For the last two days I haven’t eaten breakfast. For me this is very unusual. I’m always one to encourage breakfast and discourage meal skipping. But I didn’t have any breakfast food or desire to buy it so I skipped the meal altogether. Major healthy eating fail on my part. (Note: Please don’t leave comments telling me to eat breakfast or how important it is. I know this.)
I love how I’ve not been eating breakfast because I didn’t want to buy groceries because I’m leaving in two days for a place that would frown upon my decision not to eat breakfast. That kind of behavior is the stuff they are trying to get women not to do and here I go doing it. However I think since this is not my normal habit and it won’t happen again we should just move on and leave the skipped breakfasts behind us.
Yes. Right on. Jolly good idea. Let’s move on to lunch, shall we?
For lunch today I ate tilapia and peas. It was the last of the frozen tilapia I had and the last of my cans of peas. I had planned on cooking them last night but luckily had some mother daughter time at Chili’s for dinner. Let’s just say I had chicken tacos there and nothing resembling a delicious dessert. (Note from my stomach: LIES! Mmm, sugar.) Anyway, back to today’s lunch… Doesn’t that picture look delicious? If this was anyone else’s blog I would have to look away for fear of being hungry. But since that delicious feast is in my belly I will just enjoy the beautiful picture.
Since I am leaving on Sunday my mom and brothers and I are having a family outing tonight. We don’t do family dinner all that often. We all live in and around Memphis but have completely different and crazy schedules (two brothers are in college). So every once in a while and for special occasions or when someone (always me) leaves, we get together to eat dinner or go to an event. Tonight, we are eating dinner. And maybe gambling.
That’s right, we are going to a casino!
Memphis is an hour away from Tunica, the little Vegas of the South, so we are going down there to eat at one of the casino buffets. I’m not sure which one we are going to, but we might even go to the Paula Dean Buffet.
OMG, this woman is trying to make me fat by getting me to stuff my face!
Just kidding, Paula. I know that deep down you are spreading the joy of good Southern food out of love. Expanding hips and butts isn’t your main goal. It’s just the reaction that happens following a buffet meal.
And I’m kidding with you guys. Kind of. We are going to the casino tonight but I won’t stuff my face with food. I’ll leave that to my brother James who will most likely eat 10 pounds of crab legs and Charles who eats like the guy on his favorite show, Man vs. Food. I’ll do my best to eat well and report back tomorrow on whether or not that actually happens. I’ve got some good ideas in mind of what to do. If I stay away from alcohol I’ll most likely keep them in mind. We will see. Either way it will be a fun night with my family before I leave.
So, my question is this: Do you have any advice for me?
What is your best tip for eating at buffets?
Also, since it’s a seafood buffet tonight and it is on my mind, what’s your favorite seafood?
Here’s my advice: enjoy yourself. Eat what you want. Enjoy spending some time with the family. See if Paula’s nana pudding is as good as she thinks it is. Eat, drink… and be Merry.
For tomorrow, you diet.
Your adventure is going to put you in a whole other world of health and fitness, so fill your belly with comfort food and get ready to rock-and-roll at Green Mountain next week.
BTW, three things: (1) you should eat breakfast, (2) breakfast is very important and (3). I don’t care for folks telling me what to do.
Have a great trip!
OMG, that Man vs. Food is crazy! I can’t believe he eats all that stuff!
Jack has a good point & YES< eat breakfast! I used to not & eating it has really made a big difference for me. Now, your breakfast time may be different than mine! :-)
As for buffets, I don’t eat. Too much money & a waste for me since I will only chose what is right for me & in my normal amounts so….. I usually eat first & maybe pick a little off someone’s else’s plate IF there is anything I feel like eating.
But, Jack made a good point too. I think you should do what you feel comfortable doing. You will be back to it tomorrow & when you are in Vermont.. you will definitely be back to it!
My buffet advice is only eat what’s REALLY good. Usually it isn’t ALL really good. Don’t eat it just because you put it on your plate if you taste it, and it isn’t that good.
We have all been there! No time, or money, or desire, or whatever, and sometimes breakfast just gets skipped! shit happens!
I love seafood!! All kinds of seafood! I would have a hard time controlling myself at an all you can eat seafood buffet! and Paula deen! Oh hell no!! I would have no control!
Good Luck!!
xo Jen
I agree with Janet. Rather than trying a little bit of everything or trying to fill up on the healthy stuff first, just go for the things you really, really like (make sure to include a protein), but keep the portions small and skip the rest.
@JackSht
Oh I will!!
And WTG on ignoring my note and giving me unwanted advice. Haha. I hate people telling me what to do. ;)
@Janet
That is such good advice, because its true. Not ever part of the crazy buffets is good. I usually eat salad and let my brothers try out stuff and when they tell me what is good I go get that. :) That way I don’t waste food and I just eat what is YUMMY.
@jen
So true. :) Shit happens. (So true they made bumper stickers.)
I don’t eat at buffets, so don’t have much advice, except in a Prevention magazine article it said to hit the veggies first, and keep your dressing on the side to avoid overdoing it. Other than that, i’d take a few very small portions of whatever strikes your fancy!! Have a few bites then move on… kwim?
Have a fabulous night! :)
Ooo-la-la. I want buffet food! My best tip is to try and stuff some extra food in your purse. (not that I’ve ever done that – I really haven’t)
My advice is don’t eat there lol.
my best friend loves a buffet, so i’ve learned a couple tricks to help myself survive… first, start off with a big ol’ salad. most buffets have fantastic selection on the salad end, i love to make something i normally wouldn’t buy. second, stick to simply prepared things… like grilled meats and veggies without sauces… sauces are tricksters!
i hope you have a lovely time!
lol, my favorite seafood is shrimp scampi… shrimp in butter… not really a healthy choice… but plain grilled fish (really any white fish) is great with plain lemon too!
What we SHOULD do at buffets? Start with some salad and veggies so that we get the healthy stuff in first.
What do I DO at a seafood buffet? Instead of having breakfast and lunch, I’ll have a brunch and make sure that I’m good and hungry so that I can tuck in with relish.
Enjoy!
i love man vs food! i am fairly certain paula wants us all to get fat. with each pound of butter she uses in her delicious cooking. when i am at buffets i just load up on the veggies at the salad bar and use cottage cheese instead of dressing. i go for high protein options because those fill me up and avoid the stuff like breads and cream based soups. favorite seafood is probably crab!
My only advice for a buffet is don’t go. :-) Buffets are my weakness.
Seriously, I hope you enjoy your night out with the family.
Good luck with the buffet. My advice – don’t eat anything that you will regret when you are finished. Nothing worse than food remorse!
I tend to not go to buffets, since the food simply sits around and isn’t as good as a-la-carte dining.
What I would do is lean towards eating what you want most; to enjoy the food, rather than trying to ‘get your moneys worth’.
As for seafood, I love squid. Also love scallops, prawns, mussels, oysters, oh my…
Hey there…new to your blog….love it!
Something I recently heard was “don’t throw away the day”…that is to say, plan for the buffett naughtiness by making sure the rest of the day is “good.”
My second piece of advice, don’t binge. Have not read enough of your blog to know if you would, but I definatley WOULD :-) So, just eat a normal size meal of what you reeeeallllly want.
and most of all, like others said, ENJOY!
TTFN
anniebfat
First: my favorite seafood: sashimi-almost any kind. But since we’re talking Paula Dean instead of Chef Morimoto: calamari. Then scallops, mussels, any shell fish, good salmon with wasabi mayo.
Ya know- so you didn’t eat breakfast for a couple days. You normally do, and certainly will at Green Mountain. Don’t beat yourself up about it. It is NOT that big a deal. It simply is what it is. (a really huge thing to learn).
So, is PD food as fat-rich as it sounds in her tv shows?
@anniebfat
Glad you found me on my little corner of the internet! Love that “don’t throw away the day” attitude. I’m a lot more like that these days. I’ve moved past the all or nothing attitude. It’s a good nugget of advice. :)
@Deb Roby
Yeah I’m not upset or dwelling on the no breakfast thing. I’m a breakfast eater 99% of the time so it’s no big, just felt like mentioning it. Found the progression of my day funny: no breakfast, good lunch, huge dinner. Ha.
And Paula Dean’s food is completely like it sounds on her shows. LOTS of butter. LOTS of things are fried. She takes the best of the south and completely makes it artery clogging good (and bad, haha).
I love going to buffets! Just not too frequently. :) I always start with the salad bar and then get just a spoonful of this and that from the other areas. I don’t know which casino you went to, but Horseshoe even has teeny little dessert servings, 2-3 bites each.
Hope you had a great family event…and won some money! :)
did you win anything at the casino?