So before I share my 5 top tips on navigating the buffet table, I would like to stress that it is not how you eat one day but how you eat every day. I’m here for the lifestyle and not the fad diet. Indulging once in a while shouldn’t be a cause of stress. As humans, we bond over food and unless you have food allergies or health issues, there is no reason you can’t indulge yourself on special occasions. Having said that here are my five tips to navigate the buffet table.
Try to fill your plate with whatever veggies you can find
At Pakistani / Indian buffets you are more likely to find cut veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes rather than leafy greens which is fine. Just go ahead and add some to your plate to balance out your meal.
Avoid deep-fried foods
Restaurants cook with highly inflammatory seed and vegetable oils. These oils are more economical for restaurants but cause havoc in our bodies. They are high in omega-6 and are sourced from genetically modified crops like corn, soybean, cottonseed, and more. Although the jury is out on how GMO foods affect humans, these crops are heavily sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides which we do know are harmful to human health.
Pick barbeque and karahis over greasy curries
Grilled meats are not going to have the above-mentioned inflammatory oils or a much lesser amount of them. The same goes for karhais. Nihari and kormas generally require much more oil than barbeque and karhais.
Avoid naans and puris
The naans and puris at restaurants are made of white flour which is a simple carb that spikes your blood sugar. A balanced blood sugar is important to prevent diabetes and for overall good health.
Also, if you have health issues such as an autoimmune condition, you may want to consider going gluten-free. Because I have Hashimotos I stay away from gluten. This has helped me so much in resolving my acne and eczema and I believe played a key role in reversing my pre-diabetes.
Stay away from the artificially colored desserts
I am the first one to attack the mithai and halwas at the buffet table but just be mindful that many of them contain food dyes. Food dyes have been shown to cause hyperactivity in sensitive children and may cause allergic reactions in some people.
So there you have it, my top tips on how to navigate the buffet on Eid and other occasions. Let me know in the comments if you have any tips to share!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also find this helpful A Few Things to Keep in Mind When Eating Out.
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