I ate at Mingโs Chinese Buffet and Grill today, which is just your typical small Asian buffet chain.
I love a good challenge. ๐ Obviously, lol.
Eating low carb at a buffet requires a bit of discipline. Okay, a LOT of discipline.
But if you walk in knowing you intend to make good choices, there are plenty of low carb foods you can eat on a Chinese buffet.
Of course, even if you think youโre making good low carb choices you still may screw it up. Which is exactly what I did today, lol โ At least I think I did! Iโll share what I learned, and show you what I ateโฆ
My Low Carb Meal (& Screw Up!) at Mingโs Chinese Buffet
I started with a plate of Baked Crab, broccoli salad and a big slice of fresh cucumber. Iโve had the broccoli salad before so I know itโs just raw broccoli & mayo. Nothing fancy. ๐
That looks fine, right?
I thought so. ๐
It turns out itโs not real crab (which would be almost zero carb), but rather imitation crab โ which has a surprisingly high carb count!
My next plate was from the grill in the back โ just steak & mushrooms with โsoy sauce only, please.โ This one was definitely safeโฆ
The sushi rolls were calling my name. And in all honesty, I planned to eat them. ๐ฏ But I did not. I ate the yummies on the inside and left the rice rolls. ๐ Thatโs a WIN for me, lol.
That spicy tuna & cream cheeseโฆ Mmmmm! ๐
Then I went back for more baked crab. Again, not realizing it was loaded in secret carbs. lol, oops!
I didnโt finish it all, thank goodness (the crab).
This was my table when I got done. I pretty much just picked around a bit at all the different foods until I was quite satisfied.
The trickiest part of eating out is logging your foods in your tracking app. Especially at a buffet when youโre just guessing and noshing. ๐ I use MyFitnessPal with the Net Carb hack, and just did the best โguesstimateโ I could.
I have no idea how to add โa tiny bit of spicy tunaโ or whatever. ๐
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Even with the imitation crab screw up, it was still a relatively low carb meal. Iโll know better next time! And now youโll know better before you go. ๐
My advice: stick to the real seafood on the buffet like boiled shrimp, peel & eat shrimp, crab legs. And the cook-to-order meat & veggies from the grill.
Iโm pleased I passed on all the fried foods, the sugary donuts, the dishes drowning in sweet glazes, and all the other bad choices on that Chinese Buffet. My resolve is stronger than I realized!
Next time Iโll stick with the grill in the back. They usually have shrimp, chicken, steak, zucchini, onions, mushrooms and all sorts of delicious things you can have โstir friedโ in soy sauce.
If you do find yourself in a โbuffet situationโ and later realize something was much higher carb than you realized โ or you choose to eat a higher carb food โ just log it. Always track your meals regardless. Then for the next three daysโฆ eat super clean: very low carb, all real food, super simple meals. ๐ *cheers*
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
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Most restaurant and Deli Broccoli salads are made with a special dressing that is Mayonaise based but also includes SUGAR. The only really safe version is one you make at home. But your restraint in the face of the overflowing Buffet is amazing!
Thanks so much for sharing your food choices, I had pretty much thought I would never go to a Chinese buffet again, thanks for showing me ways to navigate I appreciate the heads up on the imitation crab meat I put some in my salad the other day, I had no idea it was so high in carbs Please keep posting you are truly helping me Iโm glad I finally got the chance to say so!
Hi Lynn ,
If we going ou to eat Chinese, I ask vor a Manager Special Roll , this a a sushi without rice,
Salmon or Tuna wrapped in a long slice of cucumber with some carrots lots of avocado and cucumber. Next to no carbs and super yummy. Or if they canโt fix this one I just ask for sushi without rice.
Also I found out when I started this eating habit ( donโt call it diet ) imitation crab or lobster meat is loaded with carbsโฆ Not fair because the fish it is made from ..Pollak..
Is one of the best fish you can eat NO MERCURYโฆ and so hard to find.
Have a wonderful weekend and keep up the great job.
Good tip on ordering Sushi without rice and the tuna/salmon wrapped in cucumber with carrots, avocado and cucumber! Thanks.
Your welcome
Lesson learned! ๐ I hope that proves helpful for you anytime you find yourself at a Chinese Buffet. There are plenty of great choices. I will make it a point to go back when Iโm in the mood to eat more, and share even more options. ๐ *cheers*