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!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
My favorite snack is an apple with maple almond butter.
Sitting down and/or putting it on a plate. Favourite snack? That’s hard because I love so ,any different snacks, but since I got into university (I’m in first year), probably carrots, hummus and trail mix
Whenever me and my husband are out to eat, we try and ask each other questions between bites. It forces us to slow our eating and is a great way to connect and enjoy each other’s company!
first off, no tv or phones! snacking with my roommate not only allows us to split the snack, but it also allows us to catch up with no distractions and we talk as well as eat, which obviously has to slow you down. We’re loving pretzels and cheese dip or hummus! 🙂 fantastic giveaway!
Some of my favorite snacks are laughing cow on rice cakes (especially the new pepperjack cheese), and strawberries with nutella!
Favorite snack: greek yogurt (especially pumpkin flavored right now!) with a handful of nuts, granola, and chocolate thrown in.
When I have a snack, I get up a take a walk around the office first, often I need the mental break more than an actual snack. When I snack, I like to have little bite sized portions like Laughing Cow’s little wedges so I keep my portions under control.
My favorite snack lately has been (fittingly) cheese, yummy!!!
My favorite snack is dried apricots with a bit of almond butter on them.
Always make sure to eat at the table – no tv, phone or any other distractions – just time to enjoy my food!
My favorite snack is an oldie but a goodie! Peanut butter and a banana!
My favorite snack has always been banana slices and (crunchy) peanut butter. I’m enjoying it right now actually!
My favorite snack is the classic cheese and crackers. Sometimes I add peanut butter to the cracker and put the cheese on top which sounds gross but tastes amazing!
My absolutely favorite snack is a banana with peanut butter. You can’t beat it!
My favorite snack is my homemade “trail mix!” Mixed nuts + dried fruit +dark chocolate chips= yum!!! 🙂
Well, eating with a three-year-old forces you to slow down since they eat like snails 🙂
Sounds kind of sad, but the only way I can slow down when i’m eating is if i eat alone! When there’s other people and conversation going on I pile it in for some reason. My boyfriend and I are usually in and out of a restaurant in 30 minutes lol!
I try to make sure I chew my food and drink water or tea! Laughing cow cheese is awesome!
Does ice cream count as a favorite snack? 🙂
Favorite snack- Stacy’s pita chips- sea salt or cinnamon and sugar…they are dangerous!
My favorite snack lately is coconut greek yogurt with almonds mixed in!!!
I love snacking on baby carrots and hummus but lately I’ve been loving dried plums and almonds!
My favorite snack in the summer is cucumber slices with a laughing cow wedge. In the winter, I snack on popcorn.
My favorite snack is pretzel thins with fresh mozzarella and tomato on top! Yum..
I love peanut butter and caramel rice cakes lately! My bad habit is eating in front of the TV. Eating at the kitchen table would help me slow down!
Apple with cinnamon and honey!
This trick is similar to putting your fork down between bites – no loading up your fork or spoon with the next bite until you’re done with the current mouthful. It’s easier for me than remembering to put the fork all the way down in between bites. Love the Laughing Cow cheeses!
My go-to snack these days is trail mix and a piece of fruit!
Hmm I think my favorite snack is banana with peanut butter and a little bit of honey. I need to try that putting down your fork trick…I always eat too fast!
Oh I am SO bad at rushing through my meals. I’m usually chasing two boys around so I eat while standing and running around everyday. I like to go out on our back patio and eat. No TV or computer out there to distract me. And the boys can run around all they want.
Lately my favorite snack is the pre portioned bags of trail mix from trader joes.
My favorite snack would have to be a crisp green apple with peanut butter (:
One of my tips is don’t snack during the preparation! Wait until it is fully ready and that way you can fully enjoy =).
One of my favorite snacks is an apple and almond butter!
I try not to multitask while I snack so I can enjoy it more!
My favourite snack is avocado sliced on buttered popcorn rice cakes. It’s creamy and salty and delicious! I try to stay away from my computer when snacking and sometimes I even count count chews if I am super hungry and am trying to slow down and feel full!
Latekly I’ve been eating medjool dates with homemade pumpkin spice almond butter. I’m a really fast eater too, so this snack slows me down bc the dates have pits and I have to spread the almond butter on and carefully eat around the pit. So good though!
I’m with you on being a fast eater… definitely something I want to work on! My favorite snack right now is greek yogurt with peanut butter and chocolate chips mixed in… pretty much dessert 🙂
My favorite snack these days are the 70% dark chocolate Lindt bars. Yum!
I think I am the slowest eater of all time already, but I have read that you are supposed to chew each bite over 5 times. My favorite snack is usually pretzel chips with greek yogurt spinach dip. Yum!!
My favorite snack is apple slices with peanut butter. Yum!
I like the idea of sitting down! I’m guilty of eating many snack and meals at the kitchen counter! The food is gone before I know it and I barely got to enjoy it!
I definitely eat quicker when I am eating by myself, so I try to plan lunches with my coworkers to help us take a break from the day and really enjoy the food we are eating!
My husband encourages me to slow down while we’re eating. He likes to take his time while eating dinner and sit and talk afterwards. I’ve taken hints and cues from him on how to slow down and enjoy dinner instead of rushing to clean up!
My favorite snack lately is one packet of maple oatmeal, added oatbran, chopped banana and a spoonful of pumpkin spice Jif Whips. It tastes just like banana bread dough!
My all time favorite snack is apple with almond butter. To slow down I make sure to only cut one piece of apple at a time and savor each bite! So yummy.
I find that if I put my snack on an actual plate and sit down and eat I tend to eat slower AND i know how much I’m actually eating! If I start grabbing things out of the cupboard and eat while standing I have no idea of how much I’m eating and I turn into a vacuum, not good! And my favorite snack is trader joe’s crunchy peanut butter and carrots!
my favorite snack is spaghetti squash mixed with vegetable marinara sauce and laughing cow cheese!
My fav snack is hummus and carrots. BUT I have measure out a couple tablespoons of hummus or I will eat an entire container in one sitting! Best slow tip is to sit down at the table with the tv off! Thanks!!!
Apple with peanut butter!
My favorite snack is some almonds and a banana.