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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Hi Julie, love your site! I’m in the habit of having fresh cut bell peppers for my snack instead of chips. You can dip them into salsa, hummus, bean dip, or pretty much anything else. This helps to reduce your snacktime calories and you still can the crunch factor!
You can find me at http://alovelysideproject.com.
Have a great day!
Lauren
Cheese is on the top of my favorite snack list. I usually just eat it by itself, but paired with a salty cracker is always good!
I think it’s important to not eat when I’m starving- carrying around snacks like almonds, apples and cheese throughout the day helps me with self-control and portion size during meals!
Scheduling in a work break to coincide with snack time!
I LOVE Laughing Cow and during a busy work day its the perfect spreadable, dip-able, delectable treat… I love to savor it on rice cakes or apples and take a good 15 minutes of brain “off” time to peruse my favorite blogs, personal emails, or quick devotional for the day.
XO!
Definitely putting my phone/computer/iPad down helps me to slow down! It’s amazing what a difference having a little bit of clarity can accomplish 🙂
I try to read while I snack. Holding the book keeps me from constantly eating, so it is my natural way of slowing down.
I wish I had a strategy to slow down my snacking, but usually, snacks are so good, that I woof them down! My favorite two snacks are: PB&J on rice cakes or sliced avocado in salsa with tortilla chips. It depends on my mood….
my favorite snacks are greek yogurt, almonds, larabars, and apples! =)
I always have a glass of water and take sips between each bite while I’m snacking. Recently, my go-to snack has been greek yogurt topped with dark chocolate shavings, toasted coconut, and chopped almonds! Definitely more sweet than savory!
I love goat cheese and fig butter mixed together with crackers- so good. For a more savory snack I’ve been munching on Trader Joe’s Inner Peas, which are super addicting haha!
My favorite snack is an apple. Green tea is a nice pick me up too.
Crackers and hummus is my favorite snack!
the laughing cow on ritz is a must!!!!
I’d say my current favorite snack is an apple (honey crisp ftw!) and peanut butter. I also tried cottage cheese and grapes recently and it was SO good.
All of these snack ideas look delicious! My favorite snack at the moment is mixing together some plain greek yogurt with almond butter (specifically Justin’s maple almond butter, yum!) and then dipping a banana or apple in it.
I try to take very, very small bites! I often forget to do this (I eat quickly too…), but if I think about it, I do it, and it works!
My favorite snack also involves laughing cow. I LOVE a simple piece of toast with any flavor spread on top with fresh cracked pepper!
My trick is definitely to get away from my desk to eat. When I’m busy working it’s so easy to eat through one handful of crackers after another and not even realize it! Those are wasted calories when you don’t even get to enjoy them!
I’m a fast eater, too, especially if I’m by myself. I’ve started counting my chews (at least up to 25 but varies by the food I’m eating) so that I concentrate more on what I’m eating. It works well! Favorite snack is probably carrots and hummus. I love the crunch!
Turn everything off or set a nice table. 🙂
Right now my favorite snack HAS to be energy bites that my Booty Barre/Piloxing instructor brought to class for us to try. They are little balls of PB, chocolate chips, oatmeal, flax, and honey! SO yum. And I can honestly say I have made about 8 batches since! I am a notorious for scarfing down meals (my coworkers joke that I am done before they ever even sit down at the lunch table to eat). Last month I began making a conscious effort to really eat slower. For me that means not only setting down my fork, but also removing my hands/arms from the table so I can force myself to take my time!
This is a major problem for me too. I have found that if I eat slower I also eat less. My favorite snack, atleast right now, are Quest Bars. I am in love with the chocolate chip cookie dough kind! Yum!
I typically drink a lot of water while I’m eating. Eat a bite, take a drink, eat a bite, take a drink. It fills me up more and helps me slow down.
I like to make sure I get in at least 15 chews before swallowing!
Simple but good- my favorite snack is apple slices with peanut butter. So good!
My favorite go to snack is definitely fruit. I tend to get out of hand with my snacks so with fruit, I can eat until my hearts content (which my waist lines thanks me for)!
I snack throughout the day so I’m not starving when I eat dinner.
My favorite snack this time of year is a Fuji apple (sliced paper thin) sprinkled with cinnamon. Tastes like apple pie!
I might appear to be food deprived to any stranger who looks at me gulping down my food!!! The only thing I love as much as good food is great company! So I’ve noticed that only an interesting conversation might manage to slow me down a bit or that’s a lie I tell myself! I’m a lost cause actually when it comes to eating slowly so much so that I even gulp super smoking hot food!
Putting down my phone is a MUST for me–it makes all the difference!
One of my all time favorite snacks is a simple one – slices of apple with peanut butter (which has been warmed in the microwave) and a little cinnamon!
I make sure to place my snack, whatever it may be, on a real plate, or in a real bowl and walk away from the computer/tv to eat it.
I’m a pretty fast eater and I eat standing up way too often. When I eat at home, I’ve been making a bigger effort to try and eat at the kitchen table away from my phone/laptop/tv so I don’t get distracted and can really focus on just eating.
I try to drink water or tea with my meal! But if popcorn is in front of me, forget about it…
One of my favorite snacks is laughing cow cheese with sweet potatoes! The full fat, original flavor ones!
I try to eat at the table to slow down. I am pretty good at not having the tv on like you, but I struggle to put my computer down!
Actually sitting down at the table for meals really helps me to slow down while eating 🙂
I love to put away my phone and laptop when I’m eating a snack, to remind myself to slow down and actually enjoy it, rather than mindlessly munching away. I’ve been loving protein smoothies and greek yogurt with honey lately!
I like to walk outside and just listen to the noise around me and it helps me take time to “smell the roses”
I find that sharing snack time with a friend helps me slow down and enables more time to savor. Tea time snacks are my favorite treats!
I try and set a table and turn my computer away from me while I eat
I usually remind myself to chew 20x and then if I do half of that consider it a win!
I find that the more effort I put into presentation the more I savor my meals 🙂 It just seems like more of an experience if my food looks as great as it tastes! I love Laughing Cow’s creamy swiss as a cream cheese alternative. I use it on my English muffins & bagels. Yum!
I tend to always eat on the go or in front of a tv, and then similar to you I wonder where all my delicious food went. That’s never a good feeling! So, I’ve been working on eating at the kitchen table without my laptop in front of me.
One of my favorite snacks, especially when peaches are in season is a tortilla/wrap with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, a cut up peach and the strawberry cream cheese laughing cow wedge. It’s soooo delicious!
I love fruit and yogurt!
Hmmm…favorite snack? That’s a tough one. I have been loving the dry roasted almond 100 calorie packs but I do love cheese and crackers too! and hummus! And probably anything else that goes on crackers…now I’m hungry!
Totally agree! I have to consciously put my fork down sometimes. I tend to eat way too fast!
We have been trying a new method for our date nights where we go to one place to get a drink and appetizer and then head to the next place for dinner. It really slows down the evening and gives us some time to talk!
I don’t necessarily count my bites, but I try to be mindful of actually CHEWING my food instead of gobbling it down! I too have “fast-eater” syndrome, so that seems to help. Instead of tea, I will gulp water between every few bites, and that definitely seems to help!