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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I, too am a super fast eater so I really have been trying to make a point to slow down and ENJOY my food! 🙂 My favorite snack is an apple with almond butter!
My favorite snack is the classic apples and peanut butter, which I started enjoying again after my daughter kept requesting it for her snack 🙂
I also have trouble eating slow. Sometimes I try to count to 10 while chewing. That seems to slow things down a little. When I am alone I will say a prayer for family/friends while I eat. This way I am accomplishing two things at once. 🙂
I tell myself to chew each bite at least 20 times before swallowing.
OMG, Julie! This giveaway is thebomb.com!! I want it all! haha I’m naturally a pretty slow eater which tends to be awkward since most everyone in my life is a fast eater. But one way I’ve pinpointed that helps me eat a lot slower is that I usually dab my fingers and mouth with my napkin after almost every bite. I don’t know why but I always do that. I think it stems from me not liking food on my hands. It’s similar to putting your fork down, just an extra step! 🙂
Drinking tea is my favorite trick too. Also, sitting down to eat with someone else helps. I tend to slow down when I’m not all alone 🙂
Love this giveaway! To have a more mindful eating experience I take my snack outside at work, and sit on a bench in the sun. My favorite snack is sliced bananas with Better N’ Butter on top.
I”m usually the person that gets in trouble with friends or my boyfriend because I tend to eat SO SLOWLY and am never done by the time the mealtime is over. I think a big reason is that I tend to view meals as social time if I’m around people. I like to get into big conversations, which sometimes makes me forget about the main objective. 😛
Favorite snack lately is pretzel thins with a little goat cheese and a little drizzle of TJ’s creamed honey. OH good lord, it’s good.
I try and make a plate and arrange it (somewhat) artfully when I snack instead of eating out of the bag or straight out of the fridge!
I try to slow down my chewing and really taste the snack. Sometimes I find I just rush and devour something and don’t even think about it so I’m far less satisfied when it is gone!
I am fast eater too! When I am around others I tend to make myself eat slower by mimicking their pace but it’s harder when I am alone. I usually make sure it fix my food and put it on a plate, even if it’s just a snack, and sit at my kitchen table and eat. That way I am not just standing in the kitchen mindlessly eating (which is pretty easy to do when you live alone!).
I love tortilla chips and my homemade pico de gallo! Salty and spicy! The cucumbers with the Garlic and Herb cheese you have in the post look really good too!
One of my favorite snacks is putting mini chocolate chips in raspberries. So yummy and I get my chocolate fix! 🙂
Putting down the fork has helped me slow down too but I am still a fast eater, something to continue working on. I usually choice sweet snacks and lately it has been a spoonful of peanut butter with chocolate chips- best afternoon pick me up!
I try and make my food piping hot! That way I have to slow down… at least at the start of the meal 🙂
I think it is impossible for me to savor food after the first bite – especially if it is delicious!!!!! I do try to make sure I have a glass of water handy so that I can sip that in between bites if I’m eating too fast.
While I’m eating my snack I wait until I completely chew and swallow the bite before I take another. It sounds like we automatically would do this, but I’ve found that it’s not always the case! It really does help me slow down and enjoy what I’m eating. I also make sure that I am drinking my water/beverage during the snack and not waiting until afterwards to take a drink. That helps to cleanse the palate and enjoy every bite! 🙂
Ah! I love the items you selected. My favorite snack is fruit (apple or banana) and almond butter. They are great in the afternoon, providing a break from work AND fuel for my evening workout.
If I take time to prepare a well-rounded dinner, (apposed to cereal or yogurt) I am more likely to be patient and enjoy it slowly:)
Favorite snack: crock pot pumpkin bread! Hard to resist this time of year!
http://wannabite.com/crockpot-pumpkin-bread/
One of my favorite foods (for a meal OR a snack) is sushi! But the problem with a 8 piece sushi roll is that I’m finished it so quickly and in only 8 bites!
I try to slow down by taking my time to chew each roll and really trying to grasp all the different flavors in the roll and enjoy them!
Most of my weekday snacks are consumed at my desk at work. I try to take snack time as my quick catch up on blogs time. Good snack (usually cheese and a carb) and bloglovin, best part of my day!
My favorite snack is actually Laughing Cow! Preferably on a Wasa cracker.
Our whole family loves charcuterie platters and eat them as a snacks {or meals!} often! 🙂 Easy, quick, & yummy. So delicious!
Hands down my favorite snack is an apple with peanut butter! It’s so delicious and keeps you full for hours. Honeycrip apples are the way to go 🙂
I like to read while eating a snack. Gives me a reason to slow things down a bit.
I find if I sit down at the table when I eat any meal, I will slow down and enjoy it more. I like apples for a snack right now, since I have so many on hand from our tree, with peanut or almond butter!
My all-time favorite snack is apple slices with almond butter and chocolate chips – I can have this anytime, anyplace!
I try to drink lots of water during meals and take sips in between bites 🙂
I am also a really fast eater! I try to set my fork down as well, take sips of water, and chew my food longer than what seems necessary to savor it longer and not wolf it down. One of my favorite snacks is chunks of avocado rolled up in slices of turkey…protein and healthy fat, YUM!
Sitting down as a family for dinner. We talk about our days, up coming plans or whatever. It seems to make dinner time more relaxing and we seem to enjoy the food and each others company.
I am a huge fan of Laughing Cow and use the products often, so I am loving this giveaway! I am a fast eater so sometimes I set a time limit (1/2 hour) and make sure my meal actually lasts that long, so I’m not shoving my face full of food. This helps me notice when I’m full as well so I don’t go back for seconds. Other times I read a magazine while I eat and I seem to slow down with that as well. I don’t know if the distraction is always a great thing but it seems to work. Thanks for this : )
My biggest thing is to try to get some protein in my snacks. So, like you, I’m a big peanut butter fan.
I love apples with peanut butter and carrots with hummus!
My trick to slowing down while eating is to have a conversation partner with you :)! I always eat slowly while I’m talking to a friend/significant other, which may be my own fault but hey, whatever works! My favorite snack right now is hummus with some sriracha and veggies on the side.
I drink plenty of water before eating!
My favorite snack to make are banana boats!
Hi Julie! I try to make myself count to 20 before I swallow each bite. One of my favorite snacks is tortilla chips with a little bit of black bean hummus. Amazing!
Eat with my son helps me slow down while eating. He keeps our conversation going incessantly, so I have time to enjoy the meal or snack we are sharing.
mmm my favorite snack is humus and pita, and I have to agree with you about putting the technology down!
I am a fast eater too, particularly at work. I have a full hour for my lunch break, but am usually done in under 15 mins. To slow down, I try to break up my meal like I would at a restaurant — appetizer/small snack, break, entree, break, dessert to last the full hour. It’s tough!
My favorite snack is a basic sweet potato–waiting for it to finish microwaving at least forces me to slow down until it’s ready! 😉 My boss’s dog is a sweet potato lover too… I always have to share some with her or be subject to the world’s most pathetic puppy face.
I LOVE to eat and I LOVE to cook. I usually try to stop what I’m doing and sit down at the table with my husband and enjoy my meals. I find when I’m in front of the TV or an electronic I eat significantly more than I would without the technology. My favorite snack right now is fresh celery sticks with jalapeno Philadelphia cream cheese. It has just enough kick to keep it interesting.
I try to put my fork down and take a drink of water in between bites. I am ALWAYS the first one done eating, so this helps me slow down a bit. If I’m eating with others I try to really focus on the conversation and put my fork down while someone is talking rather than shoving food in my face during conversations.
Eating with no distractions is a big one for me. It’s so easy to focus on something else and then before I know it, my food is gone. I just try to slow down and drink water in between. I also try to not go too long between meals/snacks, if I’m hangry – then nothing is going to stop me from eating too fast ha
My favorite snack of the moment is Sabra’s Spicy Hummus with pita chips and carrots!!
I make sure to have the tv off during dinner. If I’m watching scandal and eating I don’t even realize what I’ve ate! Also I try to make snacks I actually enjoy rather then just trying to eat whatever will tide me over.
I am notorious for snacking on super sugary, processed things! They always seem the easiest for my on-the-go life. Lately I’ve been challenging myself to find healthier alternatives to curb my sweet tooth. My go-to-snack has now become apples dipped in peanut butter! It’s a little bit of sweet and fills me up!
My two go-to snacks are carrots and hummus mixed with ketchup (try it before you think I’m crazy!) and apples and peanut butter!
My favorite snack is Skinnypop popcorn!
My favorite snack is a bowl of cereal. It’s so bad and I hope to wean myself off of it because they’re so filling and heavy! I’m always on the lookout for better late night snacks that will satisfy my cravings in the same way!!