If you have small children, you know that getting them to eat can be a struggle. One day they love something, and the next, they hate it. Perhaps they go through a phase of barely touching their food, making us worry they’re not getting enough. Or, perhaps, they’ve had bread and butter for three meals a day for weeks and you’re wishing you could get them to eat something, anything, else.
Feeding our children is stressful. Enter: char-kiderie boards. The charcuterie boards we all love, but made specifically for your little ones. It’s a great meal the whole family will enjoy.
Char-kiderie Boards
I stumbled upon this very happy meal as I noticed my three-year-old was always very enthusiastic about these sorts of snacks: crackers, sliced cheese, salami, apples, black olives, hummus, and cucumber. So, what if I put together a whole meal of these things and made a feast for his eyes and his belly?
It was a huge success. He ate, excitedly, things I never imagined he would be willing to try (that’s you, bell pepper and hardboiled eggs). My son marveled at the colors and the choices. He cheerfully dipped his cucumber in the hummus, and then the homemade ranch, thoughtfully considering each.
The char-kiderie board was also a resounding success because it was all finger food. It transformed our midday meal into an activity where he could engage fully. He experienced each option all by himself. I was able to put healthy choices in front of him, while still making it delicious and exciting. Best of all, I ate with him. I loved the char-kiderie board just as much.
» » » » » » » » » » » RELATED READ: My Top 5 Protein-Packed Costco Snacks « « « « « « « « « « «
Another benefit of the char-kiderie board was that my 11 month old could engage, too! We are doing baby-led-weaning, and with only small tweaks for him, this meal presents a wide variety of textures and tastes to explore.
It was fun for everyone, and we finished with laughs, bellies full of vegetables, and leftovers to do it again. I was able to highlight the things I wanted them to eat while making space for them to have some autonomy in what they chose.
Make Your Own Char-kiderie Boards
If you want to make a savory foods char-kiderie board, here are some recommended foods to include:
- black olives
- sliced cucumber
- bell pepper slices
- carrot sticks
- avocado slices
- cherry tomatoes
- hard-boiled eggs
- salami, or other protein
- cheeses: sliced cheddar or parmesan, goat cheese, or Boursin
- crackers
- dips (served in their original container or Tupperware for easy clean up!)
- Hummus, store bought or homemade
- Ranch, store bought or this delicious greek yogurt homemade version
A fruit or dessert char-kiderie board would be great, too! You might include:
- sliced fruit
- oranges
- pineapple
- grapes
- berries
- nuts
- cheeses
- yogurt dips
- peanut butter
- homemade Nutella
I’ll be savoring my kids’ enjoyment of these boards for as long as they stay a hit for my family! Enjoy!
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
