(Family Features) A beautifully designed charcuterie board may feel more like a grown-up treat, but with the right ingredients, delicious grazing boards can provide fun and nutrition for the whole family.
No matter what you call it, charcuterie boards, grazing boards and snack platters are all basically the same thing. The boards make a trendy addition to an entertaining menu, but a platter or kid-friendly board can be equally pleasing.
What you serve on a grazing board is entirely up to you. Most include a selection of meats and cheeses, and many incorporate nuts, crackers, dips and jams. Some also incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables. Creating your own board means there really are no rules; you can add just about anything you want.
To build a successful board, keep these tips in mind:
Choose ingredients and elements that don’t require temperature control. The idea of a grazing board is that it sits out for a while. Avoid anything that needs refrigeration, heat or will lose its shape or flavor if it rests for an extended amount of time.
Select a surface large enough to hold a variety of food. It can be a simple cutting board or a cute platter. There’s no specific size requirement but err on the side of bigger; spacing out your goodies can be more attractive and less messy.
Use high-quality ingredients to ensure every bite is delicious and nutritious. While shopping, remember to look for the Produce for Kids and Healthy Family Project logos next to favorite items in the produce department, as adding these flavorful fruits and veggies to your cart can help make a difference in your community.
Build your board around a theme to add an extra element of fun. Use mini cookie cutters to make fun, kid-friendly shapes out of cheese and meats. Be mindful of colors; a rainbow platter is vibrant and appealing, and colorful fruits and veggies offer a strong mix of nutrients.
Remember it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Classic favorites are all you need. Even kid favorites like sections of mandarin oranges, carrot sticks and chocolate chips are fair game for a family-friendly board.
Find more ideas for creating family-friendly treats at healthyfamilyproject.com.
Taco Tuesday Board
Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project’s “Come Graze With Us” e-cookbook
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Queso
- Hard and soft taco shells
- Ground turkey, seasoned and browned
- Lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped onions
- Chopped peppers
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
- Lime wedges
- On grazing board or platter, arrange guacamole, salsa, queso, taco shells, ground turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, onions, peppers, sour cream, cilantro and lime wedges.
Weekend Breakfast Grazing Board
Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project’s “Come Graze With Us” e-cookbook
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cooked sausage links
- Mini frozen waffles, toasted
- Mini frozen pancakes, toasted
- Mini muffins
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Syrup
- Jelly
- On grazing board or platter, arrange eggs, sausage links, toasted waffles, toasted pancakes, muffins, yogurt, fruit, syrup and jelly.
Source: Healthy Family Project
