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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Holy moly! What an awesome giveaway! I’m a firm believer in putting your fork down… I especially inhale my food when I have something delicious like Chipotle where I just can’t. slow. down. So hard to slow down and savor when it’s hot and delicious!
My trick to slowing down and savoring my food is eating with friends! I find that between all the chit chat, jokes, and constant laughing I have to slow down my eating so that I can engage with the people I’m eating with. I’m really excited for this giveaway!
Whatever it is, take it out of the package and put it on a plate (or bowl).
I drink a ton of tea to make snack time last longer! My most recent fav snack is a protein shake paired with ezekiel toast and almond butter!
I completely understand you, I’m the fastest eater and I really can’t slow down, my mum has always tried ways to slow me down! I try and chew at least ten time per mouthful of food, I read some where that you should chew a lot before you swallow and it’s really helped me slow down! Those mugs are super cute!!
One of my favorite snacks are Trader Joe’s Multigrain Pita Crackers topped with goat cheese and drizzled with a little bit of honey. So good! I also like to place each cracker on a plate and dress it up a little bit, this way it feels like you are having a small meal rather than a snack. Thanks again!
My favorite snack is a smoothie. I attempt to slow down and savor it by freezing before eating/drinking forcing me to enjoy it over a longer period of time
My favorite snack is a banana or apple cut up with peanut butter! By cutting the fruit into pieces and taking the time to put a little bit of peanut butter on each piece I find myself slowing down and actually tasting my snack instead of inhaling it and not actually enjoying it.
I’m generally not too bad with savouring meals but if you put a bowl of popcorn in front of me (or my boyfriend-I refuse to take all the blame) it disappears in 2.5 seconds!
My favourite snack has to be a spoonful of peanut butter though. Such a quick and yummy snack, but it drives my boyfriend crazy- he doesn’t get it. More for me that way though!
I am a super fast eater, too! This sounds crazy, but my dog doesn’t like to eat her food unless my boyfriend or I is in the kitchen, too. She doesn’t like to eat alone! She is a really slow eater and takes probably 15-20 minutes to eat a meal. I could easily finish a meal/snack in 5-10 minutes, so I try to make myself sit at the kitchen table with my meal/snack and take the same amount of time it takes her to eat.
I *try* to take smaller bites and chew each piece more. Try is the operative word here – also a fast eater!
Anything with peanut butter makes snack time good.
I love everything in the giveaway!! Putting the fork down in between bites, is a trick I use all the time, it really does work. Also, I cut things into smaller pieces, such as toast or fruit, the smaller bites tend to make me savor them a bit more.
These are great tips, and I love the things you’ve assembled for the giveaway! One of my tips to savor snack time comes before snack time begins. When I find myself reaching for a snack, I drink a glass of water before I have my snack. It often helps me tell when I’m full from my snack and when I’m still hungry (and not thirsty). I also think stepping away from my computer for a few minutes makes a HUGE difference!
I think my favorite snack has to be a honeycrisp apple with almond butter. YUM!
One of my favorite snacks is peanut butter with carrots. Sounds gross and I gagged when my cousin told me about it, but I’ve since tried it and I love it! Another one I can’t get enough of: dry cereal (Frosted mini wheats, cinnamon toast crunch, wheat chex, sweetened puff wheat, honey nut cheerios, puffins….you get the idea!)
sipping coffee with breakfast helps me eat much more slowly. I also eat more slowly when I’m with other people and having a conversation, so making meals more of a planned sit-down event and inviting friends always helps!
This is so nice of you to put together 🙂 I definitely think the most important thing is to step away from technology. I, too, find myself wondering what the heck I just ate when I’m eating in front of the television. Or even WORSE is in front of the computer. Then, I just get a messy keyboard too. Yuck!
Reminding myself to drink a sip of water in between bites reallllly slows me down. For my favorite snack I’d have to say hummus, hummus on anything and everything. Also, trader joe’s has these rosemary raisin crackers that pair perfectly with laughing cow cheeses!
I feel your pain! I too am the fastest eater I know and slowing down to enjoy my food rather than inhale it is a constant struggle. I use the ‘put my fork/spoon down’ technique, but still find myself shoveling food more often than not :-/ New Years resolution maybe??
I use my snacks as breaks and I actually do the opposite of your suggestions… I always read blogs or use pinterest while I eat, and since I don’t want to go back to work I usually eat very slowly haha. Probably not a great habit but I look forward to it every day.
I can definitely mindlessly eat so I try avoiding eating in the car. I also put my untensils down as I chew instead of prepping my fork or spoon with another bite 😉
I definitely try to put my fork or spoon down between bites or drink water between bites. Also, if you think about your next bite and if you really want and/or are hungry for it, then you can stop yourself from over eating or eating too fast! One of my favorite snacks is homemade popcorn or a spoon full of peanut butter!
This is such a wonderful giveaway! My favorite snack is a cinnamon rice cake topped with peanut butter, apple slices, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Delicious! 🙂
I swear I’m not saying this because it’s a Laughing Cow giveaway, but my favorite snacks always involve cheese 🙂
Sitting at a table is always something I try to do when eating so I’m not focused on anything else. Drinking tea is a great idea though!
My husband and I truly savor our meal when it’s just us. We try to wait to eat until our 1 year old daughter is down for the night. Then, we light a candle, pour some wine, and truly savor the quiet dinner!
I love sitting on my porch and just watching people drive/walk by, listening to the birds etc. It slows me down and makes me take it all in; including my food!
I’m horrible about eating quickly, too! I try to take smaller bites and set my utensil down between bites.
I am an avid snacker/grazer/let me eat all the food I see kind of gal. However I am learning and trying to slow it all down. I try to remember to fully chew each bite rather than shoveling it into my mouth and swallowing (nothing cute about that either). My favorite snack is a nice ripe banana and some almond butter. Yummm!
I recently had adult braces put on my teeth and let me tell you that REALLY slows down my eating time! I used to inhale my food but now I can’t 🙁
I try to sit down and put my phone away! I also try to eat at the kitchen table versus the desk, couch, etc.
I love to sit down with a cup of decaf tea and a savory snack during my kids’ naptime. I let my whole body relax, and I taste the food and the quiet.
I’m crazy busy at work right now so Kind bars have been my go-to snack since they are so fast and easy! When I’m at home on the weekend i love pita chips and hummus. Great giveaway!
I make sure to take a sip of water in between bites! I have the same problem of inhaling my food, but by consciously making an effort to sip water, I naturally slow down!
It is hard to eat slowly with a newborn! My favorite snack is dark chocolate and popcorn.
I inhale my food (I grew up with two brothers, so as Ross puts it, “If you didn’t eat fast…you didn’t eat!) I always try to remind myself to drink water in between bites. That is usually helpful for slowing me down 🙂
I am likewise guilty of being a speed-eater! It is a hard habit to break, but I have found making a conscious effort to drink more throughout the meal slows my pace down. This also helps to keep me from over-eating, as I tend to fill up faster.
My favorite snack is a classic: apple slices dunked in almond butter. YUM!
My favorite snack is a honey crisp apple with peanut butter! I can’t get enough of it! I usually cut the apple into many thin slices so it helps me slow down my eating
My husband and I are also fast eaters! We try to engage in more conversation during dinner to slow us down! I also find when eating alone that I don’t want TV or get on my phone! My favorite snack at the moment is vanilla yogurt with Van’s gluten free cinnamon cereal as “granola”! So yummy!
This giveaway is absolutely perfect for a rainy day! My favorite snack lately has been dates stuffed with sunflower butter, so good!
Banana, almond butter, and little drizzle of honey is my favorite snack! I definitely try to work on putting my fork down between bites! A good rule for me is if there’s still food in your mouth, you don’t need to start scooping up the next mouthful 🙂
I take sips of water between bites….it slows me down and helps me feel much fuller!
Sitting down to dinner with my husband without any electronics is my time to slow down. And even when I’m alone I make sure to sit down and savor my snacks without a phone or email inbox in sight! Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂
Awesome giveaway! I love snacks! My favorite snack is an apple and peanut butter or cheese and crackers. If it’s just me eating, I love to make a cheese tray for dinner! YUM.
My favorite snack right now is a farmer’s market apple (so sweet and delicious) with a mozzarella string cheese and pita chips! Sweet and salty with different textures is what I try to put together for snack time.
My favorite snack right now is apples with caramel and peanut butter (mixed together and melted in the microwave!)
Being a teacher, I have learned to eat lunch in 15 minutes. When I’m at home eating with my husband, I’ve tried taking smaller bites. It sounds weird but it actually makes me stop and think about talking to my husband instead of just shoveling more food in my mouth. I would love to have the Pottery Barn throw at my house. Today the high was 52 degrees. I definitely need something warm and cozy to curl up on the couch with.
I try to eat with friends and coworkers as much as possible! Having someone to talk with during meals or snacks encourages me to slow down and enjoy my food.
As a busy working mom of two sons ages 9 and 11, I hardly have time to breath let alone slow down for a snack. I realize I need to change this. Some of my favorite on the go snacks are Blue Diamond almonds, carrots with ranch dip, chocolate covered raisins and protein bars. I haven’t tried the Laughing Cow cheeses but hope to change that soon. Thank you for sponsoring a great give away.