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 don’t snack much but when I do I always make sure it’s at the table. I eat slower there
To savor snacks I try to chew slowly and drink water in between bites! One of my favorite snacks is plain Quaker Oats rice cakes with peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, and banana!
I try to put my fork down between bites and I also try to make myself take a sip of my drink between bites so I don’t gobble down my food in 30 seconds! I’m queen of that!! I love Lululemon (but who doesnt) so awesome giveaway!
I like to portion out my snacks ahead of time so I don’t eat mindlessly. If I know I only have a certain amount to eat I actually make sure to enjoy it.
My current favorite snack is that SkinnyPop popcorn i buy in the BIG bag from Costco! It’s popped in coconut oil so not exactly fat free but def salty and satisfying!
To slow myself down, I try to eat with other people so that conversation controls the pace of eating! It really helps to slow me down so I can talk and enjoy my friend’s company.
I really love Laughing Cow cheese and enjoy it in a variety of ways. I love to put some of the garlic & herb flavor in a wonton wrapper and bake them for a yummy appetizer. I also enjoy adding it to a panini sandwich right before toasting it, which infuses a lot of delicious flavor.
For me, I try to be mindful of enjoying the cooking and plating process of a meal. Too often, I rush through meals — eating things while standing up in the kitchen or haphazardly eating random things out of their containers. I find that if I take a bit of time to cook a meal and arrange it nicely on a plate, even something as simple as a turkey sandwich can be savored and seem more impactful.
homemade trail mix!
This is an awesome giveaway! I love carrot sticks dipped in Laughing Cow 🙂
My husband eats in world record time, so it’s a project making our meals last. Refilling water glasses, putting down utensils between bites, and engaging each other in conversation (no talking with your mouth full!) definitely help stretch the process out a bit longer.
Defiantly no phone or computer help me and my current favorite snack is Greek yogurt with fresh fruit
I have a glass a water sitting right next to me at all times so I make sure to slow down & take a few sips while I am snackin away!
My current favorite snack is medjool dates dipped in almond butter. YUM! 🙂
I eat with a large glass of water and take sips in between bites!
Never snacking from the container
My favorite snack is a dill pickle, wrapped in ham and a slice of deli co-jack cheese! 🙂
I love the process of making my dinner, so I try to slow that down. Then when I eat, I remember all that effort and it slows me down.
I recently started working out of the home after being home with my 2 kids for 2 years or so. We would ALWAYS eat outside every chance we got. Now, I work in a building with windows that I can’t open…I make it a point to leave my office during lunch and head to a nearby park, spread a blanket, kick my shoes off and enjoy my lunch in the fresh air. I make a cucumber / feta / avocado / mint salad that I LOVE to snack, but now am craving the apple wedges with cheese and toasted almonds!!
I like to have vegetables like carrots and celery with spicy hummus or cottage cheese-anything savory!
I try to put my fork down between bites and drink plenty of water before and during meals!
I try to not eat while distracted!
I almost feel sheepish commenting on this because I was just sitting on the kitchen counter, talking on the phone, and eating Cookie Butter (one of my favorite treats) straight out of the jar. My trick, do as I say not as I do, haha 😉
My favorite snack would have to be apple slices with almond butter! Simple and delicious!
I love laughing cow cheese! When I take time to assemble a snack its way more satisfying than eating crackers out of the box!
My favorite snack lately is trailmix with nuts and dried fruit. I’ve learned I snack a lot smarter when I put my portion in a dish rather than eating from a box or package.
I love cottage cheese with cut up grapes! The slightly saltiness and sweetness go wonderfully together!
I love pita chips with laughing cow, hummus, guac… you name it!
My favorite snack is always an apple with peanut butter!
Oh mylanta this is an awesome giveaway! My current favorite snack is simple — a honeycrisp apple! Tis the season 🙂
My favorite snack is by far popcorn and some cheese!! Filling and nutritious yet simple 🙂
I keep trying to put my fork down in between bites to slow down. I’ve found it’s hard since I only have 30 minutes to eat lunch at work. It gets difficult to slow down.
One of my favorite snacks is celery with peanut butter..
I LOVE PB and banana…the combo never gets old.
I love snacking on your recipe for no-bake granola bars! The kids and I practically fight over who gets the last one in the batch!
My favorite snack is either popcorn or chips and salsa!!
What an awesome giveaway! I can relate to being a fast eater myself. I used to always eat in front of the TV until I realized it was the source of my problem. I now turn off the TV and put the phone down and enjoy some quality time with my family while eating meals.
Hot tea helps me. Trying to keep up a conversation, refilling my water or even sitting on my hands!
Air popped popcorn!
my two favorite snacks are popcorn and apple with peanut butter!
One way that I slow down is to really think about what I’m eating, why I’m eating, how it tastes, etc.!
Raspberries with white chocolate chips!
I usually choose some combination of cheese sticks, a pickled hard boiled egg, almonds, raspberries/blackberries or a spoonful of peanut butter for my snacks. I also have trouble with eating quickly and putting your silverware down in between bites definitely helps!
I love my food REALLY hot, so I tend to try and extend my eating my re-heating my plate one or two times!
my favorite snack at the moment is mini pretzels dipped in chocolate pudding!
Hi, Julie! I am a very fast eater as well. Having a drink with every meal or snack, whether it be a full glass of water or a cup of tea, definitely helps me eat slower and fills me up faster so I eat less. I just need to be sure to finish my drink rather than solely focus on what I’m eating, which is difficult most of the time! Thanks for sharing your savoring snack time tips. 🙂
One thing I do to prolong snacks is I take a sip of water after each bite of food. This helps me think about what I’m doing/eating and also helps to fill me up so that I don’t end up eating too much during snack time. I’ve also used this trick when eating meals and it really does help me feel fuller without over eating!
Nachos =]
I already eat super slow! My husband eats at least 3 times faster than me. I love almonds, yogurt, or grapes for a snack!
Awesome giveaway! My two favorite snacks are a green smoothie with pb and banana and Greek yogurt parfaits!
I LOVE Laughing Cow! I would say my favorite snack is the garlic herb Laughing Cow cheese with deer pep slices and wheat thins!