Charcuterie boards aren’t just for adults and in fact a charcuterie board makes an excellent snack for kids. Serve a kid charcuterie board at your next kid’s party, or simply have a charcuterie board ready when they get home from school. Not only is a charcuterie board fun, but it can be made healthy and delicious. A healthy kid’s snack board is a great way to get my kids to eat some fruits and vegetables right when they get off the bus.
Of course kids also love a charcuterie board complete with candy and treats, so you can also make an unhealthy kid charcuterie board. For a few other ideas for kid’s charcuterie boards, check out:
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Why Make a Kid Charcuterie Board
So why go to all the work of making a healthy kid friendly charcuterie board? Below are a few reasons why a charcuterie board just for kids is a great idea:
- There is something for everyone: kids are notoriously picky eaters, but a healthy kids charcuterie board offers a little of everything and each kid will find something they like. Choose some of the kid’s favorite foods and add in a few extra healthy items like fruit and vegetables.
- A kid charcuterie board is festive: Just like adults, kids love feeling special and a festive kid’s charcuterie board will add an element of fun and make it feel like a party. My kids love coming home to a kid snacking board, and they are always happy to share one with friends.
- Encourage kids to gather and chat: gathering around a charcuterie board is the perfect way to get the conversation started. A well placed charcuterie board for kids is sure to get their gathering off to a good start.
Best Ingredients for a Kid Charcuterie Board
One of the best elements of a kid charcuterie board is that you can add almost everything to the charcuterie board. Choose mostly items that are kid friendly, but don’t hesitate to add a few novel items to encourage your kids to be a bit more adventurous. We decided to keep this charcuterie board healthy, but you can easily add many other treats like cookies, candy, chips and more. Below are some suggestions for ingredients for a kid charcuterie board – you can see exactly the ingredients we used for this kid charcuterie board in the recipe card below, but this list can be used as a shopping list for a kid charcuterie board.
Crackers: choose kid friendly crackers. Some of our favorites are saltines, ritz, goldfish, oyster crackers, etc.
Cheese: Cheese is a must on a kid charcuterie board. Choose mild cheese that kid enjoy like cheddar, mozzarella, or american.
Nuts: Nuts are a great and healthy addition – almost any type of nut works well and you can choose natural nuts, salted, sweet, or even spicy nuts
Fruit: fruit is a crowd pleaser for kids and they are naturally drawn to the sweet flavor of fruit. Choose fruits that can sit out for a while like orange wedges, blueberries, strawberries, berries, grapes, apples, melon, or even dried fruits like mango and pineapple.
Vegetables: and healthy charcuterie board should include some vegetables. Choose kid friendly vegetables: carrots, peppers, cherty tomatoes, celery, or cucumbers. Include a vegetable dip and these veggies will be sure to fly off the board.
Other Items: There are so many other items that can be used to make a kid charcuterie board consider: candy, cookies, pretzels, chips, bread, meat, mini pizzas, or even baked goods.
One of the secrets to creating a kid charcuterie board is to select a variety of ingredients – different colors, textures, sizes and food groups make the charcuterie board exciting and ensure there is something for everyone.
How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board for Kids
Assembling a kid charcuterie board is fast and easy – the goal is to assemble the food in an appealing manner, but truthfully, it’s hard to go wrong. Simply put the food in groups in on the board to completely cover the board. Try to divide up the different colors, textures and sizes to add interest to the board. It’s important to make the food bite sized and avoid anything that needs to be cut. It’s also important to remember that kids are classic double dippers, so use dip with caution!
How to Serve a Charcuterie for Kids
Quickly!
Place the charcuterie board in a common place where everyone can reach, but it won’t get knocked over. Especially when I make a healthy charcuterie board for kids, I like to put the board in a place where kids can wander back in and snack – this seems like the best way to make sure the healthiest items end up getting eaten.
Serve a healthy kid charcuterie board for an afternoon snack or as the centerpiece of your next gathering.
Kid’s Charcuterie Board Recipe
Kid Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- Ritz
- Carrots
- Peppers
- Dried Mango
- Dried Pineapple
- Cut Cheese
- Apples
- Animal Crackers
- Clementines
- Pretzels
- Grapes
- Melba Crackers
- Blueberries
- Nuts
- Hummus of other Veggie Dip
Instructions
- Cut all the ingredients into bite-sized pieces and put dip into bows.
- Place the items on the board. Start with the larger items such as bowls and crackers. Spread out the food into different colors, textures, and sizes.
- Serve up the kid charcuterie board!
Looking for more ideas for charcuterie boards? Check out our Pinterest Page.