Serve Your Child a Charcuterie Board Lunch

If you find yourself in a lunchtime rut with your kids (my formula for way too long has been sandwich + fruit/yogurt + something crunchy), it may be time to switch things up — with a charcuterie board full of variety.

The idea comes from PopSugar contributor Syndi Ellis, who put together this slideshow of inspiring charcuterie boards for toddlers. Ellis writes:

They look like adult cheese-and-wine boards, but made with tiny sandwiches, cut-up fruits, little vegetables, adorable desserts, breakfast foods, and more. Instead of trying to hide the healthy stuff, they just make the fresh food look super appetizing, so your little ones will be begging for more.

They don’t have to be just for toddlers, though! A meal made of bite-sized food is fun for all ages. In my home, we are less fancy and call them “snacky platters” instead of “charcuterie boards,” but you do you.

Anyway, aim for a variety of different types of foods. There are some great visuals in that slideshow to inspire you, but here are a few ideas of what to include to get you started:

• Cheese (cubed or shredded)
• Fruits that come to us bite-sized in nature (blueberries, strawberries, grapes, etc.)
• Sliced fruit, such as bananas, apples or oranges
• Dried fruits, such as raisins, cranberries, or apricots
• Veggies, such as carrots, cucumbers or peppers, cut into small strips
• Baby dill pickles (or chopped up spears)
• Mixed nuts
• Whole grain crackers or pretzels
• Wedges of pita bread
• Something to dip into, such as hummus or ranch dressing
• Rolled up slices of lunchmeat
• Cubed bites of grilled chicken

You could also make sandwiches, such as grilled cheese or wraps, and cut them into wedges or rolls and add those to the board. The same food they usually eat in bite-sized form along with a variety of other bites might be a fun switch-up for them.

These don’t need to be the most creative, Instagram-worthy creations of your life; just aim for a variety of textures, colours, and food groups to encourage them to explore foods they maybe wouldn’t ordinarily eat.

Throw a few M&Ms on there, too, and you’ll be a hero.