7 Mistakes To Avoid While Eating At All You Can Eat

Illustration of all you can eat food (Freepik/zaniastudio)

JAKARTA - Eating at a buffer restaurant or All You Can Eat or AYCE allows you to eat all the food. This makes the experience fun for many people. You can enjoy various dishes freely on time.

Unfortunately, many common mistakes are often made by people when eating at AYCE restaurants. This error is not only related to how to fill the stomach properly. But prepare mentally and physically so you can enjoy food optimally.

Making the wrong choice can lead to wasted foods, digestive disorders, or missed opportunities. This can change the eating experience that should be fun to regret.

By avoiding these mistakes, you will leave AYCE satisfied without regrets. Here are 7 mistakes that should be avoided while eating at AYCE, as reported by VOI from the Tasting Table page on Friday, November 22, 2024.

1. Eat In Empty Stomach Condition

Many people are tempted to skip meals before going to AYCE. They do this so they can eat more at AYCE. But this is not a good idea. When you are hungry, the body just wants to eat. It feels very difficult to enjoy the food well if what you want is just to fill your stomach.

Eating in an empty stomach, it is likely to make you eat too fast. This can cause digestive disorders and discomfort. Before realizing it, you are full without enjoying all the food in AYCE.

Instead, eat a little before eating at AYCE, to endure hunger. This will make you more relaxed and enjoy eating at AYCE.

2. Don't make a plan

Once you get to AYCE, you may immediately choose favorite foods and stack dishes. This is a common mistake, because it needs to control enthusiasm and make plans first.

See all the available dishes, choose which one to taste. You can plan which food to try first and which one to take later. If you are in a hurry to choose, you can skip the dish that should be tried.

Making plans also helps you see where the queues, which foods have just been served, and unique dishes that might attract attention. For example, if there is a long line for certain dishes, you can switch to other areas and come back later.

3. Don't consume Sweet Drinks

Choosing the right drink can greatly affect how you enjoy AYCE. If your goal is to eat as much as possible and get the best value, water is the best choice.

Water will keep the body hydrated, helps digestion, and does not add calories. This will balance the pleasure of eating and reduce feelings of guilt. While sweet drinks or alcohol are tempting, they can add calories and make them full quickly.

However, we didn't say to just drink water. For some people, a glass of cold beer can be a perfect complement. It doesn't matter, but remember that this can reduce the amount of food to eat. In essence, choose what you enjoy the most, but if you want to eat as much as possible, keep choosing water.

4. Not Paying Attention to Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are food groups that are often underestimated, even though they provide long-term energy. However, carbohydrate consumption can cause water retention and is often avoided by people on a diet.

Complex carbohydrates, such as those found in pasta and rice. This is longer digested and makes you full faster. This can be very good for managing portions, but it's not ideal for those who want to eat as much as possible at AYCE.

We don't say to avoid carbohydrates completely, but keep in mind that this is one of the foods that AYCE should avoid. Proteins from meat are digested more quickly and are usually better. If you like pasta, bread, and potatoes, don't feel guilty about taking them. Just remember, this can keep you from eating as much as you want.

5. Taking a clean plate

If you come back to pick up more food, make sure to use a clean plate. There are two reasons for this. First, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Second, so that the taste of the food is maintained and not mixed with the rest of the food from the previous plate. The new plate is preferred by other visitors and the AYCE restaurant.

6. Piles up food on the plate

There is a natural urge to accumulate plates as high as possible, as if forgetting that you can come back to take more. This can cause a waste of food and make it difficult for you to enjoy every meal well. Instead, take small portions, enjoy food, and come back again to try other dishes. Taking a small portion also reduces waste and increases your enjoyment.

7. Forget Dessert

It can be very disappointing when you enjoy the main dish a lot. However, you feel too full and forget about desserts. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain that you are full.

Therefore, when you start to feel a little full, there are still 20 minutes left until your brain really knows what's happening in the stomach. You feel your stomach can still hold one more plate and then finish it with a dessert.