Has anybody got a way to measure food intake for a buffet-style dinner?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to keep an accurate food diary, but I come across a tricky issue that many Americans may not face. As I still live with my parents, my mother mostly prepares the meals. She has a day job with a regular workweek, so sometimes when she cannot make it home, I would substitute... which tends to be what we usually eat every night. Every night, we usually eat steamed rice, because we interpret noodles as either snack food or easy-and-fast food. Then, we usually have stir-fried dishes (may include yesterday's leftovers), red-cooked meat, and sometimes steamed eggs (which may be made with 2 or 3 large chicken eggs). Breakfast and lunch seem to be easier to track, because I tend to eat the usual American foods, and they have Nutrition Facts labels.

[Stefan1738]

Bring a food scale to the buffet... I'm just kiddin'

When I'm at a buffet, I throw my macros out the door. Which is why I normally avoid going to those type of places. But if you have to eat out, just choose the most healthier option.

[Asker]

You don't understand. My mother usually home-cooks the meals and sets the table like a buffet. The dishes are only limited by what she has made for the evening, by what she has in the refrigerator, and by what she or my dad buys (which usually depends on what vegetable or grocery item is on sale). At every dinner, rice will be served. Please google "Chinese dinner set-up".

[BellePepper]

Well look up how much a serving if rice is worth and then how much a serving of meat and veg and eggs are worth. A lot if apps will even work it out for you. As you get used to counting you'll probably be able to tell after a bit.