The optimal order for eating at a buffet.

The Correct Order for Getting Food One: Start with Appetizer Salads

Whether it's a Chinese or Western buffet, starting with salads is proper etiquette. For salads, eat vegetables before seafood. First, because these two types of food are nutritious and low in calories. If you start with rich and fatty foods like braised pork knuckle or barbecued pork, you might not be able to eat much later. Second, the ingredients in salads are fresher than in braised or deep-fried dishes. When choosing salads, you can opt for more sour, spicy, or wasabi-flavored dishes to cut through the grease and whet your appetite. You can take a large portion of vegetarian dishes and only three to four pieces of meat dishes.

The Correct Order for Getting Food Two: Many people think drinking soup before a buffet meal is healthy, but that's not necessarily true

Because buffet soups can contain a lot of salt and fat. If it's a Western-style cream soup, the fat content is even higher. Moreover, drinking soup before the main course can make you feel full very quickly.

The Correct Order for Getting Food Three: Hot dishes are the most important part of the meal, but don't take too many

It's recommended to choose by food category. For meats like fish, shrimp, beef, and chicken, it's best to select only two types, with no more than two pieces of each. Take one to two types of vegetarian dishes and you can take a bit more. You can also choose some bean products like tofu and dried tofu. Eat the vegetarian dishes first, then the semi-vegetarian dishes, and finally the large pieces of meat like steak and pork chops.

The Correct Order for Getting Food Four: Once you start eating hot dishes, you must pair them with staple food

Previously, you may have eaten a lot of fish and shrimp, and you urgently need the rich carbohydrates in staple foods to aid digestion. Additionally, hot dishes are often heavily flavored, and eating too many can make your mouth feel dry and your stomach uncomfortable. Eating some light staple foods can soothe your stomach and reduce your intake of salt and fat. The best staple foods are whole grains, such as rice with corn, steamed taro, and steamed Chinese yam. You can have a variety, but they must be light. Avoid oily and salty options like fried rice and pan-fried buns.

The Correct Order for Getting Food Five: Many people like to start eating fruit only when they are almost finished, but it's actually best to have fruit during the meal

First, many fruits, such as papaya, orange, and pineapple, are rich in carotenoids. Eating them with oily dishes makes them easier for the body to absorb. Second, the fruit acids in fruit can also whet the appetite and cut through grease. If you want to eat more, you can add some sour fruits like kiwi and orange in between.

The Correct Order for Getting Food Six: Dessert is the perfect ending to the meal

Those who don't need to strictly control their calories can choose a small bowl of low-calorie desserts like tremella soup, red bean ice, or sweet fruits, which can aid digestion.

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