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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One way I work on slowing down and savor ing my food is by focusing on chewing my food to almost a liquid. This was and still is hard for me at times as I tend to shovel food in my mouth and eat quickly. By practicing your tips above(putting fork down, removing technology) and focusing on eat bite and chewing, I find I actually taste the food when I eat and enjoy the flavors each bite has to offer. Also, thanks for hosting this lovely giveaway.
My go-to snack at work is the handful of raw almonds from Trader Joe’s. They are super easy to throw in my desk drawer and tide me over between breakfast and lunch.
My favorite snack is an apple with almond butter! Or a lightly grilled banana drizzled with honey! Yum!
Oh man…I’m so so so guilty of this. I INHALE my food. So, I do not have any good tricks to slow down my eating but I’m loving homemade peanut butter and jelly protein bars. So incredibly good!
You definitely have to get rid of the distractions. No phone, computer or TV while eating. I’ve found that when I do this, I really TASTE my food and enjoy it so much more!
I do not have any suggestions on slowing down eating. My husband and I have the same problem and always have a good laugh that we are done with our romantic dinner in under 10 minutes. 🙂 So I will list my favorite snack which is sweet potato chips or a rice cake with sunflower butter With sprinkled coconut flakes. 🙂
I try to drink a glass of water first, so I’m not starving and gobble up the snack! Then I just try to chew thoroughly and enjoy it! Eating mindfully is a skill!
I try to make sure whe I sit down it is just me and my snack. No phone tablet or any other distractions.
If I am really trying to slow down and enjoy my meal I will put my fork/spoon down in between bites. I will wait until I am 100% finished chewing and swallowing before I take my next bite. Thanks for the giveaway!
Make sure I’m drinking enough water!
I try to drink a lot of water throughout the day, especially when I’m eating. By taking a sip of water every couple bites, it helps me slow down and enjoy my food, and it also helps with preventing overeating!
When I snack, I try to do it around great company. Usually we are about to head out to practice (I coach college lacrosse) so I will go sit with my assistants and just chat. Hopefully, the snack I made is large enough to share. Food is better when others are enjoying it as well :).
my favorite snack is either trail mix or a smoothie!
Have a glass of water before your meal and eat slowly! If I am still feeling hungry after I eat, I have another glass of water and do something to distract myself, like go for a walk or read a book.
I’m actually a super slow eater naturally so I usually have to try to keep up with the other people I’m eating with. 🙂 My favorite snack is apple slices paired with slices of parmesan cheese.
My favorite snack is apple slices and peanuts butter with some chocolate chips so delicious!!
I tend to snack when I am bored at work and often times am not even hungry. In order to help curb that I have tried to implement 1st taking a quick walk around the office and getting some water. Then when I sit back down at my desk a few minutes later if I still really want to go back into the kitchen for a snack I will. At least I gave my body and mind that time to decide if it was hunger or boredom (sometimes it is both!). Also, as a lot of people mentioned, slowing down and enjoying is also important. Now off to the kitchen I go 🙂
My favorite snack is a carob covered brown rice cake with organic peanut butter (or almond butter) with slices of bananas!!!! I take a bit and put it down to try and savor it. 🙂
I agree with the trick of walking away from the electronics, it helps me to slow day and take a break and enjoy my food instead of eating over my keyboard.
To help me slow down when I eat I do my best to stop and be more a part of the ongoing conversation as I don’t like to talk with a mouthful of food. However I too am a fast easter and my siblings still try to get done before me whenever I go home.
I try not to let myself take another bite until I have fully finished the first bite! This prevents me from “shoveling” my food and enables me to tell when I’m really full. My favorite snack is one I’ve been eating since kindergarten–-apple slices with peanut butter and raisins on top!
Anything to do with fruit is my favorite kind of snack!
I love cocoa almonds. I need to get better at slowing down when I eat.
Honestly, I find that eating something I have to chew makes me slow down (carrots, celery). Another thing I like is eating something in small bites: like eating popcorn one at a time or dry cereal piece by piece instead of by the handfuls lol
I love bananas and peanut butter. Might add chocolate chips now as I see in other comments. Now I’m hungry!
My favorite snack lately has been veggies and a single-serving hummus pack. The single-serving pack makes it so I’m not mindlessly overeating and the fibrous veggies make me chew much slower than I normally do. A win-win!
One of my very favorite snacks is walnuts inside date halves. It’s nature’s candy!
I eat things like yogurt with a fork! Sounds silly, but it makes me slow down and enjoy smaller bites instead of rushing through my snack. It makes it last longer and I end up feeling appropriately full… my eyes are always bigger than my stomach!
I, too am a very fast eater…I always have been. My husband eats much more slowly…so often I am sitting there waiting for him to finish and I feel bad. So a way that I am able to slow down and savor my food is by taking a sip of my drink every two bites or so. It helps with digestion and keeps me from over-eating as well. =)
With three busy kids I find it almost impossible to slow down and savor food! My favorite snack is veggies and hummus.
A handle of almonds always does the trick! If I am with other people I really try to listen when they are talking which naturally makes me eat slower.
I pay attention to my chewing! If I force myself to chew so many times, I tend to slow down and be more aware of my food!!
I like to sit down with my daughter and have an afternoon snack together. It helps me relax, slow down and enjoy time with her!
My favorite snack is a tablespoon of almond butter and a small apple. I am usually typing away at work when I eat a snack so I usually force myself to eat a small slice of apple with the AB and then answer an email, or do something in between slices to make sure that I don’t inhale my snack!
Favorite snack has to be apples and almond butter… actually anything with almond butter .
I love a hot cup of tea with a sweet treat. It reminds me to slow down and enjoy the snack. It’s so easy to inhale something in the kitchen so it’s always helpful to sit down and relax.
My favorite snack is smart pop popcorn, it takes awhile to eat and keeps me full!
I’m probably the worst when it comes to distracted snacking! I try to slow down by drinking lots of water while snacking, but I’ll have to try the hot tea tip!
I try not to eat while on the computer or watching TV!
I’m actually the world’s slowest eater but one way I make sure to savor my snacks is by taking a sip of water between bites.
I find that if I am willing to lay it out on the plate all pretty, I will take the time to savor the moment when eating a snack. Possibly even find a cozy spot on my patio to take a moment.. Right now my ABSOLUTE favorite snack is Simply Balanced (target brand) Rosemary and Fig multigrain crisps with a little slice of white sharp cheddar cheese. SO DELICIOUS. Makes me crave it just sitting here at my computer (even though I snacked on some for part of my lunch). Doesn’t taste too bad with a glass of wine either for a little additional flavor (wine not recommended for office snacking.)
Love this post! I also tend to shovel my food or eat standing up. The setting your fork down between bites trick really works for me. Finishing a glass of water during my meal helps me to not eat as quickly as well and helps me to feel fuller.
I love having something healthy and sweet that way I can enjoy it with my coffee. I tend to slow down and savor the food because it tastes so much better when its being enjoyed with coffee!!
Great giveaway Julie! My favorite snacks as of late are lara bars (peanut butter cookie),”pizza” toast and avocado toast. If i am eating food that does not require utensils I find that putting to food down after each bite extends meal time. 🙂
I try to pre-portion my snacks so that I don’t mindlessly eat. Great giveaway!!
I try to eat my snacks/meals in as many bites as possible. I want to enjoy it, so I make it last! My favorite snacks are dark cocoa roast almonds, blue corn chips, honey crisp apples, and peanut butter out of the jar!
Been eyeing that chipolte laughing cow cheese for awhile but have yet to try it.
I’m seriously the fastest eater and work from home so inhale my food in front of my computer…i try to count to 10 while chewing each bite to slow it down. My fav snack is ANYTHING with Peanut butter. a whole wheat wrap or banana with PB does the trick 🙂
Turning off the TV and sitting at the table, but even with this, my husband and I eat way too fast! We recently went to the cheesecake factory and our waiter came back to check on us and commented “WOW, you guys eat fast!! Do you work in the restaurant business??”….how embarrassing!!!
I try to pull out a magazine and read an entire article (or a few) when I’m enjoying a snack. This allows me to take my time (and be entertained) while snacking!
I make sure to take small bites, chew very well and really taste my food! This helps when I’m eating something to meet a particular craving – whether it’s a PB&J on whole wheat crackers (sweet and salty – love!!) or Greek yogurt with fruit (sweet and creamy!).