Charcuterie Boards are very on-trend right now but for good reason, they make sense in a lot of situations! Whether you are looking to create a charcuterie board for a gathering of friends and family, or just looking to put out some snacks to keep hunger away, charcuterie boards are a new go-to. While the concept is fairly simple, we want to provide you with tips to balance your board.
Elements of a charcuterie board:
- Protein – focus on lean, low sodium, and low nitrate proteins
- Dairy
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Grains
Check out these healthy swaps to make your board for a healthy holiday season!
Reduce Added Sugars
- Switch dried fruit with fresh fruit
- Opt for sugar-free or no sugar added dips & spreads
- Limit Sodium
- Switch salted nuts with unsalted/raw options
- Select lower sodium cheeses such as swiss, fresh mozzarella, or goat cheese
- Go Whole Grain
- Switch regular crackers with whole-grain options such as multi-grain crackers, whole wheat baguettes, or whole-grain crostini
- Add Healthy Fats
- Add nuts and seeds to add some heart-healthy fats to your board
Add some extra pizazz to your boards by including dips. Check out these dip recipes to pair with your fresh fruit or vegetables.
Keep your board safe!
- Charcuterie boards can only be set out at room temperature for 2 hours or less before the food will be considered unsafe. Be sure to take this into consideration when preparing and setting the board out for snacking!
