Restaurant Card ??

Nearly ANYWHERE you go, you can ask for ala carte items, something prepared simply (such as grilled).  There is no need to eat off a buffet, ever. 

Instead of ordering off a children's menu, order from the appetizer menu.  You're bound to find much healthier items.

If you travel a lot, look into stocking up on non-perishable items that are easy to stow away, and require no refrigeration.  It's not really that hard to do.

-Cyn

There is no need to eat off a buffet, ever. 

No, of course it's not a need. Certainly I could stay home by myself while my extended family goes out for Christmas dinner at  a buffet restaurant. 

If you travel a lot, look into stocking up on non-perishable items that are easy to stow away, and require no refrigeration.  It's not really that hard to do.

Nope, not hard at all. Obviously I can eat tuna or peanut butter in my hotel room while everyone goes out to dinner.

So far I've been ordering appetizers and taking most of them home. I want to keep my options open.

Isn't the actual joy of the event being with friends and family?

I think as MO folks with a fat mentality we think of everything being centered around food.  Isn't the real issue here quality time spent with those we love?

Of course the joy of the event is being with friends and family! That's why I want to accompany them when they choose to have meals at restaurants (instead of following your suggestion of finding things I can eat by myself in my hotel room while traveling). That was my point, in answer to your post that there's never any reason to eat at a buffet. I wouldn't choose a buffet if it were my choice, nor would I dream of trying to impose what's best for MEEEEE on the majority's choice of restaurant.

But I'm not going to overeat, even at a buffet, and, if the restaurant is OK with it, I would prefer to pay an amount that's more in keeping with the amount I'm eating.

I suggested no such thing.  I never suggested you find things you can eat by yourself in your hotel room.  I also never wrote that you should never eat at a buffet, quite the opposite.

You're right, you're not the one who said that. I apologize.

I never suggested she not go to a buffet either, I think she's just cranky and hungry.

-Cyn

So your comment to me that There is no need to eat off a buffet, ever, isn't saying that people (presumably me, since you were replying to my comment) shouldn't go to buffets? Then please do elaborate what you meant by that.

I'm not telling you where you should or should not go.  I said there was no NEED to eat at a buffet, ever.  Well, I suppose if you found yourself stranded on a desert island, crawling on your hands and knees, suffering from hunger and thirst and suddenly found yourself approaching a Golden Coral...

I already explained elsewhere in the thread how to handle the choice of buffet eating, choice being the key word.  I'm assuming you're unable or unwilling to convince your co-eaters to avoid buffets, for the time being, since you're fairly early out from surgery and can't possible eat your money's worth quite yet.  That's sad.

Bon Appetit,

-Cyn

"No, of course it's not a need. Certainly I could stay home by myself while my extended family goes out for Christmas dinner at  a buffet restaurant. 

Nope, not hard at all. Obviously I can eat tuna or peanut butter in my hotel room while everyone goes out to dinner.

So far I've been ordering appetizers and taking most of them home. I want to keep my options open."

I realize you just want what you want (to go to a buffet of all places...yuck) and to argue, so I'll play along.

LOL, There are no other restaurants that your family could go to other than a buffet restaurant?  

LOL, There are no other restaurants that your co-workers could go to other than a buffet restaurant?

Eventually, you'll be a able to eat most of an appetizer.  You really will.

-Cyn