Have you noticed the attraction to “all-you-can-eat” buffets. Whether it’s going to a brunch buffet for a special occasion, or the all too common Asian restaurant that’s reinvented itself into an all-you-can-eat buffet. My personal experience indicates that they are all very similar.

Since this blog is about health & wellness, and I often write about the importance of good nutrition, I felt compelled to explore the “buffet” topic a little further. So I did some research and discovered that the buffet table dates back to the 16th century in Sweden. Who knew?

The smorgasbord table as it was referred to was a place that guests gathered for a pre-dinner drink and meal prior to sitting down to a formal dinner. This reminds me of the cocktail hour that precedes a wedding reception.

The term buffet originated in the 18th century in France and referred to a piece of “sideboard” furniture where food was displayed and served. This serving format became popular in the US during the 20th century.

Today there are many variations that offer a substantial selection of food, including:

• Cafeteria style – where select pre-made dishes are prepared and placed on display.
• Salad bar – where you can choose from a variety of ingredients to build your own, and then in some cases, pay by weight.
• Brazilian-style Rodizio – where roving waiters serve seated patrons by carving barbecued meats on large skewers.
• All -You-Can-Eat (AYCE) – where you pay a fixed fee and help yourself to as much food as you want, or can eat.

I’d like to focus on the “all-you-can-eat” buffet. There are many benefits to this concept. Like having the opportunity to sample different types of food, including a variety of ethnic dishes.

This AYCE format lends itself to going with a group of friends, making it an enjoyable and social experience. And paying one price for all you can eat – what a bargain!

But is it really a bargain? I guess it depends on how you look at it.

The general tendency is to overeat. And that’s one reason why I rarely go to the all-you-can-eat buffet. The second is that the food quality usually isn’t great.

Let’s look at it from a weight-loss perspective. Eating in a restaurant adds additional fat, calories and sodium, unless you ask your server to prepare your meal in a healthier way. Go instead to a buffet where you have no choice in the prep and you’re stacking the odds against you even more.

Here’s my premise: You can eat just about anything you want if you do it in moderation. But if you’re trying to lose 30 pounds, then you should minimize the number of times you eat in restaurants for reasons stated above. And you should definitely NOT pay a visit your local buffet.

You may not like what I’m saying here but you will feel and look better by avoiding them. So remember, stay away from the buffet!

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