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 take snack time as a time to recharge, relax and let my brain relax before I head off to my next thing of the day!
My favorite snacks consist of questbars or greek yogurt with peanut butter and pretzel rods!
I like to try to have a conversation with my family to slow down my eating.
My favourite snack is actually super simple – whole wheat Melba toast and low fat cheddar cheese, and apple slices on the side!
When I’m trying to slow down at work, I take my snack outside (unless it’s freezing!) and don’t bring my phone. I just eat and people watch!
My favorite snack is apple slices and almond butter. I also really love hummus and pita chips. I’m a fast eater, but it took on a life of it’s own when I had my daughter. My husband and I can be finished with a meal in under 3 mins if we have too. Thanks for the tips!
In order to slow myself down while snacking, I try to create many “bites,” like cutting an Apple into many different pieces. It makes me feel like I’m eating more, and also helps me chew and enjoy each bite!
I have always been a fast eater. Sometimes having to tell myself to slow down…no one is going to take my food! My favorite snack is humus and carrots! Love.
Talking slows me down!
Family dinners around the table talking about each others day! :0)
My favorite snack is apple and almond butter.
I leave my phone in my purse when I get home from work, so that it can’t distract me from my snacking or my husband
I am also a very speedy eater!! I try and take small sips of water between bites to help slow me down!
Because I too love ice cream and can easily polish off a pint in 5 minutes, I scoop the ice cream into tea cups and eat it with a tiny spoon. Usually I do eat the whole pint, but I have to get up and refilled the tea cup several times, which makes me enjoy the ice cream more and be conscious of how much I’m having.
My favorite snack lately is a chopped up frozen banana with a few chocolate chips 🙂 helps me avoid ice cream cravings!
Preparing snacks in advance helps me to savor my snacks and not over indulge.
I love cheese! It’s great with grapes, nuts, or crackers. Or cream cheese with smoked salmon – yum!
Boring as it is, my favorite snack is probably an apple. Although I also recently tried some of that candy corn kettle corn and it was pretty darn tasty.
My mom makes fun of me because I always cut everything up on my plate before I start eating; I think it lets me try different combinations of food on my plate and enjoy my meal!
My trick is to try to have a full glass of water with my snack/meal, but to finish the water before finishing my food!
I do the same thing as you and drink a cup of tea with my snack. And I really try to enjoy every sip and every bite!
I try to assemble the food nicely on my plate before digging in. When I eat snacks straight out of the bag without putting them on a plate, I find I’ve eaten a lot before I know it!
I love Chobani pineapple Greek yogurt. Sweet and filling!
Drinking water with my snacks and meals helps me slow down and savor my food!
Sometimes when I’m reading a good book, it’ll help me slow down between bites because I’m so caught up! Just don’t get messy fingers on the pages! 🙂
I try to leave my desk for lunch and meet up with a coworker. If not, I just inhale my food while continuing to work!
My favorite snack is a smoothie! or Juice!
I have started putting music on and I find my husband and I sit at the table longer because we aren’t trying to see what’s on tv! It’s definitly helped us eat slower and enjoy eachother over a glass of wine
I set my fork down between bites. And remind myself it’s not a race with my husband… he tends to eat really fast.
I’ve also noticed if I drink hot tea or coffee during a meal I”m more likely to slow down. My favorite snacks are string cheese and grapes or really anything that is a little sweet and a little salty!
Peanut butter is always my go to snack! Peanut butter and crackers, apple and peanut butter, or the occasional PB&J.
My favorite snack is apples slices dipped in a mix of cashew butter, plain Greek yogurt, and either cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. So delicious!
These are awesome tips! Simple ones are always the first to slip my mind, but these are all true! Especially the part about not being in front of electronic distractions. I always have found that pre-portioning my snacks really helps. I get myself into trouble eating straight out of a container. Even if it’s something healthy, I’m more likely to over eat if I can keep going back to a never ending box of cereal or container of nuts!
I am a fast eater and find if I chew 50 times I will slow down and after doing this 2 or 3 times I can stop counting. Good snack. Slice an avocado and spread laughing cow Swiss cheese on slices and top with few slivered almonds. Very tasty.
My favorite snack: anything with cheese! Also yogurt and granola is always a treat!
Apples and pb are my all time favorite snack!!
I think purposing to take time in my day to relax for even 10 minutes helps me to be mindful of my snack time. I can enjoy my food while reading a book or catching up with my favorite blogs! My go to snacks are popcorn and apples, Greek yogurt and almonds, and quest bars with a cup of coffee!
I always try to get off of my phone/computer and actually pay attention to eating…or else I will just inhale it and it’s like I never ate it!
One of many of my favorite snacks is quest bar cream and cookies I’m super obsessed with them and homemade almond butter with pretty much goes with anything crackers, apple, rice cakes, or even just a spoon. Thank you for sharing these snacks I am definitely going to try them out. 🙂
My favorite snack is: peanut butter/greek yogurt/cinnamon dip with Apple slices!!
One of my favorite snacks this time of year is a simple Honeycrisp apple with a couple tablespoons of peanut butter. Yum!
I play classical music and have sparkling water with a snack 🙂
I love to snack on frozen grapes. They fill my sweet tooth.
I love the sweet & savory flavor of pretzel thins with strawberry cream cheese!!
Definitely putting down my fork/spoon between bites. I’m a super fast eater too! (I made your cheesy broccoli quinoa the other day and it was great! My husband loved it!)
I have a hard time with eating too fast as well. One thing that I try to remember to do is to take a sip of water after every bite. 🙂
Fresh baked bread toasted with peanut butter!! Not that healthy, but sooooo yummy.
I have no tricks. I am the worst at shoveling!
My current favorite snack – apples and peanut butter.
I try to eat every 3 hours and never skip breakfast so I’m not famished…If I’m starved I’ll eat everything really fast. Keeping hunger in check helps me slow down and not scarf food down!
My favorite snack is vanilla greek yogurt blended with one banana and one cup rice milk and a teaspoon of peanut butter and four cubes of ice. Blend and sip! Delicious snack drink!
I try to always eat at the table. I have a 7 month old baby boy so I bring him with me and set him in his seat. It helps me slow down so much because in between bites I’m talking and playing with my little man! Also, I LOVE apples and peanut butter. That combo never gets old!