Learned a lesson about Chinese Buffets

[shrinkdieter]

So... on a lark I decided to try a Chinese buffet that's nearby me. I figured its got lots of different food choices, a salad bar, and if I have any doubts about food, I'll just query the staff.

So, I sit down. First thing that should have tipped me off was the waitress didn't understand when I asked her for seltzer water ("club soda? sparkling water? fizzy water?" ...she didn't understand), then I just asked for water.

Then, I went to the salad bar. They had romaine lettuce. Great. So I eyeballed a one cup of romaine, added two thick cucumber slices, and threw a couple of tomato slices on top.

My first mistake-I unthinkingly threw a small handful of imitation bacon bits on my salad... THAT'S NOT REAL BACON!!! I knew that, but it was just automatic. I know fake bacon bits are made of flour. So, I went back to my seat and after dusting off the bacos as best as I could, I squeezed a couple of wedges of lemon on the salad, added a little salt, and munched away.

Now, for the meat. Unfortunately, it was late, so the pickings were a little clean. I avoided everything breaded, all the rice-y things, and anything that looked like it had flour in it. I noticed the thick center cuts of roast beef. Looks good, I grabbed a nice hunk of that. Then I noticed the boiled clams. Great! Grabbed a bunch of them.

I finished that off and on my second pass noted the chicken wings. They didn't look breaded. So I asked another waitress, and she told me in broken english that they were only cooked in "a little soy sauce." I ate about eight of the wings, and as I was down to the last 2 or 3 I became more and more paranoid. Is that breading on these wings? Was that some breading that just flaked off? Why are these wings so crunchy? Did I screw up?

It was just unpleasant overall, and much too expensive. I finished the night by going to the grocery store and restocking, and vowed not to set foot in a buffet of any sort until I was well into OWL, if not Pre-Maintainence.

:geek

[Moochiecat]

That's really the best, to avoid places like that until you are into OWL or beyond. It's just not worth the stress, is it?

You can certainly eat out though!
The other night we went to a favourite place of ours and I ordered the burger (no bun) and "as much salad as they can legally give me" lol

This place offered different toppings for their burgers so I had mushrooms and combozolla mousse(not quite sure how it is spelled..it's like a whipped blue cheese/camembert) on top of it. It was SO good.

Most places are more than happy to adjust items on their menus...so don't be shy.

[sidrah]

Glad you found that out and went and re-stocked. I am sure there are some great things there, but really the hassle and the worry are not worth it! I like Chinese food, but I prefer good salad or chicken adn cold water. Amazing what you start getting used to.

[tickletussler]

Do you find that the flavour enhancers used in Chinese food, make you really thirsty?

I've avoided a lot of Asian food places because along with flavour enhancers, msg (monosodium glutamate), there are also hidden sugars (esp in Thai food) and hidden starches (cornstarch often used to thicken sauces)

Sometimes I find it really difficult to eat out. Unless I order the straigh steak/grilled seafood with steamed veg on the side, most foods I can't work out if there are hidden carbs. Like recently at a fish & chips shop, I kept buying their grilled fish & salad and to my dismay discovered they lightly dusted their fish in semolina and added sugar to the lemon juice they splashed onto their salads.

[SabrinaN]

I am so glad you posted because I was going to attempt the Super China Buffet this weekend ( Salad Bar FOR sure ) but now I am changing my mind. I would have had the same outcome of paranoia and worry. Thanks for the heads up. I will just skip that trip.

Sabrina

[siscaboo1512]

i am glad i read your post because i was going to go to a chinese buffet but not now. i think i'll just eat at home.

[not2late]

Restaurant-style Chinese food is a real bear-trap for low carbers.

The sauces are laden with sugar. Requesting that the sauce is to be made without added sugar doesn't guarantee you much because sometimes sauces, like hoisin or oyster, are used as ingredients for the dish's sauce and they contain sugar. The sauces are also thickened with cornstarch, potato starch/flour or arrow root powder---all contribute carbs.

The meats are ify too. Many meats are marinaded in marinades that contain a "bit of sugar", or in marinades that contain hoisin or oyster sauces, or in a mixture of egg white and cornstarch or potato flour.

I urge all Low Carbers to go to your libraries and read through Chinese cookbooks to see all the ways sugar and starches are included into something as seemingly "legal" as crispy duck.

However, if you can make your own at home, you won't necessarily fall into these carb traps.

[bizzlekitty]

I've pretty much given up on Chinese food, unless I make it at home on my own. My research showed that there just isn't much there to eat for us and if there is, it's hard to get items cooked Atkins-friendly.

That and the cravings for all that good carb-laden stuff are bad.

I miss it, but realize that it just isn't good for me.

[apugh77]

Oriental Foods

Many, if not most, of the restaurants use a lot of MSG...this is not good for you and can cause extreme elevations in blood pressure.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Learned a lesson about Chinese Buffets

Bump! Boy am glad to have stumbled on this thread! The co-workers all decided to do Chinese buffet for lunch, and I ALMO O O O ST decided to go. You, know, drink tea, have egg-drop soup, some various meats... and be fine; no rice, egg roll, wonton or noodles. Did not know about all the hidden ingredients. Would like to know more about the MSG, tho, because have been using it in some of my cooking. I've heard that it only has bad effects on some, and it doesn't seem to affect me. But does it contribute to carbs, I wonder?

[H20]

Re: Learned a lesson about Chinese Buffets

Our local Chinese resturant has a low-carb Mongolian grill where you choose the food that they stir-fry and the sauce. I think I will be able to have that when my husband wants Chinese. Personally, I would rather have a big old steak any day!

H20