The 11th Commandment - Clean your Plate!

  When dining at Chinese Buffets, overweight individuals serve themselves and eat differently than normal weight individuals. This may lead them to overeat, according to a recent study by Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab. Compared to normal weight diners, overweight individuals sat 16 feet closer to the buffet, faced the food, used larger plates, ate with forks instead of chopsticks, and served themselves immediately instead of browsing the buffet.

  "What's crazy is that these people are generally unaware of what they're doing – they're unaware of sitting closer, facing the food, chewing less, and so on," say Brian Wanink, lead author of this study and of the book "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think." The study was published in the journal Obesity and includes observations of 213 diners at 11 all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant buffets across the country. Study participants included a range of normal weight to obese diners, none of whom were Asian. Major study findings include:

• 27% of normal-weight patrons faced the buffet compared to 42% of obese diners.

• Overweight diners sat an average of 16 feet closer than normal-weight diners.

• 16% of obese diners sat at a booth rather than a table compared to 38% of normal weight diners

• 71% of normal-weight diners browsed the buffet before serving themselves compared to 33% of obese diners

• 24% of normal-weight people used chopsticks compared with 9% of overweight people

  "When food is more convenient people tend to eat more," say coauthor Collin R. Payne, New Mexico State University. Rink

   I am an all-you-can-eat buffet professional. I attack them like a well-trained mercenary. I'm like the Delta Force of food. The first thing I do is grab two plates and head directly to the carved roast beef and shrimp/lobster at the very end of the buffet. I take those plates straight back to the table, (facing the buffet so I can see when the fresh things are brought up), and go back and grab a plate full of spinach salad. Extra cheese. My next trip will be for some more beef and maybe some sushi. If I have any room left - back for more beef and maybe some pot stickers. If I am not immobilized by then - I go back and sample some of the other stuff, like mac & cheese, sausage, sweet & sour pork and the stray vegetable - not that I have anything against veggies - I love 'em, but I am not paying 10 bucks for green bean casserole. I have actually had sweet little Chinese ladies come up and demand that I pay for two at this point and if I ever return to the same joint - they'll charge me for two BEFORE I get started. When I walk through the tables with my double plates loaded up - all the heads turn in my direction with looks of awe or ... disgust. Here in Reno, the buffets have some outrageous dessert buffets separate from the vittles. I always load up a plate of that stuff too. It's been a long time since I hit a buffet - a few years - Phoenix was here that time. She will attest to my appetite. I was being on my best behavior then - I had to chew all my food real slow, no talkin' while chewin' and all that gentile, good manners crap etiquette. She's real big on that stuff. But even then - she was amazed. Or disgusted. Chopsticks? Riiight. I use the biggest spoon available - the snow shovel size - and a knife. Chewing is optional. But, if you're gravity-challenged and need to curb your appetite ...

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Comments

[Carl]

Vulgus, indeed.

Confirmed again.

Why R?

Predator instinct.

If not by class then by clan?

[Uncle Fester]

'Tis better to be predator(R) than prey(D).

I got dis-invited from the buffet at the Bellagio once. I don't think my plate skyscraper attempt was appreciated.

[Bomb-a-rama]

When dining at Chinese Buffets, overweight individuals serve themselves and eat differently than normal weight individuals.

I've only been to one Chinese buffet - Pacific Buffet in Fremont. And all I ever eat when I go there is mainly beef broccoli with a side of fried rice and maybe about a handful of little dim sum pieces.

Had I gone there when I was younger, well, I might not have been welcome in there a second time.

[Oldcatman]

Yes! Hit the meats and entrees first--then a plate of salad--then maybe hit the chocolate
'bar' (ie the Nugget!)

[Uncle Fester]

Heh. A skinny kid I know who thinks he's a karate geek made a pointed comment to me that he could "whip any old fat guy."

He forgot that karate is an arm-and-leg-length style and that we old fat guys prefer full body contact rumbles.

He got off one good punch and then I was inside his reach, belly-bumped him then had my arms around him and grabbed by the belt.

Over we went.

With all 260 pounds of me on top.

My mistake, he'd just eaten and I got it down my back.

But I don't think he drew a full breath for the next two days...

[Uncle Fester]

Damn you, Steel. Now I can't get my mind off the nice little Chinese buffet down the road. Haven't been there for a while, maybe they've forgotten the last visit.

Time for a hot dinner date with The Brunette!

I tell ya, Phoenix, it ain't easy being such a romantic.