This post is sponsored by The Laughing Cow® and features a fun giveaway that I assembled myself that I hope you guys will love! I am an official brand advocate for The Laughing Cow® in 2014 and while I receive compensation for participation, opinions are my own. I hope you enjoy this post and thanks so much for your support!
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you likely already know that I consider myself a very fast eater. (Remember this blog post when I talked about some of the methods Ryan and I use to try to prolong our dinner dates!?) Slowing down and savoring my food takes effort on my part. I’ve always been a really fast eater and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been one of the first people to clear my plate in almost any social setting.
When The Laughing Cow® reached out to me about their new initiative that centers around savoring snack time, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I know I personally could stand to slow down and enjoy my food a little more and this seemed like a good push to brainstorm ways to make myself take a moment and enjoy what I’m eating.
Below you will find some tips and tricks I’ve been trying to practice during snack and meal times to help me appreciate what I’m eating and actually experience food rather than just inhaling it all the time. I’ve also featured some food pairings with The Laughing Cow Cheeses to give you some snack time inspiration!
Simple Tips for Savoring Snack Time
- Step Away from Electronic Distractions
All too often I’ll eat when I’m working at the computer and look up and think to myself, “I don’t even remember tasting that meal!” What a shame! I never watch TV during the day, but I am on the computer all the time. I also check my phone a lot since I use it to respond to emails, blog comments and other work-related tasks. By stepping away from electronic distractions, I feel much more in the moment and this makes me concentrate on tasting and savoring my snacks and meals.
Crisp Apple Slices + Roasted Almonds + The Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
- Place My Fork Down In Between Bites
This is a tip I read in a magazine years ago that really does work. I tend to shovel food in my mouth a little too quickly, and taking the time to put down my fork or spoon in between bites extends mealtime a little bit and allows me to think more about what I’m eating and enjoy it.
Cucumber Slices + The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Garlic & Herb Cheese Wedges + Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Enjoy A Snack with a Mug of Hot Tea
This is something I tend to do at breakfast time that makes my morning meal last a little longer, so I tried extending it to snack time and it really does help! If I fix myself an afternoon snack and a hot cup of tea, I’m much more likely to sit down and enjoy my snack rather than grabbing it and stuffing it into my mouth while I’m on the go. Which leads me to my next bullet point…
Gluten-Free Almond Crackers + Ham Pinwheels + The Laughing Cow Creamy White Cheddar Cheese Wedges + Cracked Pepper
- Sit Down
I am the queen of eating at the kitchen counter. When I make myself grab a plate or a bowl and take my snack to the table, it seems to send a message to my brain that this is a time I need to chill out and enjoy what I’m eating rather than eat something as fast as possible before it’s onto the next thing.
Fresh Strawberries + Pretzel Crisps + The Laughing Cow Creamy Light Swiss Cheese Wedges
- Break the Routine
I tend to eat the same snacks over and over again until I get sick of them and discover something new. When I take the time to get a little creative in the kitchen and try something new, I find that I’m a lot more likely to notice and enjoy what I am eating.
And now it’s giveaway time!
I have personally assembled a giveaway worth $300 for one PBF reader to win! I tried to select items to help you kick back and relax a bit so you can thoroughly savor your meals and snacks!
This giveaway includes:
- $100 lululemon gift card – For you to pick up some super cute, comfy lounge-worthy apparel that you can also wear in public
- Cable knit throw from Pottery Barn – To curl up with while you enjoy a delicious snack this winter
- Le Creuset tea kettle (color of your choice) – To brew a hot beverage to sip while you eat
- Anthropologie mug with your initial – So you can sip your tea in style
- Snack Time Kit from The Laughing Cow
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling me about one of the tricks you use to encourage yourself to slow down and savor your food or tell me about your favorite snack!
I will randomly select a winner on Friday.
Good luck!
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My favorite snack is salsa and advocado on top of toast! I eat super fast, my daughter is always telling me to slow down! Ha.
I try to turn off electronics and sit at the table to remove distractions and slow down my eating. It also helps if I force myself to put down my fork and take breaks when eating.
A snack I love is yogurt with chocolate sprinkles!
Favorite snacks are hummus and pita or rice cakes with laughing cow cheese. Both taste so good and I don’t feel guilty eating them.
My Favorite snack is bananas & peanut butter! Instead of dipping the banan right in the jar, I slice it up and really try to enjoy every bite!
I definitely eat too fast — putting my fork down between bites is something I’ve been working on, and it really does help!!
Sometimes I listen to peaceful music which allows me to be more mindful about breathing, chewing, and looking out the window while I eat.
I slow down by drinking a bottle of water with my meal!
I LOVE laughing cow 🙂 One of my favorite snacks is the laughing cow cinnamon cream cheese on pretzel crisps!
My favorite snack lately is hummus with carrots/crackers. Yum!
The hot tea trick works great for me! I love some kind of home baked treat (a muffin or bar) in the afternoon to tide me over until dinner.
I always slow down and savor my food more when I take the time to sit down and dine with someone else!
My new favorite snack is pretzel crisps with roasted pine nut hummus… yum! I do this after a long day at work and while chatting with my hubby.
My trick for snack time is looking at my plate and identifying all of my nutrients and flavors. Then as I’m eating them I like to circle back to what I identified in the beginning. It really makes me mindful and aware of my snacks! My favorite lately has been a piece of cinnamon raisin ezekiel bread with almond butter and sliced banana!
I love to have a piece of reduced fat cheese and a serving of Nut Thins.
My go-to snack is kashi bars /banana/ raw almonds
Since I work from home, I tend to eat in front of my computer. I am trying to step away for 10-15 min to enjoy my afternoon snack (though I do love surfing the web whilst I snack!)
One of my favorite snacks is grapes and hummus. takes longer to dip and eat!
My favorite snack is an apple with nut butter, or greek yogurt with granola or cereal 🙂
My favorite snack is an apple with almond butter…topped with a bunch of cinnamon! Sweet and simple!
I LOVE carrots and hummus!
Wow, this giveaway is amazing!!
I think limiting electronics and distractions is definitely the key to mindful eating. Also, I like my food to be REALLY hot. If I feel like it might be getting cold, I’ll eat too fast to finish it before it does.
My favorite snacks are a Laughing Cow wedge, Ezekiel wrap, almonds, crackers and turkey slices!
obviously this doesn’t happen all the time because everyone has crazy schedules, but if i can get my whole family (me, husband and 2 little ones) all at the table at the same time, i’m much less distracted and tend to slow down and enjoy my meal with my family (rather than running around after somebody while shoving forkfuls in my face! haha)
I like to make a snack plate with grapes, red delicious apples, broccoli and carrots.
My all time favorite snack is an apple with a handful of raw almonds. Simple, portable, and delicious!
I also eat way too fast! My family always makes fun of my saying that “no one is going to take it from you, relax a little.” I never really tried any tricks to slow down so I love this post and all of your suggestions. Eating in front of the TV is definitely an issue for me. The snack I love the most is cheese and crackers. I never really make it at home, but at a party it is the first thing I go for.
I’m guilty of eating way too fast… I have to really remind myself to slow down. Putting my fork down and grabbing a sip of water is really the only thing that has worked for me, but I still end up being the first one done.
I try to slow down by taking a sip of water every few bites! I also love snacking on turkey and cheese roll-ups or apples and peanut butter!
I like to arrange my snack on a pretty plate! I feel like when I take the time to do that, it makes it seem more special and I take my time while eating.
I love to mix some peanut butter and greek yogurt together to make a yummy dip for fruit. Delicious and satisfying!
My favorite snack right now is a scoop of peanut butter with sliced banana’s and chocolate chips 🙂
I tell myself I can check my favorite blogs after my snack so as to ensure that I finish eating as soon as I’m full (rather than when I finish the bag/box/whatever).
My ex-boyfriend was the world’s most thorough chewer of food. And it was to the point that he ate more than me, but slower. So imagine how long our meals would take…! He would say that it’s better to digest more of the food in your mouth (sounds gross, but it’s true) than to make your stomach have to work harder to digest it. So when we would eat together, I would practice chewing each bite into a bit more of a mush (again, gross…) so that I could stay closer to his (healthier) pace!
Also this is a fantastic giveaway, you did an amazing job picking THE BEST things!
Drink lots of water while eating! A sip between every couple of bites helps to slow down a bit!
To slow down my eating at lunch, I step away from the computer and give myself at least 30 minutes to sit down at the table and enjoy my meal. I work from home and I find it all too easy to be glued to the computer all day unless I force myself to eat in the other room. Free from distractions is the best way to eat slower and enjoy what I have prepared for lunch!
To savor snacks, I like cutting my sandwiches and fruit up instead of biting into it whole.
Currently loving apple slices and string cheese – the perfect combo to hold me over between lunch and dinner. Have also tried to eat away from my computer, spending 10-15 minutes reading a magazine or taking my snack outside to eat in the fresh air!
I have noticed that I subconsciously eat faster to keep up with my husband, so if I remember I try to eat with my left hand (I’m right-handed). It definitely makes the meal last longer!
My favorite snack is peanut butter on toast with cinnamon! I also love greek yogurt with fresh fruit or nuts.
Fast eating has never been a problem for me but finding healthy, balanced snacks has. I’m an incredibly (some say infuriatingly) slow eater. But I’ve also never been a big snacker. Now I find myself so unbelievably hungry at the end of my work day that I shovel the first thing I find into my mouth when I get home. I want to really work on planning and enjoying balanced snacks so this doesn’t continue. My favorite snack would have to be apples. So sweet, like candy!
love popcorn with old bay on it!
My favorite snack is some hummus and crackers! I try to set my fork down in between bites and also focus on chewing my food to slow down and savor!
My favorite snack is crackers with muenster cheese and turkey slices. Adult lunchable style.
My favorite healthy snack is a granola spread with peanut butter…and sprinkled with a few chocolate chips! 🙂
What a great giveaway! I try to count my chews and put down my food in between bites. Right now I’m all about tomatoes, but I’m sure it will soon be apples & caramel for my snacks.
I try to drink a large glass of water when I eat/snack! It helps me slow down and fills me up more!
celery with peanut butter is my go to snack! i need to try some of these methods – especially the turning off electronics!
I try to not eat snacks at my desk. i try to get outside for a quick break from the office, if possible. i can then enjoy my food, and the outdoors 🙂
Great giveaway!
Love these tips! I try to drink a full glass of water with meals to help me eat a little slower.