The Secrets of the Slim at All You Can Eat Buffets

[Elizabeth Anderson RD 669]

Miraculous metabolism? Great genes? How DO some people enjoy the buffet without gaining weight?

Bariatric Dietitian Elizabeth Anderson shares tips from food psychologist and best-selling author, Dr. Brian Wansink and the accidental weight watchers at the buffet.

Now here is a researcher I like. He’s down to earth, funny, non-judgmental and driven to understand what we eat and why.

I recently saw Dr. Brian Wansink speak at the Obesity Action Coalition’s Your Weight Matters 2016 annual convention.

Wansink is Professor and Director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. He’s also the author of the books Mindless Eating and Slim by Design.

Wansink describes his work at the lab this way:

“Using new tools of behavioral science, we invent healthy eating solutions for consumers, companies, and communities. We invent, redesign, and empower.”

Wansink tells great stories about his unique research and I wanted to share one that I thought you might find interesting.

Wansink and his team of researchers were curious how people with ‘normal’ BMIs could frequent all you can eat buffets and not gain weight.

First, he flat-out asked them, “What’s your secret?”

Know what? They honestly didn’t know what they did differently, at all.

Wansink decided to set up cameras and monitor the behaviors of the slim diners at the buffet as well as what people with obesity did. Every. Single. Thing.

After hours and hours of video recording and analysis, Wansink came up with a list of 8 differences between the groups.

The slim diners…

1. Sat an average of 16 ft. away from the salad bar.

2. Sat with their backs to the buffet.

3. Used chopsticks instead of silverware.

4. Put their napkins in their laps.

5. Chewed their food more times.

6. Sat at booths, not tables.

7. Scouted the buffet completely before putting anything on their plates.

8. Used smaller plates.

I think one of the coolest things about this list of behaviors is that the ‘healthy’ weight people unknowingly limited their exposure to food, chose their food with careful consideration and didn’t rush the experience.

Wansink told us the owner of a large chain of buffet restaurants employed some of the slim diners’ habits to subtly influence his customers to eat less. Thus, increase his profit margin.

After just a year, the restauranteur had saved tens of thousands of dollars.

My take-away from Dr. Wansink’s talk is that the food and foodservice industries use science to influence our buying and eating habits. Usually, without our knowledge.

Wansink’s work changes that. It does empower us to be more mindful of the many influences on our food environment and make deliberate choices in light of that.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the buffet, look for me in the booth in the back. J

[Sai 785]

Interesting, thank you for sharing. My husband is naturally thin, and he always gets us a booth far away (if I choose, it's up close and personal haha), he also always sits on the booth side that his back is to the buffet (I'm always facing it lol), and he absolutely scouts the entire bar before deciding what he'll eat first.

[Babbs 14,681]

If I used chopsticks I would starve to death, lol.

[Sai 785]

If I used chopsticks I would starve to death, lol.

hehehehe. I'm Asian so unfortunately I can eat really fast with them. /cry

[OKCPirate 5,323]

If I used chopsticks I would starve to death, lol.

hehehehe. I'm Asian so unfortunately I can eat really fast with them. /cry

Pre-surgery I could eat egg drop Soup with chop sticks.

[Pondlife 42]

I'm not sure about putting napkins on laps and sitting in a booth, I suppose I could tuck a napkin under my fat not that it would serve it's purpose and some people just can't fit in a booth.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,934]

the secret is.... don't eat them... when im forced to go to a buffet i ask for a menu. if they don't have one... i show the my LB card and i get at kids price. pick up the small salad plate, put only what is my limit... and walk away

[Sai 785]

the secret is.... don't eat them... when im forced to go to a buffet i ask for a menu. if they don't have one... i show the my LB card and i get at kids price. pick up the small salad plate, put only what is my limit... and walk away

So far not one restaurant honors my card.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,934]

@Sai187. Always ask to speak to the manager. This helps.

[Sai 785]

@Sai187. Always ask to speak to the manager. This helps.

Ah kk, thank you!

Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

[QueenOfTheTamazons 634]

the secret is.... don't eat them... when im forced to go to a buffet i ask for a menu. if they don't have one... i show the my LB card and i get at kids price. pick up the small salad plate, put only what is my limit... and walk away

What is an LB card?

[summerset 5,265]

I see a whole lot of slim people not eating a lot at buffets. I also see a whole lot of slim people pigging out at buffets, especially young men.

Sure, there might be different behavior but why are genes and metabolism factors (as it seems) left out more and more these days. Is it the new en vogue thing? Too depressing for people to hear "sorry, you were just unlucky"? Too many people using "genes and metabolism" as an excuse to get even fatter ("I can't do anything about it anyway so why bother")? Is it supposed to be empowering or something?

Interestingly enough I can find myself in a whole lot of the criteria that were listed (always could) but look at me - I got fat anyway! So I'm a bit cautious about these types of lists what "naturally slim people do and don't", also because I know quite a bunch of naturally slim people who should be way fatter than they are when looking at the behavior they display.

Anyway, Brian Wansink has published some interesting stuff over the years. I always have to smile a little when thinking about the wine anecdote he tells in one of his books.

[TAJ718 17]

the secret is.... don't eat them... when im forced to go to a buffet i ask for a menu. if they don't have one... i show the my LB card and i get at kids price. pick up the small salad plate, put only what is my limit... and walk away

What is an LB card?

What is an LB card?

[Steven1954 89]

Adjustable gastric LAPBAND card. After the lapband surgery they give you one to keep in your wallet in case of emergency. I had a port infection and needed the card so the hospital would have the right parts to change The card has the brand of band installed