While I don’t make a habit of it, there’s nothing like eating at a buffet restaurant every once in a while. Who wouldn’t be excited by the prospect of an endless supply of food?! I am. However, you might be surprised to learn that buffet restaurants are designed with a few sneaky tricks up their sleeves.
When it comes to buffet food, you probably already know that many buffets, especially Chinese buffets, contain MSG. Buffets add MSG to their food because it makes people feel fuller faster, which saves buffets money (and therefore money) on food resources.
However, even buffets that do not use MSG are strategic when it comes to food. You may have noticed that carbohydrate-rich dishes such as potatoes, fries, rice, etc. are constantly refilled and filled to the brim. This is because these foods are extremely cheap and fill people up faster. Buffets fill dishes like meat and seafood at a much slower rate because these foods are more expensive and they want people to be full from the cheaper dishes.
You’ve probably also realized that buffet plates are smaller than the average plate. However, when you fill it with food, it feels like you are eating a ton. Buffets use these special plates to encourage people to take less food when they actually think they are taking a ton and getting their money’s worth.
Have you noticed that most buffet restaurants offer unlimited refills on sodas and serve the drinks to their customers in very large glasses? The servers seem to appear the second you take a sip of your soda or water, and refill it immediately. This is because buffet restaurants want you to be full from your drinks, which makes you want to eat less.
The next time you go to a buffet restaurant, pay attention to these things. We are not saying that buffet restaurants are bad. We’re just letting you know about these common tricks that allow restaurants to make big profits. Pay attention to these sneaky habits and make sure you get your money’s worth the next time you visit a buffet.
