Eating Healthy at Golden Corral

You are sure to find "friendly service, great value and fresh and tasty food" when you dine at Golden Corral, but if you are not careful you will also find that you overextended your calorie intake as well. One of the typical recommendations when choosing a restaurant is to avoid "all-you-can-eat" places because the endless buffet provides an opportunity to become overwhelmed by all the choices and eat too many tempting favorites. When visiting the Golden Corral's Endless Buffet, there some helpful guidelines to keep in mind to help you stay on track.

• Many people are looking for lower-sodium options, it is important to understand that most of the items here are higher in sodium.
  
  
• Check out the Applewood Grill portion of the buffet where you will find entrée options that are 250 calories per serving or less. Consider a one piece serving of Applewood Bacon-wrapped Sirloin (250 calories, 12 g fat, 720 mg sodium) or Applewood Crab Stuffed Yellowfin Sole (130 calories, 14 g fat, 820 mg sodium). If salad is more what you have in mind, select the Applewood Bacon Spinach Salad (100 calories, 11 g fat, 340 mg sodium) with a two tablespoon serving of fat-free salad dressing (35-40 calories, 0 g fat, 250-300 mg sodium).
• Remember that portion control is key. A portion is the size you take or choose to eat and a serving is the recommended amount you need for nutrition. Many times those are not the same but part of your key to success when eating at a buffet is for them to be close to the same. Select a one piece serving of Shrimp Flatbread (120 calories, 4.5 g fat, 260 mg sodium), Awesome Pot Roast (100 calories, 4.5 g fat, 200 mg sodium) or Baked Florentine Fish (180 calories, 12 g fat, 290 mg sodium) as nutrient-rich, portion-controlled options.
  
  
• One of the benefits of a buffet is the variety of choices that are available. You can count on the price while being able to make different selections each time you visit based on what sounds good to you at the time. The key to remember is that a buffet provides choices but should not be a place to pig out.
• When making selections at a buffet remember to focus on building a complete meal instead of trying to get your money's worth. After you select an entree, be sure to look for a fruit and low fat dairy serving as well. Use steamed veggies to fill your plate and as an option if you feel you need to go back for seconds. Some of the best veggie choices include half cup servings of steamed broccoli (25 calories, 0 g fat, 190 mg sodium), steamed cauliflower (20 calories, 0 g fat, 180 mg sodium), collard greens (35 calories, 1 g fat, 330 mg sodium), or green beans (35 calories, 1.5 g fat, 520 mg sodium).
  
  
• While the numerous dessert options will be tempting, consider a serving of escalloped apples (130 calories, 1.5 g fat, 20 mg sodium) for a sweet treat at the end of your meal.
  
  
• You can see a complete nutritional list by visiting the Golden Corral website.