When you tell your best friend you love her, you want to do as much as you can to make her calm and comfortable. Pick a time and a place where neither of you will have other big emotional stresses to worry about. It's difficult for anyone to make smart decisions about romantic issues when they're already under pressure from something else. A few examples of things that can make for a less-than-great environment to talk about your feelings with her include: She has something important coming up that she needs to focus on (like a big exam or a role in a play). She has just gotten out of a major relationship (or is still in one this is a definite no-go). She is going through a difficult period in her life (trouble at work or school, family issues, etc.). An example of a good time and place to bring your feelings up is when you're enjoying a comfortable, casual one-on-one hangout on the weekend. Dropping delicate hints about your intentions is a good way to judge your chances of success without putting your friendship at too much of a risk. If she responds to your gentle flirting lukewarmly or seems to feel uncomfortable, you'll know to back off. See our article on flirting for great step-by-step instructions. A few basic tips you may want to keep in mind can be found below: Use affectionate body language. Maintain good eye contact and smile. Touch her arm or shoulder when she makes you laugh. Gently tease her for minor slip-ups. For best results, have a good sense of humor about it and make it obvious that you're kidding. Try to one or two weave compliments into the conversation. If you can do it while also gently teasing her, all the better. Keep things lighthearted and don't come on too strong. You may risk tipping your hand too early or even creeping her out. Dating is something you do after you establish a romantic connection with someone not before. Treating your best friend to a nice candlelit dinner may seem like a nice thing to do, but it can be confusing for her if she doesn't catch on to what you're trying to do (or awkward if she does). Save the presents and formal dinners for later. Your best bet for now is to arrange a much more casual hang-out session. In addition, you'll be spending money (maybe even quite a bit of it) on something that may turn out poorly for you. If you save your money, you can always take someone else on a date if your best friend doesn't have romantic feelings for you. There's almost no way to have this conversation without both of you having strong emotions, so give her the courtesy of a little privacy. You don't have to be completely isolated for this, but it should be someplace comfortable where your conversation won't be overheard and you won't be interrupted. An example of a good place to have this conversation is a bench in a park far away from other people. You'll be comfortable, it will unlikely for other people to interfere, and, best of all, you'll have a romantic view. Whatever you do, don't make a big public spectacle. Remember that there's a significant chance she'll say "no" in this case, attracting a crowd will be very embarrassing for both of you. " When you're with your best friend somewhere private and comfortable, you have one final chance to back out. If you're still ready to go through with things, it's time to tell her what's been on your mind. Do your best to stay relaxed while you open up to your friend. Remember it'll all be over soon, and even if things don't go your way, you'll at least have peace of mind. It's only natural to get some butterflies (and many girls will find a little nervousness cute), but being so nervous that you can barely get your words out will make things a lot harder. See our article on staying calm under stress for more help.
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One-sentence summary -- Wait for an appropriate opportunity. Test the waters with subtle flirting. Don't arrange a "date" yet. Bring your friend somewhere semi-private when you want to tell her. Take a deep breath before you "dive in.

Your eyes may be bigger than your stomach, so consider how much you would like to eat before glancing at the options. Decide how many times you will permit yourself to visit the buffet. Craft a plan and commit to it before hopping in line. Perhaps you will allow yourself to have a small starter, one healthy plate, and a small dessert, or perhaps you would like to have two moderately sized plates for dinner. When you begin to fill up your plate at a buffet, imagine that the plate is divided into four sections. This will help you visualize what a healthy meal should look like. One half of your plate should be reserved for vegetables and fruits, one quarter of the plate should contain a lean protein, and the last quadrant is reserved for whole grains. Focus on filling about half or even three-fourths of these quadrants with vegetables and fruits. Try to fill up on low-calorie, nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits to control your calorie intake while fueling your body. Scan the buffet and look for healthy, lean proteins such as fish, turkey, or chicken. Plan to limit your red meat intake, and avoid processed meats, bacon, and cold cuts. To control your portion sizes, grab a piece of protein that is similar in size to a stacked deck of cards. This should fill about one quadrant of your plate. Look for whole grains like quinoa, whole wheat pasta, or brown rice to fill up the last quadrant of your plate. Avoid processed grains like white rice, white pasta, and white bread. This should fill up the last quadrant of your plate, and should be similar to the size of a hockey puck. Looking at all the delicious food on a buffet may make you very hungry and eager to get back to the table to chow down, but be careful not to eat too quickly. Once you have satisfied your hunger, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to pick up the signal. When you eat slowly, you are giving your brain time to catch up with your stomach to tell you that you are full. Eating slowly can help you consume fewer calories and prevent you from visiting the buffet one too many times.
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One-sentence summary --
Decide how much to eat before you look at the buffet. Imagine your plate is divided in quadrants. Fill your plate with vegetables and fruits. Portion out proteins. Eat a variety of whole grains. Eat slowly to control your food intake.