Kids "Charcuterie Boards" are something that I have been making for Maddie since she turned two, as a way of introducing new foods to her. I started by filling a mini muffin tin with a few of her favorite foods, followed with a few muffin tins with new things to try. It quickly became a hit with her (and me, because it was a stress-free way of serving lunch), and I have come to find out it is perfect for how most kids, especially during the summer – grabbing a little bite at a time while playing!
Today I'm sharing a few ideas that Maddie and other children have loved, broken down into a few food groups are balanced and kid-approved! You can serve these boards in muffin tins, a baking sheet pan, or any style of platter or board you choose! Let's dig in!
Include a few items from each of these groups:
- Proteins
- Carbs
- Fats (usually in form of a dip, nut butter, or nuts)
- Fruits
- Veggies
Ingredient ideas from each food group:
PROTEINS
- Mozzarella cheese
- Colby cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Organic ham slices
- Organic turkey slices
- Organic (nitrate free) pepperoni slices
- Organic (nitrate free) salami slices
- Hardboiled eggs
- Perfect bars (cut up)
- Dashing Dish no bake balls or bars
CARBS
- Organic pita chips
- Organic pretzels
- Simple Mills crackers
- Popcorn
- Rice cakes
- Siete chips
- Made Good granola bites
- Garbanzo beans
- Dashing Dish muffins or baked goods
FATS
- Organic ranch dressing
- Organic nut butter
- Black olives
- Hummus
- Nuts
- Trail mix
VEGETABLES
- Baby carrots
- Sliced cucumbers
- Sliced grape tomatoes
- Sliced bell peppers
- Sugar snap peas
- Celery
FRUITS
- Apple slices
- Pear slices
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Melon cubes
- Diced pineapple
- Grapes
Putting the board together:
- Set out a muffin tin, baking sheet pan, or large platter or cutting board.
- If using a muffin tin, fill each individual muffin cup with liners if desired for easy clean up, and fill each cup with ingredients.
- If not using a muffin tin, start by putting dips and food items that need to be contained in small bowls on board. Spread the bowls out on the board, followed by the rest of the ingredients. Serve and enjoy!
I hope this takes some of the guess work out of feeding the kiddos healthy, well balanced meals this summer! xo Katie
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