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 everyday. I’m here for the lifestyle and not the fad diet. Indulging once in a while shouldn’t be a cause of stress. Us humans, we bond over food and unless you have food allergies or health issues, such as Hashimoto’s for me which is why I stay away from gluten and most dairy, there really is no reason you can’t eat foods you avoid on a regular basis. 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 buffet 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
The oils used in restaurants are generally highly inflammatory sunflower, vegetable, or canola. These oils are more economical for restaurants but cause havoc in our bodies. These oils are high in omega 6 fatty acids due to the ultra processing with chemicals. These oils are also sourced from genetically modified crops like corn, soybean, cotton seed and more. Although the jury is out on how GMO foods effect humans, these crops are heavily sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides which we do know are harmful for human health.
Canola oil is also not a great choice as mentioned in this article.
Pick Barbeque and Karhais Over Greasy Curries.
Grilled meats are not going to have the above mentioned inflammatory oils or a much lesser amount of it. 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 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 help A Few Things to Keep in Mind When Eating Out.
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