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 use the fork putting down trick too. I also try to take a sip of water in-between every couple of bite. Greek yogurt is one of my favorite snacks.
One of my favorite snacks is cereal or trader joe’s jojos!
Hmm…using a fork, etc. versus eating with my hands is one method for me!
I try to visualize and consciously think about the food I’m eating. If my attention is on the computer or so, I try to be aware of that distraction and focus more on the actual taste.
I try to take a sip of water between every few bites. I love laughing cow cheese on crackers!
I am also a super-speedy eater! I try to savor my food/snacks by being conscious of how many times I chew before I swallow. Sounds weird, but this helps me slow down and truly enjoy all the flavors of my food! Also, putting my utensil down between bites allows me truly savor the meal (I usually only do this when I’m alone because it’s kind of annoying when you’re in a social setting). What an awesome giveaway!!
I am notorious for shoveling food into my mouth. Drinking water before and during my meal helps me to slow down and realize when I’m full. Great giveaway – I love Laughing Cow cheese! And thanks for your helpful tips 🙂
ahhhhhh i LOVE the look of those anthropologie mugs!! fav snacks of the moment : mashed avocado on toast, or a rice cake with pb/ab +j for something smaller. also love to pop a couple dates in my mouth for something sweet 😛
I try to remember to drink water/whatever beverage I’m having while eating to help me slow down!
Putting my snack in a bowl or on a plate rather than digging it out of the package helps me to slow down and truly enjoy it rather than mindlessly inhaling it.
my favorite snack will forever be an apple (honeycrisp preferably) with peanut butter and cinnamon sometimes I’ll have a few dark chocolate covered almonds with it if I have them and want some additional sweetness. If I am on the go its a quest bar. So good. I try to have a snack with lots of water or a cup of coffee to prolong it which normally works.
I try to space out snacks throughout the day so I’m not famished, and to help break things up, I keep my snacks in the cafe at work. That way, I’m forced to get up and walk, take a break from my computer, and I get a chance to talk to colleagues!
Peanut butter and apple. And a trick to slowing down while I eat: feed a baby/toddler! Feeding yourself totally gets put on the back burner. Ha.
I’ve been loving apples and peanut butter as a snack lately!
My favorite snack is pretzel crisps and and peanut butter!
My favorite snack is a grilled cheese sandwich with sharp cheddar, sourdough, and a fried egg.
My favorite snack is cheese and crackers. I especially love it with Laughing Cow’s sun-dried tomato and basil cheese and cherry tomatoes on the side!
A bowl of cereal and milk is a classic snack that I can never get tired of!
My favorite snack is definitely peanut butter and banana — and I’ll be using some of these tips to slow down my eating for sure!
Snack time is the best time! I love a banana with almond butter or avocado on toast mmm
My favorite thing to do to slow down is a take a restorative yoga class. I go on Friday nights after work to a combo class, 1 hr regular yoga followed by 30 min of restorative where the teacher sets you up in super relaxing poses with probs (think childs pose on a pillow) with aromatherapy. Its the perfect ending to a hectic week and soothing way to start the weekend!
I also try to put my fork down in between bites and cut my food in smaller pieces or take smaller bites so it takes longer to eat!
I’m a speed eater too! I can’t help myself sometimes. I do try, though, to incorporate a drink into my snack, and take sips between bites.
favorite snack = annie’s sweet and salty popcorn. so good and so so addicting!
Try to not eat in front of the TV!
My favorite snack is definitely a banana w/ PB and granola – can’t go wrong!
I heard a tip once about counting the number of times you actually chew a bite. It really does make me eat slower although it’s a little tedious!
My favorite snack is an apple with almond butter! So yummy!
Greek yogurt is one of my favorite snacks!
Apple and almond butter is my favorite snack! To help me eat it more slowly, I cut the apple using one of those apple wedge cutters, then carefully spread a bit of almond butter on each slice. Not only does this process make me slow down to do all the meticulous spreading, but it helps me eat them slowly and try to enjoy the fruits (literally!) of my labor.
What an awesome giveaway 🙂 My favorite snacks are popcorn or apples with peanut butter! I also love Laughing Cow cheeses!
I have snacks that I have to assemble, or ones with a few different components to help make it last longer. Spreading peanut butter on an apple, slicing cheese and crackers etc help me to slow down and focus on what I am actually eating!
Favourite snack is definitely a handful of raw almonds. I like to allocate an afternoon snack/break time. It helps me power through the early afternoon knowing that I have a break coming up. Oh and coffee. A handful of almonds and a cup of coffee make my afternoon that much sweeter!
My favorite snack is carrots & hummus!
I usually read when I eat lunch by myself.
I’m actually naturally a slow eater. My family used to have to wait for me to finish eating before getting up from the dinner table! I’d say my favorite sweet snack is Monster Trail Mix from target. I actually recently got into Laughing Cow, though, and always have some in the fridge now. I find it’s a more substantial snack for when I’m really hungry!
Sitting down at the table for dinner without any distractions i.e. no TV, no cell phones, really helps my husband and I to savor our meals while also getting in some quality one-on-one time!
Also, my favorite snack is an apple with a handful of almonds. I could eat it everyday!
My favorite snack is apple with peanut butter. So easy and so good!
This is a constant problem for me. It really comes down to realizing I am just inhaling my food and not really tasting it. And also not letting yourself get so hungry you just shovel in food.
I’m loving apples and almond butter right now
I always make myself sit down and eat my breakfast before starting to get ready for work! sitting down and taking 10 minutes to sip my coffee and eat my meal helps me feel less stressed than grabbing a bar and coffee to go before speeding out the door!
My favorite snack lately is yogurt with fresh fruit and a scoop of peanut butter!
I love to have coffee or tea with my afternoon snack of rice cakes with almond butter.
I almost everyday have a banana with peanut butter as a snack. I think I could live off bananas and nut butter!
I’ve recently become addicted to roasted sweet potato wedges with a blob of almond butter. The starch combined with the thick almond butter kind of forces you to eat slowly and take sips of water between each bite. So delicious!
I drink a lot of water between bites and try to conscious slow down 🙂
I definitely need to slow down when I eat! I put my fork down in between bites and try to slowly drink water throughout to help fill me up and distract me from shoveling the food in 🙂
I eat all of my meals at the dining room table which keeps me from turning on the computer while I am eating. It certainly helps! Thank you for the laughing cow ideas. It’s been a couple years since I bought the wed he’s, but you’ve inspired me!
One of my favorite snacks lately has been celery or apples with natural peanut butter!
Favorite snack: hummus on pretzels and carrots!
my favorite snack is definitely a spoonful of almond butter with mini chocolate chips (thanks, Julie!).