Seasoned buffet veterans have given their top tips for how to get the most out of an all-you-can-eat situation while away on holiday.
Research, temperance and the correct use of utensils are key elements in the huge amount of advice offered to a mum on a family trip away.
Writing on Mumsnet, the parent said she was away on holiday and was concerned she'd lost her knack when it came to the buffet.
"I am currently on an all-inclusive, and may have lost my mojo," she admitted.
"I blame the need to feed the kids with healthy food - cucumber, tomato, melon etc. on a little plastic plate - and am not rinsing managing the buffet as effectively as I would have in times of yore.
"How do you approach it?"
The question inspired hundreds of answers, highlighting quite how seriously British people take the topic.
One woman recommended keeping children away from certain items to avoid any potentially trip ruining periods of sickness.
"Stay away from the cucumber," she warned. "This reminds me of a holiday in Greece with my two dear sons. We had a lovely buffet, but 8-year-old son piled his plate with cucumber.
"I told him he had way too much, but no, he had to eat it. The next day he was violently sick and spent two days in bed."
Several people suggested taking time to design a meal, rather than having a small bit of everything that doesn't form a cohesive whole.
"If you're looking for ideas for making your own dish out of what's on offer, my favourite salad is watermelon with feta, onions and olives," one mum wrote.
"We don't go all inclusive, but these ingredients or some of them are often on the breakfast buffet. Add a drizzle of oil and vinegar if available."
One woman advised approaching the buffet as a holiday long event, rather than taking each meal time as it came.
"Day 1: eat a bit of almost everything, feel stuffed and vaguely sick," she wrote.
"Day 2: work out what are the recurring items, so no need to prioritise. Take smaller servings of what looks best to try, with DH taking different things. Go back for more of the good bits. Stop whilst not too full to allow more cake eating.
"Day 3: eat things that go together e.g. lasagne and pizza or various curry bits but not both.
"Every day: Avoid bread. Bread is always there at home and is too filling."
Another mum said that she liked to deploy her children as mini-butlers, training them "to refill your drinks. Darling daughter is six and did a great job."
A key tip was making the most of the utensils at your disposal.
"Use a soup bowl for a side salad," one mum wrote. "There is nothing worse than piling it all on with the hot stuff. Have a good look around before picking a main. Eat all the puddings."
Another suggested a different tack of going all in.
"Walk up to the buffet. Eat everything like a hungry pig then walk away," she wrote. "That's my strategy."
One mum said the best approach was to break the different plates down into food groups.
"Don't pile your plate too high (you will be judged) but on a main course plate go for the premium stuff first, crab, giant prawns, lobster/langoustines if available, plus any spicy chicken, lamb or beef kebabs if you like that," she wrote.
"Go up for seconds if you like. It looks better that way than piling the plate sky-high.
"Next trip up, carbs -- potato salad or chips, or lasagne, risotto. Take a separate plate and get some of the best looking salads, eg Greek, or mixed vegetables like ratatouille or similar. Bread too if you like.
"Then puddings or the ice cream fountain/cart. Fresh fruit like mangoes. Cheeses if you're not too stuffed."
What is your approach to a holiday buffet? Tell us in the comments below.
