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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My favorite snack lately is an organic honeycrisp apple dipped in hummus or sunflower seed butter with a big mug of chamomile tea. One tip to help slow down and enjoy your snack is to make sure you chew each bite at least 10 times (30 is ideal but I just can’t bring myself to do it!)
I try and drink a gulp of water in between bites… it allows me to feel full faster AND slow down! 🙂
My favorite fall snack is apples! I love eating the cheese wedges on English muffins. So tasty!
I try to put down my fork between every bite and chew everything really good. One of my favorite snacks is the laughing cow cheese (specially the Queso Fresco Chipotle Cheese) with crackers or pretzels.
🙂
I try to really see/smell my food when I’m eating so I’m not just shoveling it into my mouth and then it’s suddenly gone and I hardly remember eating it.
I love to snack on a handful of almonds. I always try to make my snacks last as long as possible so I drink a ton of water in between each bite!
Currently me favorite snack is a sliced apple with almond butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I also like to have a hot cup of tea with my afternoon snack.
When I home I like to sit down on the couch with my snack, a book, and my blanket. It helps me slow down and relax even for five minutes. At work I sit down at my desk, close my door, and put on a little music while I eat.
My favorite snack is an apple with peanut butter!
To slow down, Cody and I sometimes ask each other a question, and then we are not allowed to take another bite until the other person has finished answering it. It definitely prolongs our dinner dates. We also take a long time to order, haha!
I love laughing cow cheese and will actually eat it straight from the package for a snack on the go! It’s also great with pretzels. Such a good giveaway, hope I win!!!!!
My favorite tip to give out is to use your napkins every couple of bites. Meaning wipe your mouth. The process of taking your napkin off your lap or table, wiping your mouth and returning it takes time! Works every time! One of my favorite snacks right now is a honey crisp apple with a wedge of cheese. So crunchy and then salty!
My favorite snack right now is an oldie but a goodie cut up veggies and hummus. Seriously practically anything tastes better with hummus on it!!
I am trying to focus on chewing more and more slowly!
Salty snack: pita chips and hummus. Sweet snack: apples with homemade cinnamon almond butter (one bag of roasted lightly salted almonds with one bag of tjs cinnamon almonds-whirled together in food processor until creamy). Amazing giveaway Julie!!!
Having tea with a snack is something I always do to make it last longer! I also try to focus on chewing slowly and actually tasting my food rather than shoveling it all in my mouth 🙂
I usually have to resort to speedy snacks on the go since I have a wild toddler to chase after! My favorite snack right now is Apple with peanut butter (dip, as my daughter calls it).
A good bowl of cereal is my favorite snack!
I try to slow down by sipping a hot cup of tea or reading while I snack. It helps me to decompress after a busy day teaching teenagers:)
I love a nut butter mixed with plain greek yogurt and cinnamon to dip apple slices or banana in! I’ve also found that separating my food into fun categories on my plate helps me to savor and enjoy it more. For example, if I eat a salad for lunch, I will make a bed of spinach and put the toppings in different sections. This way I can mix and match different flavors, or eat each thing individually. This is especially fun when you are eating with hummus or another dip!
What an amazing giveaway! I do the same thing- I’m such a fast eater. It helps me to cut things into smaller pieces – more bites take longer to eat, and it feels like you’re getting more!
Thanks for an amazing giveaway, Julie! I love any kind of natural snack bars – KIND, LUNA or GoMacro are great for tossing in your bag on the go.
I love turning off the TV, put down my phone and step away from the computer while I snack! It’s great to just relax and get away from distractions for a few minutes!
Love this post! I enjoy snacking on roasted almonds, fruit and peanut butter and Kind Bars. I also like to enjoy my snacks with a nice cup of tea, especially in the winter!
My favorite snack would be anything involving peanut butter and bananas! Can’t get enough of that combo.
I love peanut butter, half a sliced banana, and cinnamon on a tortilla! I just recently tried Laughing Cow cheese (a little late to that party, I know!) and I’m obsessed!
I am a really fast eater, too – I almost always finish before my boyfriend and he makes fun of me. When I’m eating with other people, I keep an eye on the amount of food on their plants and force myself to slow down if my food is disappearing faster than everyone else’s.
If I am eating with someone else, I keep an eye on them to see how quickly they are eating to try and match the pace they are at. I also try to put my fork down in between bites. It is difficult when I am hungry though because the monster in my stomach comes out and wants to devour everything in sight.
I have always been a fast eater. I have tried very hard lately to slow down and take the time to enjoy what I’m eating!
And my favorite snack of late has been clementines. I’m not a huge fan of oranges because they are so much work but these little clementines are super easy to peel in a hurry and they are so juicy!
Lately I’ve been all about coconut greek yogurt! I feel like it really helps me to slow down and pay attention to the food I’m eating when I turn off the TV and make a point of sitting down to enjoy it.
I try to eat foods that I can either suck on or have to chew A LOT before I can swallow them. That really slows my eating down.
I try to put my fork down after each bite which works – when i remember to do it! I also try to listen and participate in the conversation. No talking with my mouth full of food!
I drink a large glass of water 30-60 minutes before I plan on eating. (That’s doesn’t slow ya down, but it has helped me to remember to drink more water and has helped me a lot with digestion) I have gotten into the practice of thoroughly chewing my food. At first I would actually count each chew, aiming for 20 at least, and now I am used to it. If I ever notice that I’m really scarfing something down, I make myself count those chews again!
working full tme and having kids who play every sport known to man, its hard to have a savory the food moment. Most nights, I am rushing home from work to pull in front of the house to drive the kids to softball, volleyball, cheer, dance etc… What I try and do is once a week, set the table, light a few csndles and sit down and eat – I dont care if its just me at the table. A home cooked meal, sitting down with a candle lit, makes everything seem just right! and than its dinner on the road or shoved in my mouth the rest of the 6 days!
My go-to snack is a banana and almond butter!
My favorite snack lately has been cheese and crackers! I was at Cabot a couple weekends ago and loaded up on cheese, yum.
Pretzels (or carrots) and hummus is a definite favorite in our house! My favorite way to slow down my consumption is to eat with my boyfriend. We chat and laugh so much that we forget to look at the menu let alone eat!
I love snacking on popcorn or fresh baked cookies (mostly happens when visiting mt parents!). Also I can’t help myself around the kids goldfish. I savor snacktime by waiting until the time of day I let my kids watch a show, I sit in the kitchen by myself and sometimes just gaze out the window.
I make sure to not keep my fork and knife in my hand. If I put them down between bites, I find that it takes me much longer to eat which is the ultimate goal!
I, myself am a very fast eater as well and need to remind myself to slow down! One trick that I try whilst snacking is to take sips of water in between bites. One of my favorite snacks include veggies with hummus and loads of hot sauce!
My favorite snack is definitely honeycrisp apples with almond butter. It never gets old!
I try to remind myself to breathe and take a moment to pause and eat slowly. My favorite snacks are popcorn, cherry tomatoes, and baby bell tiny cheese wheels.
I, myself am a very fast eater as well and need to remind myself to slow down! One trick that I try whilst snacking is to take sips of water in between bites. One of my favorite snacks includes veggies with hummus and loads of hot sauce!
Hmmmm….favorite snacks. I do love Laughing Cow – delish. A banana is probably my most consistent favorite snack. I also love graham crackers and peanut butter. Slowing down while I eat? Not so good at that!
Apples with peanut butter is always a favourite, and an afternoon cup of tea is a habit I’ve been meaning to get back into. What a fantastic giveaway!
my favorite snack is a huge bowl of fruit salad!!!! 🙂
My boyfriend and I make it a point to eat dinner together. We sit at the kitchen table, away from all electronic devices (except maybe some mellow music) and talk to each other about our days while we eat. Having a conversation with someone while eating will definitely slow you down!
For a snack, I love any type of fruit! Especially if I can add peanut butter, like on an apple or banana 🙂
I try to sip water in between bites of food and try to chew my food at least 5-10 times (depending on what it is) before swallowing. Thanks for the post! 🙂
My favorite snack is honeycrisp apples with trader joes almond butter or cheese slices.
I put down my fork as well as make sure to drink water between every few bites.