones to resist their temptations, but if you do, more power to you.

[cyberus]

Oriental buffets with mongolian BBQ FTW.

Huge plate of stir fried meat with free veggies

[shutterbug]

I have been to many buffets.. I stick to chicken and gree salads and just have very small portions of carbs (pasta/rice/bread) at the end.

[owlyn]

The buffets in Vegas are actually overpriced. People assume that they are a good value because they also assume that all the restaurants in Vegas are expensive. The buffets are tailored to people who get quantity and quality confused. Not that the food is bad, but if you're not eating a lot of food (and we shouldn't be pigging out), you can eat much better for the same money by choosing restaurants carefully. We ate very well in Vegas for not a lot of money and never hit a buffet once. Our stops included places such as Mon Ami Gabi, on the first floor of Paris. We had a table overlooking the Belagio Fountains. I think our meal came to less than $50. Similar in price to a buffet for two, but fabulous food in a fabulous atmosphere.

[maya0606]

The best thing to do is pick on the fish and chicken all the protein with no carbs and with veggies usualy they have veggy soups too and than for desert I eat cake and here we go youd be able to put less insuline and no weigh gain. Honestly its hard to do this, I myself find it hard to look ar the food that you want to eat but you know you can not touch, it sucks1111 but you just need dedication & motivation!!!

you eat to live and not live to eat!!

Type 1 since 1999
Humolog & Lantus
A1C : 8.2

[everett]

Hello. Im still learning what to eat was told had type 2 diabetes in middle july I go back tomorrow for next A1C I hope its gone down. But ive eaten Golden Corral cause I work on road a lot and its easier for me to eat their. but ive been wondering about like fruits. I eat cantelope and melons and sometimes it brings my levels up not sure why. I have even had like mashed potatoes and not a very big change in sugar level. I was 9.5 with A1C in July and most of the time my readins have been between 90 in mornings and couple times over 150. I learned not to eat nachos it really went up. any suggestion I take. This is great place ive found. thanks Scott Harless

[matingara]

It's all about the carbohydrates man.

There are stacks of carbs in fruit! There are about 50g of carbs in a cantaloupe!

Nachos are mega-carb laden.

just cut down on the carbs and you can eat anywhere.

if i am stuck in a restaurant or hotel i just order steak and salad. good eating. healthy. and low carb!



-- Joel.

[Scrabblechick]

I can do a buffet with success if I eat a big salad first. Nothing else on the table. I get the spinach, baby spring mix or romaine mix and use the oil and vinegar cruets for my dressing. For toppings, I add some shredded cheese and one spoonful of bacon bits, if they're the real thing.

Then, I'll focus on the protein and veggies. Potatoes don't bother me in moderation, so I'll have a small spoonful. I tell the server to keep the rolls in the kitchen. LOL. I will eat ONE cookie with some decaf coffee. Ryan's actually has s/f choices on the dessert bar and I will get one cookie, or a spoonful (not a slice) of s/f cherry pie without the crust. I'd rather eat the filling, anyway. LOL.

I have to be extremely careful at the Chinese buffet. Very, very careful. Mostly protein and veggies. It isn't exactly "real" Chinese, but egg foo yung works with my BG. I can even eat a little of the gravy on it, as long as I'm careful. Rice is what kills me. Can't do it.

The whole point is strict self-control and moderation.

[patricia52]

Yes, Buffet are all right. Just make the same choices you would make at home. Actually it is sometimes easier for me to eat from the buffet because I am not limited to just a few choices. I try to start with a protein to curb my appetite and a salad. I add a couple of veggies and maybe a fruit for desert. I learned the trick of starting with a protein at a diabetes education class and so far it has worked. I am slowly losing the extra pounds and I have had excellent control of my BG. Last A1C was 5.8.

[notme]

Now I will gross you all out about buffets. Have you even considered how many people have walked out of the restroom without washing their hands and picked up the spoons and tongs of buffets? I was turned off buffets when I worked at a metal health hospital that had a salad bar buffet. I would watch people come into the cafeteria and wipe their noses and pick up the spoon. Whenever they change trays, they always take the same serving spoon and plunk it in the new dish. Gross! I really don't do buffets anymore and haven't for about 10 years.

Owlyn, I couldn't agree with you more. I would opt for quality vs. quantity ANY day.