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 try to finish chewing my food before I try digging back into my meal!
This is full of so many amazing things!! I shovel my food in way too fast. One of my all time favorite snacks is saltine crackers with some laughing cow swiss cheese and avocado slices!
Favorite snack is hummus with carrots or pita or popcorn!
I agree with never eating in front of the computer! I also try to eat with other people as often as I can–conversation means I’m eating slower.
I don’t have any tricks because I am a fast eater too!! My favorite snacks are almonds because they are so portable, and easy to store at my desk at work for when hunger strikes!
Pretzels crisps and mushed up avocado – sounds a little weird but it is SO delicious and a little bit goes a long way. Great giveaway!!!
Ricotta cheese with a hint of almond extract and topped with slivered almonds is my go to healthy snack!
My snacks change pretty often but right now I love mixed nuts or raw carrot sticks. I try to drink water before or during my meal.
My favorite snack right now is a brown rice wrap from trader joe’s with coconut oil, craisins and a little honey drizzled on top. DELICIOUS!
Using mindfulness helps me to slow down during snack time. By being mindful of my five senses, while making my snack and then eating it later I feel much more calm and in the moment.
I also eat very fast. I try to count the number of times I chew each bite and that helps a lot.
My favorite snack of all time will always be organic apples & natural peanut butter! Yum!!
My favorite snack is definitely banana chips with peanut butter (crunchy) and chocolate chips! I find that when I dish out my snacks into a bowl or plate I tend to eat slower because I only have a certain amount…as opposed to having the entire bag of banana chips and the entire jar of peanut butter where I can just scarf and hardly make a dent in the bag!
I try chewing my food completely before swallowing – lets you savor your food more and helps digestion!
I like to take some slow deep breaths before I eat! Then I like to take a second to smell the food, examine the color/appearance, and generally use all my senses before digging in. It’s like food meditation!
I like to take time to sit at my actual dining room table. Silly, I know. I tend to eat most of my meals at the coffee table, or over the sink so this change makes it more special for me.
Eating snacks like frozen peanut butter/banana on graham crackers always helps slow down snack time!
im horrible with fast snacking!!! I’m going to try your tea trick!!!
Oh gosh, I’m such a fast eater! When I notice I’m inhaling my food, I try to chew slower and put my fork down between bites.
Dates or figs dipped into almond or peanut butter is the perfect snack when I’m craving a sweet treat.
I finishing chewing one bite and take a sip of water (or whatever I’m drinking) before I start with the next bite. 🙂
I also need to put my phone down because i will be so focused on facebook/instagram I’m not enjoying my meal… Another one that helps me is to take a sip of water in between bites.
Hot sauce! If it’s spicy enough, I’ll slow down. A little. Sometimes.
if i’m out to eat and have a delicious meal, i definitely use the put my fork down between bites trick to prevent myself from inhaling my meal in 0.2 seconds flat!
I am also a super fast eater! Sitting down at the table instead of eating on the go or standing helps me to slow things down.
My favorite snack is apple slices with peanut butter. Thanks for doing the giveaway! 🙂
I use cute, quirky dishware and the visual appreciation helps me enjoy the moment I’m having with my snack.
I slow down my eating by talking with my three year old during dinner, he eats at just the right speed! My favorite snack is Fage yogurt with granola sprinkled in it!
I inhale my food too- while my husband tends to savor. I haven’t yet perfected how to slow down- but I can say that my recent snack has been strawberries and pretzel sticks with the jif chocolate peanut butter- i eat way too much sometimes 🙂