Here are some buffet tips that will help you enjoy more great food and avoid getting full too soon. Now we’re not talking about the Chinese buffet around the corner. We’re talking about crab legs, oysters and the serious shi’t! No one wants to go to an expensive buffet and get full off of two potatoes, lets get real!

 Key Points

• Eat a salad for breakfast (no dressing) before a buffet dinner
• Drink a lot of water throughout the day
• Start with low fat, low carb food first
• Try new foods
• Don’t order any carbonated drinks
• Avoid thick soups
• Move quickly, don’t wait in between servings
• Cut up and prepare your food when returning to the table
• Don’t get food you would eat at home
• Don’t be passive! Pile up as much as you want!

The Ratio System

The ratio system is by far the most effective buffet tip to keep in mind. This system is designed to start with the least filling foods and move up to the most filling foods in order. Ratio 1 consists of low fat and low carb foods such as clams, oysters, shrimp, crab, lobster, and salads. Ratio 2 consists of slightly fattier content such as white fish, cooked shrimp, sort shell crabs, seafood and vegetables.

Ratio 3 consists of the fatty fish and the dense vegetables. Sword fish, tuna, salmon, shark, soups, fibrous vegetables and any non red meat. Ratio 4 is the big boy. This is where all the fatty and starchy stuff come in. Ratio 4 includes steaks, short rib, prime rib, lamb chops, organ meats, eggplant, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, and desserts.

Buffet Tips

Avoid using any sauces like BBQ sauce and salad dressing. Cheese and dairy should be only eaten at the end. avoid oils such as olive oil, peanut oil, etc early on. Avoid fried foods. Most of them are laced with trans fats! It’s okay to dip shrimp, lobster and crab in butter, just avoid cocktail sauce and be careful will how much butter you use early on. Ratio 1 can be a side for every ratio! So if you are on ratio 3, you can grab another plate of crab legs!


For shrimp, crab and lobster, prepare a soup bowl of butter. Peel and put lobster, crab and shrimp all in the bowl as you begin to get your next ratio. This way when you come back with ratio 2, you’ll have, juicy, moist shell fish waiting for you! Prepare a few of these bowls before eating to make your stay more efficient. Water or unsweetened tea works best. Get your ratio 4 as soon as you’re done with ratio 2 along with your ratio 3. Cut up the fresh steaks, ribs, etc and leave them there with the vegetable while you begin eating ratio 3.

Use these simple, yet advanced buffet tips to make your buffet stay more efficient and effective for your money and diet!

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