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 husband is a veracious eater. I try to encourage him to put his fork down between bites and engage in conversation. It’s amazing how well that works. Dinners now 20-30min instead of 3min long.
I’ve learned that if I make my food from whole ingredients, rather than buying something or eating a prepackaged food, I enjoy it more and slow down to eat!
I always find myself hungry right when I get home from work. If I don’t make a proper snack I’ll pick at everything until it’s dinner time. So I make the effort to have a small snack, my go-to is whole wheat crackers and either cheese or peanut butter. Satisfies me until dinner time without filling me up too much.
I am also a super fast eater! Loved reading through your post and the comments to get some tips on slowing down and enjoying snacks and meals. My absolute favorite snack is crackers and a white cheese with a little jalapeno or red pepper jam on top. Creamy and spicy!
I have to eat really fast at work (hazard of working in a hospital). So when I’m at home or my husband and I go out I definitely slow down and enjoy eating slow.
Besides an obsession with Clif ZBars, I love to toss together a “snack mix” with cereal, nuts, chocolate chips, and dried fruit.
I’m a super fast eater too! I try to put my spoon/fork down, and sometimes I’ll even walk away and come back.
My current favorite snack/treat is half a baked apple with cinnamon and almond butter on top – so warm, sweet and delicious! It’s a fall favorite for me 🙂
Hi Julie. I guess I would have to say my favorite snack time treat is protein packed. Its usually boiled eggs/egg whites, fat free cottage cheese and fresh cracked black pepper. Sometimes I venture out and have fruit in place of the eggs and top the ff cottage cheese with cinnamon. I like both ways. Thanks!
I love these snack ideas! I’ve made an effort to always sit down for snacks and meals – away from my computer and the tv to make sure I enjoy what I’m eating and don’t rush. My all time favorite snack is very simple – bananas with almond butter and chocolate chips.
My favorite snack is anything with hummus, in all sorts of varieties: edamame hummus, spicy pumpkin hummus, chocolate hummus (sounds bizarre, but what can be bad about really rich, good cocoa blended with honey, chickpeas, chocolate PB2, and cinnamon, really?) . I’ll dip fruit in the appropriate one, or some Trader Joe’s crackers (love the seasonal pumpkin offerings!). Mmmm.
I think it’s time for a snack right now! 🙂 Off to the hummus…
I am also a fast eater and I find that putting my fork down between bites definitely helps slow me down!
I put my phone away! I find if I’m on my phone playing and simultaneously eating there’s far more mindless snacking going on. When I am focused on eating and the entire snack experience I can gauge my fitness much more effectively!
One of my favourite snacks is actually Laughing Cow cheese wedges with veggies and crackers, I’m kind of obsessed with the stuff! I also LOVE adding it to homemade soups (to make them extra creamy)
I try to eat several snacks/meals throughout the day so that I never get so hungry that I eat too much in one sitting!
I like to eat snacks with someone else, so I am not tempted to look at my phone while eating!
My favorite snack is 100 calorie pack of microwave popcorn. The kettle corn really satisfies cravings.
my favorite snack is a snack plate…of cheese..crackers…some olives and somet fruit. best combo EVER 🙂
Snacking is one of my favorite things to do, and you can almost always find me with a snack in hand. My current snack obsession is a small package of frozen edamame, which I cook in a skillet with garlic and soy sauce. It is so yummy and a nice filling snack!
Love your blog 🙂
To help me slow down while eating (I, too, can clear a plate within minutes) I sit down. I would always come home from work and eat standing up and it doesn’t let my body know that I’m in “meal-mode”. Sitting down while eating meals definitely helps me slow down and savor more of my food.
This post definitely caught my attention. My husband and I are both in the same boat- we are very fast eaters! I love your idea to wait to order your meal and have drinks & appetizers first. 🙂 This is probably my favorite giveaway that you’ve ever done! Such a relaxing combination of things and perfectly in time for some colder weather. My favorite go-to snack is a toss up between Ritz crackers, pepperoni, laughing cow white cheddar spread, topped with buffalo sauce or good ol’ bananas & pb. Those snacks are polar opposites, I know. Delicious regardless though. 🙂
I try not to eat pre packaged snacks. Taking time to prepare the snack ensures I will take time to enjoy it!
What a great collection of snacks and ideas! Also, super cute combo for the giveaway. Thanks!
I’ve always been been on the other side of the spectrum. Last one to finish her meal right here! it’s not on purpose, but I do take smaller bites and drink a lot of water while eating. I have no idea how people eat without drinking anything. When it comes to snack time, I sometimes make a variety of snacks. For example, if I’m eating cheese and crackers I use a couple of different cheeses and crackers to have a variety so it makes me think of which bite I want next because you always want to save the best bite for last!
I try to make sure I eat with someone – my husband or a coworker – and then I’m chatting and not just shoveling food in my face! 🙂
Since I work a regular full-time job, one of my snacks is in the afternoon. I have a Publix greek yogurt. I try to eat a spoonful, do some work, eat a spoonful, do more work, etc, so it lasts just a little bit longer.
Now I’m hungry. Coincidentally, my new favorite lately is the new laughing cow flavor that has a bit of a kick. I mix it in w rice or veggies or on an egg sandwich. It’s so good.
Just simply chewing slower helps me 🙂
I find eating with someone and having a conversation always helps me slow down.
My favorite snack usually consists of hummus and some type of dipping chip or veggie.
As a kid my mom would always tell me that it takes 30 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it is full. It always made me slow down eating in addition to helping me to eat less, because I could stop eating when I was satisfied instead of being overly stuffed from eating so fast and furious!
I am the slow eater in my relationship. It takes my boyfriend a fraction of the time it takes me to eat a meal. I am a huge foodie and I love to savor every flavor of every bite! I love your tips and will definitely share them with the BF!
Your snacks put mine to shame… I usually grab red bell pepper slices and hummus. 🙂
My favorite snack is peanut butter on anything!
My favorite snack is a rice cake with peanut butter, strawberries, and chocolate chips! A little something sweet hits the spot after a long day of class!
Lately I’ve been snacking on Laughing Cow white cheddar on a bagel thin with an egg.
I am also a really fast eater and clear my plate before my boyfriend! I do the “set the fork” down trick to savor my food better.
Fage with honey! Yummy and filling!
My favow snack is honey wheat pretzels with peanut butter.
When we built our house we selected a large kitchen island with seating. We love it and it keeps us from eating dinner on the couch.
I love Laughing Cow with carrots or apples! I am a teacher and oftentimes have to snack in between classes, but always try to set a healthy example for my hugh school students!
I always talk while I’m at dinner…then I have to stop, chat (and you can’t do that while you’re eating food!), and then get back to my food. Slows down the pace a little 😉
I love having tea with a snack or meal, especially If I’m really hungry. It makes me feel calmer. What I need to do is step away from the TV/magazine/phone and just enjoy my snack. Thanks!
i find that if I put the electronics away and sit down for a meal or snack I am much more likely to savor what I am eating.
I am very guilty in eating quickly and not even realizing I am done until I look down and notice my plate is empty. I think the best thing for me is to turn off tv, computer and all electronics and give myself a set time to eat and enjoy. It seems so easy, but harder than it sounds:)
We have a 12 week old baby so eating slowly is not in the cards for us. But, one of my favorite snacks is veggies and hummus! There are so many different varieties of hummus to eat, yum!
My fav snack is apple slices dipped in almond butter! YUM
My favorite snack lately has been roasted chickpeas! I love that they’re easy to make in bulk, healthy, and a good source of protein (I’ve been known to get “hangry” if my snack doesn’t have enough protein) I’ve made all sorts of flavors, including curry and sriracha-lime, but current faves are salt + vinegar or dry BBQ rub.
My go to right now is apple and almond butter. My two little guys are even hooked! I find I slow down when My husband and I eat out at restaurants…probably more so because I don’t have two little munchkins that usually force some pretty speedy meals!!
My favorite snack is pb and a banana 🙂
If I spend an extra few moments on the presentation of the snack or meal, I am more likely to appreciate how good it tastes! Your pinwheels & crackers are the perfect example 🙂
Favorite snack is chips n salsa! And I’m a fast eater and have been trying to slow down. I find if I engage in a story of some sort with dinner partner helps! If we don’t talk, I end up devouring my meal in seconds!