Vegas: The Land of Cheap Buffets
Photo Credit: Tammy Green
I just got back from my latest trek to Las Vegas with the family and my friend asked if I went to any cheap buffets. Oh, back in the day the buffets in Vegas were legendary - Prime Rib with Lobster buffet for $6.95...that sort of thing.
This time I saw a couple of different buffets advertised - but did I go to any? Not a one. Let's just say I'm not a "buffet" type of person (not that there's anything wrong with that). I just don't eat that much in each sitting, so I would never get my money's worth at buffets. Plus I hate to admit it but I'm a bit germ-phobic and I don't like the idea of large amounts of food sitting out and being sliced into by large amounts of people.
As a nutrition expert, I don't think the buffet fosters good eating habits either. Think about it. Buffets can't help but inspire people to overeat because they are suddenly surrounded by all sorts of choices (studies have shown that the higher the variety of food served or offered, the higher amount of food eaten). Plus, people tend to want to get their money's worth, so they are more likely to eat more in this situation than they would if they just ordered a particular dish.
Don't mean to blast buffets, because I'm sure a lot of people really enjoy them - this is just my nutritionally warped view of them!
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: buffet, Las Vegas, cheap eats, diet, nutrition
3 Comments:
Right on Sister! I couldn't agree more!!! When my in-laws come to town we have to go to a particularly gross Chinese Buffet full of fried junk. Fortunately, we only see them--and the buffet--about once a year.
It's easy to manage buffets if you want to. We live in Las Vegas and go to buffets a few times a month. We always start with a clear, broth-based soup and then have a salad with low-fat dressing. We make one trip to the line for entrees and avoid anything fried, in a heavy gravy or that's really shiny; we usually get something carved to order and a baked potato (which we enjoy with fresh salsa fresca from the Mexican station). If we get dessert, it's usually soft-serve fat-free/low-fat frozen yogurt. Sometimes, I'd prefer a buffet because it's easier to be careful.
I agree completely. I avoid buffets like the plague. I always eat to much because there are to many choices and I am too cheap to pay $10 for $5 worth of food. I usually get kids meals where I can because they are just right. I call them kids/senior meals.
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