So, before I share my 5 top tips for navigating the buffet table at restaurants, I would like to stress that it is not how you eat on one day, but how you eat every day that matters.
I'm here for the lifestyle and not the fad diet. Indulging once in a while shouldn’t be stressful. 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 top tips:
1. 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 than leafy greens, which is fine. Just go ahead and add some to your plate to balance out your meal.
2. 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 sourced from genetically modified crops such as corn, soybeans, 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 tohuman health.
3. Pick Barbecue and Karahis Over Greasy Curries
Grilled meats are not going to contain the above-mentioned inflammatory oils, or only a much smaller amount of them. The same goes for karhais. Nihari and kormas generally require much more oil than barbeque and karhais.
Join The Free 5 Day Healthy Cooking Challenge!
Sign up to get daily tips right to your inbox!
4. Avoid Naans And Puris
The naans and puris at restaurants are made with white flour, a simple carb that spikes your blood sugar. A balanced blood sugar is essential for preventing diabetes and 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 Hashimoto’s, I stay away from gluten. This has helped me so much in resolving my acne and eczema, and in reversing my pre-diabetes.
5. Stay Away From 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.
More Tips For Healthy Living
So there you have it, my top tips for navigating the buffet table at restaurants. Let me know in the 📝 comments if you have any other tips to share! You can also follow me on Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get more deliciousness straight to your inbox!
Leave a Reply