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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Definitely sipping on my water between bites- helps hydrate and slow me down!
Gotta try putting down the fork between bites instead of shoveling it in! 🙂
My favorite go-to snack is either hummus on rice cakes or crackers and cheese! I enjoy listening to Pod casts or the radio while I’m eating so I slow down and listen. I try to disconnect from the TV and my phone whilst eating!
I wish I was able to eat faster- I’m always the one everyone has to wait for! I love fruitas a snack:)
My favorite snack is the south pacific plantains from naturebox!
My husband and I are super speedy eayers. I actually sometimes set a timer so that I make myself eat dinner over the course of 20 minutes!
My current favorite snack is frozen grapes and almonds!
I’m a fast eater and have to stay away from electronic distractions otherwise I get stuck in mindless snacking
I am such a fast eater, I really need to try and remember these tips when it’s actually meal/snack time. I love those little laughing cow wedges with carrots for a snack. Pretty much my go to on the run snack!!
Great giveaway!! My two current favorite snacks are noosa yoghurt – so delicious – and nugo milk chocolate bars which are awesome for a chocolate fix. Both are easy to grab and are also kid-pleasers.
Take a sip or two of water between each bite. Not only does it make you slow down and enjoy the meal, but it makes you feel full more quickly and helps to avoid overeating.
I tend to enhance my food too. I have been trying to make myself take a drink of water between so I slow down and savor. Also, it reminds me that I might be full too, so I’m not shoveling in the extra portions.
I eat way too fast! I’m usually shoveling food in my mouth in between chasing my one year old daughter around 🙂 I appreciate the tips. I love apple slices with cheddar cheese as a snack.
Awesome tips! I always try to put my fork down between bites, that seems to slow me down best! Right now I am loving vanilla greek yogurt, blueberries and almonds mixed together. SO GOOD!!
I actually think eating while watching tv or reading on the computer helps slow me down! if im reading a blog post I’m focusing on that AND food at once and it takes twice as long to eat!
My best trick is one of yours – sitting down. It really makes a difference for me in enjoying the food rather than eating just to eat.
My all-time favorite snack is smoked salmon and cream cheese on a Ritz cracker. I go through phases where that’s all I want!
I try to drink water between bites
I’ve started reading a book while I eat breakfast. That way I take my time with eating and enjoy a bit of a good book before work!
Favorite snack involves anything with hummus! Thanks for the tips, I need to try all of them 🙂
My favorite snack is chocolate chips! I have to freeze them to avoid taking big handfuls at a time. My go to slow down trick is putting my fork down and chewing my food. Putting my fork down forces me to stop and slow down.
Hi Julie – My favorite snack lately has been cucumber with served with a dollop of cream cheese and a few turkey slices!
Eating slowly is a HUGE issue for me that I don’t know if I will ever be able to fix!! All of your tips are the ones I have heard along with also trying to focus on each bite and chew each bite a certain amount of times to slow myself down!!
I’m terrible at eating slow…I’m definitely going to try to be more intentional about it. My favorite snack is a yogurt with almonds mixed in or a hardboiled egg. I also like to spread a laughing cow garlic inside a tortilla!
Cutting the snack in small pieces and sitting down!
I try putting my fork/spoon down and making a conscious effort to enjoy my food instead of just inhaling it!
I’m a terribly fast eater! I do the fork trick! Jt definitely helps 🙂
I drink tons of water !
For lunch, I like the excuse of stepping away from my desk and eat in the break room. It’s a mental break but I also got to know my coworkers who are also breaking for lunch.
For dinner, my husband and I sit at our table and eat off real plates. Used to we sat in front of the tv and ate on paper plates at the coffee table! It’s like why put effort into cooking dinner if you’re going to eat it in a trance?!
I’m an awful stand-by-the-pantry-snacker, so I try REALLY HARD to sit down and enjoy my snacks.
My go to snack is an apple and almond butter! Lately I have been loving the huge honeycrisps!
The most effective trick I find is to make sure I eat with others. Conversation slows me down so I don’t inhale my meal in five minutes! I try to make weekday dinners with the family a priority as well as most weekend meals.
I remind myself that no one is going to steal it off my plate 🙂
I use a clock and make sure my meal takes AT LEAST 15 minutes to eat. If I notice I’m going too fast I put my fork down and try to slow the eating.
I have the same problem and eat pretty fast. Now I try to focus more on my dining partner and the conversation and it helps a ton. My favorite snack is anything chocolate. Thank goodness it has antioxidants!
Favorite snack is usually crunchy peanut butter on toast and I definitely try using the habit of putting my fork down and pausing to savor my meal!
I try to drink a glass of water before I eat!
I like to try new and different snack foods to switch things up! My go-to snack is mixed nuts with dried fruit!
I like the idea of drinking tea while snacking! It seems like a great way to enjoy your snack rather than eating it as quick as possible!
I put my fork down and try to choose foods that require cutting to slow me down..for instance, I’d rather have a chicken breast, some asparagus and a sweet potato than a casserole if I’m trying to slow down my eating.
I try to pace myself with my husband. He eats normally and I eat SUPER fast!
I have to sit down at the table, and not in front of a screen of any kind (TV, computer, phone) or else I eat and don’t even know it!
I seem to switch up my favorite snacks depending on the season but right now I’m really loving trail mix!
My best advice is one you mentioned- not doing anything else (like watching TV) while eating!
Putting the utensil down between bites is so helpful for me to be sure that I’m really taking my time. This way I can be conscious of the fact that I’m eating as well as actually taste what I’m eating!
I actually have one opposite tactic! I find that if I’m on my computer reading blogs or scanning Pinterest or Instagram, I slow down and enjoy my snack more. If the only thing I’m doing is sitting and eating, that’s when the food is inhaled and I don’t even come up for air. Clearly this is something I’m perpetually working on to.
Favorite go-to snack is definitely nuts. Blue Diamond makes coconut roasted ones that are out of this world! Satisfies my sweet tooth, but not high in sugar at all. I’m a sucker for anything coconut.
Kettle corn is my current favorite snack!
I usually sip water while snacking, but switching to tea would make it even better.
Awesome giveaway!
Putting my fork down between bites definitely helps prolong my meals because I am a VERY fast eater. I drink lots of water between bites also, servers need to be on their toes when they wait on my table in a restaurant.
I try to put my fork down between meals, too! It helps remind me to slow down and savor the meal. My favorite snack at the moment is raw almonds and apples, I’ll have to add some cheese to the mix, too!