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 favourite snack is a classic: an apple with pb!
These are all great tips! The meal I tend to rush through naturally is breakfast since I have to get going but what makes me slow down is lighting a candle and turning on music before I sit down to eat. It’s a great way to start the day!
I try and pause in the evening on the back deck with a cup of tea;)
My favorite snack right now is homemade trail mix!
So guilty of rushing through meals and snacks (she days as she eats a large lunch in front of her computer…). My favorite snack these days is a few dates stuffed with pb. Delicious and satisfies my sweet tooth!
I try to take sips of water or tea in between each bite. That way, I feel like i’m feeling fuller and more satisfied as well as not so likely to go to town on whatever my snack may be in record time!
Eating with chopsticks!
I’ll slow down if I take some time to make a snack – I figure if I put effort into preparing it, I won’t want to see it gone in a split second!
My favorite snack is chips and salsa! I agree that stepping away from the electronics while eating helps you enjoy what you’re eating
Hi, Julie! Thanks for sharing your snack time tips! I am a fast eater as well. To savor my food, I make sure to have a drink, whether it be a full glass of water or a cup of tea, with every meal/snack. Having a drink makes me feel full without eating as much. I just need to make sure I drink my drink simultaneously as I’m snacking, so I don’t look down at an empty plate and a full glass of water. Haha! 🙂
I love cucumber sandwiches with a little bit of ham & laughing cow cheese spread in the middle! It’s delicious!
I’ve had the same problem with eating too fast! The best advice I have received and used has been to savor every bite. It may seem cheesy, but it’s amazing how much more you can enjoy a meal when you really slow down and actually enjoy every bite of it!
Fantastic giveaway! My favorite snack is an oldie but a goodie: apple and peanut butter.
I also try to put my fork down between bites. My husband flies through his meals and then wants to eat off of my plate! No way…I’m savoring every bite!
I am such a ridiculously fast eater! I try to take a sip of water in between bites, and definitely setting down my fork/spoon in between bites helps!
It might sounds lame, but we’re on the go all the time so we use our “TV time” as our kick-back and relax time. Once a week, we will both sit down and enjoy some mindless shows while snacking and laughing. Very relaxing!
YUM! These all look delicious! Lately I’ve really been loving pears and string cheese! Kind of a juvenile snack, but I love it! Thanks for the new tips!
I always try to drink water between bites, but definitely getting away from the TV helps me!
I love having a ryvita cracker with Laughing Cow and gherkin pickles. I find refilling my water bottle and drinking water while eating and not just before and after helps me to slow down. My family is notorious for eating WAY too fast – I am considered slow in my family but in any other situation I am the fastest eater, not the greatest!
My favorite snack (and it’s quick and easy if premade!) are my cashew date balls. Cashews and dates with a little vanilla and mini chocolate chips are optional. A sweet treat with all natural ingredients for a quick snack when I need it!
Peanut butter with a delicious crispy apple!!!
Ah, I love snacks…by far my favorite meal 🙂 My go to includes cheese, crackers, nuts, and fruit!
Just having a new baby, I eat even faster than I did before!! I’m learning to eat my snacks when she naps and to just have some quiet “me” time!
My favorite snack is anything with almonds. Just made cinnamon coated almonds in my slow cooker…mmm! My husband and I used to rush through our dinners when we went out. Now we make sure to take some time just talking before we even look at the menus.
I tend to slow my eating pace when I’m eating with one other person. In a group of three, I find that it’s so easy to let the other two people talk while i eat. With one other person, I must pay attention, and in order to keep the conversation interesting, I must contribute. I have way too many favorite snacks, but right now, it’s an apple with peanut butter. I stopped eating peanut butter for the last three years (I just lost interest), but I “rediscovered” it just a week ago. I’m obsessed now!
Awesome blog!
At work, I make myself a little plate of happy (usually peanut + something delicious like apple slices) and then force myself to take my eyes off the screen.
At home, I’m all about sitting on the couch with my snack and magazine.
I have been loving apples with string cheese lately! I also enjoy tea with my meals and snacks to help me slow down and enjoy the moment.
I love eating crackers with fresh mozzerella or mixing kettle corn with dark chocolate chips! 🙂
My favorite snack is cheese and crackers! Great give away.
Trail mix!
My boyfriend and I have the same problem on dates, only he eats incredibly quickly and I eat so slowly my food gets cold before I’m full! We try to remind ourselves to have conversations WHILE we are eating to slow our eating down and savor time together.
Eating slowly and savoring my snack makes me feel fuller and more satisfied with my food!
My favorite snack is an apple with almond butter! Or a laughing cow cheese and a few almonds! Both are great!
Oh my goodness I want to win sooo bad. I’ve never been able to purchase anythng Lululemon and, being a fitness instructor, want to try their stuff pretty desperately. My favorite snack is either strawberries and yogurt or spinach artichoke hummus with crackers and carrots. And I loooove Laughing Cow cheese wedges as a replacement for mayo and cheese on any kind of sandwich – yum! I think the biggest help for ME to enjoy my snacks and food is to plan out what I’m going to eat that day. I then look forward to that break in my morning for an apple and cheese wedge or to finish my evening with toast and peanut butter. It’s the little things!
I am also notorious for inhaling my food. For example, I just ate an apple + crunchy peanut butter and some cheddar puffs in like, 6 seconds. It’s ridiculous. My favorite snack is anything with peanut butter (obviously), and I try to make myself sit down while eating, which helps me to stay in the moment during mealtime.
I am a terribly fast eater, too! Just yesterday I was in my iphone and shoveling Goldfish into my mouth. Before I knew it, I ate so many I felt sick! Ha! I do need to remind myself to slow down and savor my meals. This is a big reason why I don’t eat in front of the tv. 🙂
Tea is definitely something I use to relax
I portion out my foods on my plate ahead of time so that I don’t over eat. I also put my veggies or salad on the plate first so I have to eat it then go back for the rest of the meal. It’s a process which forces me to think more about it.
This sounds kind of weird, but just thinking about the physical process of chewing while I’m eating (how many times I’m chewing each bite, etc.) helps me focus on the fact that I’m eating and the different flavors.
I have snack time with my boys after school. Eating together at a set time helps me to plan healthy snacks. It is our favorite time of the day!
My favorite snack is plain greek yogurt mixed with cottage cheese, bananas and cinnamon.
I try to take a sip of water between every two bites or so. It also helps me to realize when I’m starting to get full, because I tend to go from starving to so full I could burst really quickly.
I always try to drink a whole glass of water before I eat and then during the meal- that seems to encourage me to eat slower. I also just try to focus on what it is I am eating and sometimes focus on the number of times I chew (kind of make it a game!)- and definitely make a point to have dinner at the dinner table (sitting in front of the TV – we end up scarfing our dinners)! My favorite snack is sliced strawberries with homemade granola!
I tend to slow my eating pace when I’m eating with one other person. In a group of three, I find that it’s so easy to let the other two people talk while i eat. With one other person, I must pay attention, and in order to keep the conversation interesting, I must contribute. I have way too many favorite snacks, but right now, it’s an apple with peanut butter. I stopped eating peanut butter for the last three years (I just lost interest), but I “rediscovered” it just a week ago. I’m obsessed now!
Awesome blog!
Eating on a placement makes me slow down and savor. It makes it feel like more of an event!
I definitely agree that putting down my fork between bites helps a lot! Also, making sure I eat before I am totally starving makes me slow down more.
I have a large glass of water with each of my meals, including snacks. It keeps me hydrated and gives me some extra time to savor my snack. I’ve always been a huge fan of laughing cow and just tried their new Spicy Pepper Jack. And oh-my-gosh, it is AMAZING!
Having a toddler slowed my eating down the most! It is crazy how slow you get at eating when you have someone so entertaining to watch!
i love popcorn!
I am seriously the fastest eater (and drinker-no I’m not an alcoholic, I just don’t know how to pace myself) of all time. I am guilty of everything you mentioned — eating at the counter, while on the computer etc, so I very much appreciate this blog post and will take your suggestions to heart! That being said, I have no tricks of my own on how to pace myself, However, some of my favorite snacks include veggies and salsa, popcorn with nuts, and sweet potato chips with hummus!
This is a great post Julie! I always try to put work and electronics away when I am eating, and just focus instead on how good my food tastes 🙂