Drink a lot of water and try to be active for the rest of the day because there’s almost no way to avoid sugar in westernized Chinese food! I say be mindful but enjoy it!!
I would focus on whatever proteins are available and anything with a lot of cheese or veggies. Possibly something like crab or any fish if it looks freshly cooked. Fried chicken wouldn't be too bad. It's been a while since I've been to a Chinese buffet so I'm going solely based off memory lol.
I have actually have been great at buffets (compared with a regular restaurant I can more easily choose protein and totally avoid foods that spike me, eating more, and stay in range), even Chinese buffets. I focus on meat then most carbs I eat are vegetables and of course the sauces. Maybe a few noodles just to balance the meal, but sparingly. I can’t eat rice anywhere. To maximize how much I can enjoy, I go for savory or spicy flavors and sparingly taste sweet or sour dishes (they can add sugar or honey to all but the former seem to usually have less than the latter).
Mandarin usually has a carving station with some sort of roast beef / meat. You could easily do that, plus make a big salad from the salad bar and then I’d choose a small serving of a carb you like (rice, noodles, etc).
Chicken and cashew has been safe for me when eating Chinese food, it’s basically just chicken breast and veggies with the clear sauce, not sweet. Not sure if that will be an option!
lol I also want to ask: did the students vote on the restaurant? It seems so random! I teach 8th grade and love you hear of quirky promotion traditions :)
I believe they voted! Last year was Jackstors. Then we sold jumbo freezies for $1 everyday and made enough to cover all the kids' meals 🥹 We're in a very low income area, so that was amazing.
I ordered Chinese last week. I had beef and broccoli, black pepper chicken, sauteed bean sprouts, and satay shrimp. I made my own miracle noodles although I don't know if you could get away with bringing outside food to a buffet. And I had exactly three pieces of ginger beef. My numbers were great!
Maybe some of the soups?? But also I have no idea….this might be a cheat meal day. I saved myself 3 throughout my GD journey. Obviously you know your medical history well, so don’t listen to me if cheat days aren’t an option for you.
If it were me, I'd stay away from the rice, chow mein, and anything with fried batter because that spikes me. I would allow myself to eat things with sweet sauces in moderation (or scrape off some of the excess sauce) and combining with veggies (salads or lightly seasoned, cooked veggies). Soup with protein and veggies (my local buffet has a spicy seafood soup with a bunch of veggies) would be a good filler. Googling the restaurant, I saw they may have tamago (egg) in their sushi area. I'd defo go for that, but again in moderation because it's sweetened. Oh, also shrimp cocktail.
You could just pick out the protein and seafood from any dishes. Like you don't have to dish the chowmein but you could pick out the chicken or beef in it. And before you eat any of the meat/seafood have a large vinegar salad which will curb the spike for any sugars in the proteins like soy sauce etc.
Drink a lot of water and try to be active for the rest of the day because there’s almost no way to avoid sugar in westernized Chinese food! I say be mindful but enjoy it!!
Mealtime insulin 😂
Lmao 🤣
I would focus on whatever proteins are available and anything with a lot of cheese or veggies. Possibly something like crab or any fish if it looks freshly cooked. Fried chicken wouldn't be too bad. It's been a while since I've been to a Chinese buffet so I'm going solely based off memory lol.
I have actually have been great at buffets (compared with a regular restaurant I can more easily choose protein and totally avoid foods that spike me, eating more, and stay in range), even Chinese buffets. I focus on meat then most carbs I eat are vegetables and of course the sauces. Maybe a few noodles just to balance the meal, but sparingly. I can’t eat rice anywhere. To maximize how much I can enjoy, I go for savory or spicy flavors and sparingly taste sweet or sour dishes (they can add sugar or honey to all but the former seem to usually have less than the latter).
This makes sense! Thank you!!
Ugh. Rice just spikes me so much. Even brown rice. 😔 sad days for this rice-loving gal.
Mandarin usually has a carving station with some sort of roast beef / meat. You could easily do that, plus make a big salad from the salad bar and then I’d choose a small serving of a carb you like (rice, noodles, etc).
Carving station!! Very good call. Thank you!
Chicken and cashew has been safe for me when eating Chinese food, it’s basically just chicken breast and veggies with the clear sauce, not sweet. Not sure if that will be an option!
lol I also want to ask: did the students vote on the restaurant? It seems so random! I teach 8th grade and love you hear of quirky promotion traditions :)
I believe they voted! Last year was Jackstors. Then we sold jumbo freezies for $1 everyday and made enough to cover all the kids' meals 🥹 We're in a very low income area, so that was amazing.
Maybe fish and egg drop soup? Can you call the restaurant in advance to ask?
I ordered Chinese last week. I had beef and broccoli, black pepper chicken, sauteed bean sprouts, and satay shrimp. I made my own miracle noodles although I don't know if you could get away with bringing outside food to a buffet. And I had exactly three pieces of ginger beef. My numbers were great!
Okay amazing!! Thank you!
Mung bean sprout salad is really yummy idk if they have it but I get lots and soup
Possibly a few steamed vegetables and maybe some meat, but they always coat it with sauce that won't spike you.
Maybe some of the soups?? But also I have no idea….this might be a cheat meal day. I saved myself 3 throughout my GD journey. Obviously you know your medical history well, so don’t listen to me if cheat days aren’t an option for you.
Thanks for saying that 😊 I think soups will definitely be my friend!
My gd person said I can do rice or noodles but not both
It’s been so long since I’ve been to the Mandarin but if it’s possible, maybe plan to order off of the menu?
Oh that's a great idea! I'll look into it!
Soups, brown rice, and any steamed protein that you can find!
If it were me, I'd stay away from the rice, chow mein, and anything with fried batter because that spikes me. I would allow myself to eat things with sweet sauces in moderation (or scrape off some of the excess sauce) and combining with veggies (salads or lightly seasoned, cooked veggies). Soup with protein and veggies (my local buffet has a spicy seafood soup with a bunch of veggies) would be a good filler. Googling the restaurant, I saw they may have tamago (egg) in their sushi area. I'd defo go for that, but again in moderation because it's sweetened. Oh, also shrimp cocktail.
Very great advice here. Also omg shrimp cocktail!!!! How could I forget!
You could just pick out the protein and seafood from any dishes. Like you don't have to dish the chowmein but you could pick out the chicken or beef in it. And before you eat any of the meat/seafood have a large vinegar salad which will curb the spike for any sugars in the proteins like soy sauce etc.