Char-“Kid”-erie Boards

charcuterie
 noun
char·​cu·​te·​rie | \ (ˌ)shär-ˌkü-tə-ˈrē a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes

Merriam Webster

It’s no secret that charcuterie has become a popular appetizer at restaurants and parties over the last few years. Although the definition and etymology refers to a spread of meats, charcuterie usually incorporates a variety of cheeses, nuts, jam, fruits, crackers or breads, olives and other traditional antipasto foods.

Over the last few years I have opted to bring a charcuterie tray or a cheese plate to a party because a) I love cheese and b) it’s so darn easy and always a hit. More recently I have started preparing a similar style meal for my kids that we call char-“kid”-erie boards. It’s exactly what it sounds like- a charcuterie plate designed for kids! The nice thing is you can easily change up what you are offering based on the type of meal or whether it’s a snack- and if you wind up with a house full of kids, it is an easy way to feed a crowd. It’s also a good weekend lunch when my kids are grazing. They eat, play and then come back later when they are ready for more. It’s more appetizing to come back to a char-kid-erie board then an old PBJ or a cold grilled cheese.

Why do they love it so much?

It’s simple. Kids love being independent. They love to feel like they are in charge. This summer my 1 year old had a meltdown of all meltdowns on the beach for 30-40 minutes because I wouldn’t let him eat Goldfish out of the bag with his sandy hands. I offered Goldish in a cup, bowl, napkin, cupholder of his chair, in a dump truck, ANYTHING but the main bag where everyone else was eating from. He was not having it. He had his heart set on helping himself and wasn’t taking no for an answer. Kids are known for their desire for independence and it’s an important part of child development. This is the same logic that explains why my kids will eat a much better lunch when I allow them to serve themselves from the main plate or a char-kid-erie board.

Tips for Making a Char-kid-erie Board

• Prep foods ahead of time so it is easy to throw together. One of the reasons I love to make char-kid-erie boards is because most of the items I serve are already cut up and ready to serve in my fridge (read all about my self-serve fridge in this post).
• Choose a board that is light and has enough space to fit small bowls. I use this flatbread pizza board because it has a handle (affiliate link).

• Have some small bowls that you can put different items in that are plastic or stainless. I love these stainless condiment cups and use them all the time (affiliate link). They are one ounce and the perfect size to put olives, pickles, raisins, etc. The little heart bowls that are pictured in most of my char-kid-erie boards were from the Target Dollar Spot during Valentine’s Day a few years ago. You can find lots of little plastic bowls like that by season.

• Offer old favorites and new items. This is one of the best ways to get your kids to try new foods. If they have a variety of options and don’t feel pressured to try something new, they are more likely to try it just because it’s there and accessible. If you want your child to start liking cucumbers, start putting cucumbers on a board next to Goldfish and oranges. Their curiosity while they are enjoying other favorites is much more likely to get them to try it than you offering them cucumbers at dinner and insisting that they take a bite.

• Don’t be afraid to put sweets on a board like a few cookies, animal crackers, chocolate covered raisins, fruit snacks, etc. When these items are offered with all of the other foods, they lose their luster and even if the kids eat them first, they will move on to the other options that are offered on the board like fruits, vegetables and protein.

Char-kid-erie Ideas

Vegetables

• Cucumbers
• Baby carrots
• Mini peppers
• Celery sticks
• Grape tomatoes
• Broccoli

Fruits

• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Clementines/mandarins peeled and in segments
• Strawberries
• Frozen mango
• Apple slices

Protein

• Peanut butter
• Cheese cubes
• Rolled up sliced cheese
• Rolled up deli meats
• Pepperoni
• Nuts (if your kids are old enough to not choke)

Kid Favorites

• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Raisins
• Cranberries
• Dried fruits
• Graham crackers
• Animal crackers
• Olives
• Pickles

Dipping Choices

• Peanut butter
• Hummus
• Yogurt for fruit dipping
• Tzatziki
• Ranch dressing
• Nutella
• Guacamole