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 always make sure to drink plenty of water when eating my afternoon snack. By drinking in between each bite I slow down and also make sure to stay hydrated.
I LOVE laughing cow cheese wedges on apples! I’ve also toasted an English muffin and spread a cheese wedge on that….and then eaten an apple on the side. I love cheese and I love apples 🙂
My favorite snack is warm cinnamon oatmeal mixed in with plain greek yogurt and topped with fresh berries or apple slices. Yum!
my trick is to turn off the tv and to chew my food atleast 10 times before swallowing! my favorite snacks are carrots with veggie dip or an apple with some peanut butter. yummy!
To take time and enjoy my snacks, I always take my treat to the sun porch where there is no distraction except the birds chirping or my dog Moose barking at passerby’s.
Love this giveaway! I try to remember to drink water with my snack to help slow me down. My favorite snack is apples with peanut butter, well actually anything with peanut butter lol!
I love popcorn!
My sister and I always laugh as we are the queens of fast eating and drinking! I have to try hard to slow down! Putting my fork down between bites helps me a lot. I love any kind of fruit or rice cakes with PB for a snack!!
I am a fast eater too. Putting my fork down in between bites is a great way to slow down. If I don’t set my fork down, I just keep shoveling the food in my mouth and before I know it, it’s gone!
My go-to snack is always a Larabar or a Kind bar, but always love cheese and crackers too! Also eating spicy foods always seems to slow down my eating.
Drinking lots of water with the meal!
My favorite snack is a banana and peanut butter, carrots and hummus, or unsalted macadamia nuts. 🙂
I have to portion out my amounts, otherwise I eat way too much. I also eat with water, and my favorite snack is strawberries with a little melted dark chocolate on top!
Lately my go-to snack has been apple slices with Laughing Cow cheese! Blue cheese and Swiss cheese favors are my favorite.
I love steamed cauliflower with skinny cow cheese mixed it. It tastes like mac N cheese!
I try and eat snacks that I have to assemble as I go. Like spreading on hummus on each pretzel individually before chomping down 🙂
OMG! I so would LOVE to win this give away. We just bought a new house and so many of the items would be put to good use in the decorating of the house. I love, love, love Laughing Cow cheese. I use it in my omelettes, I spread it on crackers, I use it on bagels, and I use the strawberry cream cheese laughing cow in smoothies to make it a sweet treat! I’m a sweet & salty snacker. I love the pretzel crisps with laughing cow herb flavored cheese and half an apple. That’s my afternoon happy treat. I’m going to try a hot cup of tea with it to help me slow down and savor the moment. Thanks for the great tip!
Drink lots of water while eating! Also, sliced bell peppers/cucumbers is my go to snack during the workday!
I try to put my fork down and stay engaged in conversation if I am eating with my husband or friends. We are so bad about digging into those appetizers (chips and dip…) and stopping conversation! Getting away from electronics and “tv dinners” is a great idea too.
This giveaway looks great! Lots of comfy fall/winter way to relax and enjoy time ! 🙂
My trick is to step outside and sit on the porch. Forces me to relax and enjoy the fresh air!
Sitting down at the kitchen table or outside on the patio (even better!) helps me slow down and enjoy my snacks. Working from home is a luxury but some days I look back and realize I ate all of my meals at my work desk, ahhh!
My favorite trick to slowing down during meal times is to take a small sip of water after most bites of food. It encourages me to put the fork down and I am way less likely to just shovel dinner into my mouth without thought.
I’m a pretty slow eater, and I try to take small bites and get away from my computer/cell phone when I eat!
My favorite snack is popcorn– I love it! I recently discovered the “pop your own” cob from the local farmer’s market that you just put into a paper bag and it pops more than enough popcorn for 2 people.
Chew sloooowwwwly (15-20 times per bite.. Easier said than done. But the idea is to saver what you are eating. Favorite snack – laughing cow and triscuits or apple and peanut butter.
I physically force myself to pause for thirty seconds before starting my snack. It helps me become more mindful of where I am and what I am doing!
Cheese and crackers are my fav snack!
My favorite snack is baby carrots and hummus <3
I love snacking on greek yogurt and almonds. It really fills me up!
These are really good tips. I am a fast eater as well so I appreciate these and will try to remember them moving forward. I do think putting my fork down helps. Also, if I’m eating with friends, I try to engage in the conversation instead of just listening and eating. My favorite snack of late is cheese and crackers. I love a sharp white cheddar with Triscuits.
I Try to eat smaller meals throughout the day, chew more, and always try to sit down while eating. Thanks for the chance to enter!
I too tend to shovel food into my face as fast as possible, sometimes shoving a bite in while there is still food in my mouth from my previous bite. I like to make a conscious effort to finish the existing bite and swallow it all down before I take the next bite.
My go to snack is an apple and PB2. I like to make my PB2 a little runnier so it puts a small costing over the apple instead of a glob. So good. Another favorite is veggies and hummus.
My favorite snack are apples with peanut butter – yum!
My favorite snack is no-bake energy bars…seriously feels like I am eating a chunk of cookie dough. I also find that getting myself to eat sitting down vs. either standing at the counter or eating with the fridge door open help me slow-down and really taste/experience the food I’m eating. 🙂
I try to drink a glass of water before I eat, and then be sure to drink another glass as I’m eating. This helps me be aware of how hungry I actually am, and I don’t feel the need to shovel my food into my mouth as quickly! Plus I stay more hydrated throughout the day!
What an awesome giveaway! I am a total “snacker” Somedays all I do is snack. I prefer salty over sweet so my go to snack is always a salty treat, like pretzels or popcorn. Pretzel chips and cheese is probably my favorite. I also need to slow down a little and enjoy what i’m eating, I’m guilty of snacking in front of the TV 🙁
My favorite time is when I eat with my boyfriend. Unfortunately, we don’t eat diner together every night since he has classes. But when we do, I like to talk and eat at the same time and that gives me the opportunity to slow down a bit!
I love to cook! I also love to enjoy my dinner with my husband. We have made it a point to eat dinner at our kitchen table or if the weather is nice, we eat outside. We discuss our day with each other and enjoy our meal together. Not only is it a great way to savor your meal, you get to spend some quality time together! 🙂
Eating with a friend! I’m more focused on our conversation than shoveling food in my mouth. I’ve always been a fairly slow eater and when I’m engaging with other people, I tend to eat even slower which allows my brain to process that “full” feeling faster. My current favorite snack is a honeycrisp apple with peanut butter – perfectly seasonable!
My husband wants to eat on the couch all the time. Drives me nuts! I find that if we eat at the table, we both eat much slower and enjoy our food more!
My favorite snack is plantain chips and salsa! I also find it very hard to stay away from electronics while eating, but that is definitely a way to be more mindful about what and how much you’re snacking on!
In the mornings I prop up my iPad read all my favorite blogs and enjoy my first cup of coffee. I look forward to this time most!! My current fav snack has to be these chocolate protein bake bars I just made!! 🙂
What a great give away!
My favorite snack lately has been a warmed up flat bread with hummus, but a go to favorite is pretzel sticks with laughing cow!
My favorite snack is super basic and boring –pretzels!!
I take time to slow down by making sure to eat at the kitchen table instead of the couch or in the kitchen. This forces me to focus on the food in front of me!
Oh my goodness, what a great giveaway!! My favorite snack currently is chips and salsa mmm!
It might sound silly, but I try my hardest not to snack when I’m STARVING. I have found when I get that feeling I inhale food. Before I know it I’ve ate triple what I intended to. So if I get to that point, I will drink a large cup of water and have a couple almonds (somewhere around 8-10) and then wait for about 15 minutes. Usually by then my severe hunger has diminished and I can sit down and actually enjoy a snack.
My go to favorite snack is some plain greek yogurt with a tablespoon of PB2, a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips and some honey mixed in. I have a HORRIBLE sweet tooth so this allows me to indulge in a much healthier way.
I love bananas and peanut butter–cutting the banana and putting some PB in a dip bowl makes me slow down and appreciate the snack.
Stepping away from the computer or TV helps me to savor my snack. I love apples with PB as a snack!
I love carrots or pretzels with hummus. My slow down tactic is to sip water between bites of food.