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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If I feel like I’m eating too fast, I’ll try to take about 20 seconds to chew my food. It does the trick!
My favorite snack is Cheese! Cheese & crackers, cheese with apples, cheese with pretzels, etc.
I try to keep my meals and snacks seasonal to get the most nutrients as possible. So right now I have been loving apples or pears with almond butter or a pumpkin smoothie!
My favorite snack is hummus with veggies!!
I’m the last person to leave a tip about slowing down, since I’ve been a flash eater my whole life, but one of my favorite snacks is cottage cheese with cut up bananas in it. So tasty!
I love cheese an apple and almonds as a snack. if the cheese is good, I can’t help but slow down and savor it!
my favorite snack is apple slices and peanut butter!
My favorite snack is sliced cheese and pretzels! YUM!
I try to savor snack time by consciously thinking about what I’m eating. And having foods that crunch. I adore carrots and nut butter at snack time. What a fab giveaway!
I definitely try to step away from the computer, phone, and TV when I’m eating. The fork trick definitely helps and taking sips of water between bites! I’ve found when I eat slower I definitely tend to eat less and really listen to my body’s hunger cues! It definitely takes practice! Especially at work when you have a short amount of time to eat lunch 🙂
I am definitely guilty of shoving food in my mouth. I always eat two snacks a day, morning and afternoon. My absolute favorite snack is an apple and almond or peanut butter. Right now with honeycrisp apples in season and I am loving this snack even more!
My favorite snack is apples with almond butter, which I normally have in the afternoon after lunch. It helps to power me through my evening workout before dinner!
I am a fast eater, too because I like to enjoy my food while it’s hot. However, to slow down I have tried putting my fork down and drinking more water in between bites. My husband is so good at eating desserts slowly, so I have been trying to follow his lead on that! It’s like you get double the dessert when you eat it extra slow!
Would LOVE to win this giveaway! 5 of my favorite things.
Hi Julie! I like to take a walk before snack time. It seems to make me relax and slow down.
Sitting at the table to eat versus sitting on the couch, watching tv, etc. Lighting a candle and placing it on the table also prompts me to slow down by making the meal a little more “festive”
My go to snack at the moment is veggies with hummus. Not so sure I eat them slow though 😉
Sitting down with no distractions (silence) helps me to slow down! My favorite snack is mashed ripe banana + dry oats + peanut butter!
My favorite snack will always be anything with salsa- carrots, chips, eggs, anything!
I agree with all of your tips! Another thing I do is portion my snack out on a small plate/bowl, to make sure I don’t get carried away and eat too much. It should be a snack, not a meal! Love the giveaway 🙂
I always sit down when I eat my snacks! My absolute favorite is a spoonful of almond butter with some chocolate chips. Doesn’t get much easier or tastier than that!
I am a sucker for anything where I can incorporate soft cheeses; that and a few bites of cold cuts are my go to snack
My favorite snacks are apples and peanut butter or the laughing cow cheeses with thin triscuits! So delish! I am guilty of being a fast eater so these are wonderful tips I’ll have to try to to slow down and savor the meal/snack!
I work in a cubicle farm so to get up and relax a little I always eat my snack in the break room. It is calming and refreshing to get away from the computer and enjoy my snack before diving back in. My go to is carrots dipped in hummus! 🙂
I have portion control issues, so I either place the snack in a bowl or plate so I don’t eat more than I want to. Also, sometimes I remember to eat with my left (non-dominant hand) which slows me down!
It sounds hippy-dippy, but I like to go through all the different ingredients of my meal and thank the people who harvested, packed and shipped them so that I could buy them. It makes you stop and think about everything that you’re eating and appreciate it much, much more!
My favorite snack is cheese sticks or cottage cheese! I can easily grab and go!
To slow down I make sure I sit down and eat !
I inhale my food as well. Ty try and slow down, I make myself sit down at the table while I eat instead of standing and completing other tasks while eating.
I also eat extremely fast (my friends say I go into “wolf mode” as I wolf down my food) but I try to take sips of my drink between every few bites as well as pause to have conversation 🙂 As for snacks, I love creating “turkey rolls” with deli meat, Laughing Cow or another type of cheese, hummus and peppers.
What a great giveaway! The only thing that makes me slow down with snacks is putting it on a plate and sitting at a table without distractions. If i eat while watching tv it’s like my snack never even happened!
I love to eat and snacks are my favorite! I stay at home with my son part time and find myself eating all day if I’m not careful. I try to ask myself if I’m really hungry or just snacking because it’s there. I also try to eat at the table rather than on the couch 🙂
My favorite snack is definitely popcorn!
I try to separate my foods so I don’t just eat everything together and super fast, if I eat foods separately I’m more likely to to slower so I taste each individual food and swallow it all before eating something different. If I’m with people I also hold up a conversation, or try too, I’m a super fast eater too :/
One for my favorite snacks is fresh fruit! I have a sweet tooth so this helps me from eating cookies or candy. I also slow down eating by talking or having a conversation during my meal!
My favorite snacks are those 100 calorie almond packs. They are so satisfying and I love that it is portion controlled. I also love a gluten free rice cake with almond butter!
My favorite snack is peanut butter and apple or peanut butter and banana. In reality, pb and anything make a great snack! I also make sure to drink a lot of water when I eat to slow down and savor.
I can’t comment to slowing down while eating, I am the world’s slowest eater, always the last to finish! as for a snack, I love a tortilla in the microwave with almond butter, sliced banana and a blob of bonne maman strawberry preserves. that cable knit throw is luscious.
This is such a cute giveaway. I tend to be a fast eater too and I remember reading in a magazine a while back to eat with your non-dominant hand. So, since I am a righty, I will eat with my left hand instead and it really forces me to slow down.
My favorite snack is definitely a banana and crunchy peanut butter. I have to have it everyday! I try to keep the snacking limited to when I am definitely hungry, and not just in the mood to eat. Which really, could be just about anytime…:)
well considering that i just read this post while eating my bowl of cereal, i’m not expert on the topic myself 😉 great giveaway though!
Mixing up what I snack on is always the key for me! I get excited for that specific snack, and don’t mindlessly eat it!
To slow down during snacks, I drink a cup of coffee…I love sitting down to a hot cup of coffee (I add 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, plus one packet of stevia). I usually have something with my coffee that I can dunk in it:) YUM!!!
My favorite snack… I’m like you and go through phases. Right now I’m really into honey crisp apples, topped with peanut butter, coconut and chocolate chips. Also caramelized onion hummus with carrots 😀
I enjoy some Greek yogurt with berries and chia seeds mixed in for a snack. Yum!
my favorite snack is hummus on ANYTHING.. toast + avocado, pretzel crisps, veggies, you name it!
Sitting with tea, or sitting at the kitchen table rather than the couch help me savor my snacks. Thanks for a great giveaway! 🙂
I’m a pretty fast eater. I think it comes from growing up with 5 brothers! In order to slow myself down I enjoy a cup of hot tea of my snacks. As for a favorite snack, I can’t get enough of carrots and hummus!
I am such a fast eater! I blame growing up with a military father 🙂 I have been focusing on chewing more slowly and putting my fork down in between bites to slow myself down.
Sitting down at a table and pulling myself away from the TV. It makes everything more enjoyable.
I always have a big glass of water with my meals and try to fully chew each bite and take a sip after every couple bites or so. This extends my meal and helps to fill me up quicker!