Beige Buffett tomorrow….what’s the best strategy?

[BarrelOfOtters]

Straight after work do, I can happily skip the alcohol but there’ll be a full on beige buffet. What’s the best way of not blowing the diet?

Grab a meal shake on your way, have that, and then politely nibble on a bit of salad or fruit if there is any or maybe couple of crackers or whatever.
They must be something they’re remotely healthy, surely?

Indeed just assume you can't have anything. It's one of the good things about buffets you can just say 'ill have something later/I've just had some thanks.' and no one will know better because it isn't formal seating.

Beige buffets usually come accompanied by some salad, even if it's an afterthought or decoration so I would fill up on the salad and try to stick to protein for the remainder e.g. cheese/ham/tuna if it's available. Often there are crudites or a fruit bowl too so that would be an option. I would completely avoid the traditional beige party foods e.g. sausage rolls, chicken strips etc... as apart from the calories they will be loaded with salt and if you're a daily weigher you'll likely carry some extra water weight for a few days temporarily.

I eat something before so I am not as tempted to pick at it, but usually there are some vegetable options or chicken

Eat before you go. Definitely don't go there hungry. You don't want to eat it. You don't have to eat it. Just don't eat it. I'd be tempted not to even start picking at the garnishes - but if you aren't hungry it will be much easier. Carry a bag - hard to eat with a glass in one hand and a bag in the other. Wear a white top - you don't want greasy beige flecks and sweet chilli sauce down it. Good luck!

Bring some carrot sticks and humus and discreetly put it on the table. That way you can grab a plate and look like you’re joining in. Go for salad or some fruit if they have any. Allow yourself to have some small bits of protein like chicken goujons. If you want a glass of wine have a small one - one meal isn’t going to make a difference if you are still restrained.

It's one meal. Unclench.

When I've been hungry and confronted by beige, I just used to pick the fillings out of the sandwiches (low carbing so slices of cheese and ham, tuna mayo etc were fine). That used to keep me going until I could get something decent later.

Even not on a diet I don’t think I’d be very tempted. I know the venue and it will be bowls of crisps, grated mild cheese, wet ham, tuna or egg with mayo for the sandwiches on ‘plastic’ bread.

Meat and onion or cheese and onion pasties, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages. Maybe some chicken on a stick….but that would be considered racey.

There is very unlikely to be even a token bit of iceberg lettuce garnish.

It’s a leaving do straight from work so I think I’ll have something before I go so I’m not starving and tempted by the pastry.

It's one meal. Unclench

Agree with this, it's not very sustainable to have this literal of an approach to a diet in my experience; you don't have to gorge, but I'm sure there will be some obviously lower calorie options, just pick a bit and have your normal dinner later?

Often these types of buffets are not even nice and the options are limited to cheap bread and pastry, which not everyone wants to eat? My MIL used to make these types of buffets but now she does include carrots specially for me. Yay 😂