Easy Charcuterie Board Ideas for Teens and Kids

Spice up your party refreshments with yummy charcuterie board ideas for teens and kids.

Are you looking for a fun and easy way to appease guests at your next gathering? Charcuterie boards are a unique and tasty trend to please young and old alike. What better way to create an aesthetically pleasing snack in only a few minutes.

With this guide, you'll learn how to plan, assemble, and customize an easy charcuterie board specifically designed for the worst picky eaters. From vibrant colors to youthful flavors, this guide will provide all the details you need to create an exciting and delicious charcuterie platter for your family and friends. Get ready to create an amazing food board that will have your kids and teens asking for more!

Why Pick Charcuterie Boards?

After hosting several pool parties at our house with the whole family or friends, I knew I needed to change how we serve sweet treats and snack foods. When you buy a bag of food and 10 people have put their hands in it, I can't bring myself to keep it.

Here are several reasons why you should swap over to charcuterie boards:

• Eliminates wrappers and garbage everywhere.
• Edible art! This food can look so pretty and we know that when you are hosting a special occasion, it's all about the presentation.
• Less waste of food because you can add food to platters as you are running low.
• The best part - less dish washing!
• Budget-friendly - again, because I can keep leftovers inside and refill as needed.
• Can cater to a kid-friendly charcuterie board or for teens.
• It's a great way to sneak in healthy food items.
• Lots of variety in food choices for even the pickiest eaters.
• Perfect for holidays, a birthday party or even an after-school snack. View my Halloween charcuterie board here.

Ingredients for a Kids Charcuterie Board

Kids love finger foods and this is the ultimate finger food platter. Mix and match fun foods to put on there. I wanted some sweets and some healthy snacks too. It's quite helpful to include items of different textures and colors for visual appeal. We used:

• Small cookies - Oreo's and chocolate chip
• Pretzels
• Goldfish
• Club crackers
• Peanut butter monster trail mix - at Target
• Peanut butter chocolate chex mix - at Target
• Skittles
• Starburst minis
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Colby jack cheese
• Fresh fruit - grapes and strawberries
• 4 small bowls
• Turning charcuterie board

How to Make an Easy Charcuterie Board for Teens and Kids

Begin by pulling out your wooden board and small bowls. I love to use a large round board, but there are plenty of styles that come in rectangular or paddle shape as well. The bowls are preferable for adding dimension and keeping smaller pieces of food more contained. I easily prep this in my kitchen and then transport it outside to the patio.

Fill the bowls with stuff that will easily spill or things that are harder to hold shape like trail mix and candy.

Start filling in around the the bowls. Items that are prone to spreading out like pretzels and goldfish are placed in the center to contain them.

Make sure that your large board has an edge so you can push food up against it to help hold its shape. Also, you don't have to put the same item all in one spot. A helpful hint to make it more visual appealing is to spread out the same food item into different areas, like the grapes above.

Hint: Last thing - make it good and full! Stuff as much as you possibly can on there because it will look so much better.

Substitutions for Charcuterie Boards for Kids and Teens

If your kids are picky, or you just need more food options for the perfect charcuterie board, here are a few substitutions or additions you can make.

• Deli meats - turkey, ham or roast beef
• Seasonal fruits that can be eaten by hand - apple slices, grapes, etc.
• Fresh veggies - celery sticks, carrot sticks or baby carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, baby peppers
• Popcorn - adding different flavors of popcorn is a fun idea
• Animal crackers or other crackers for cheese
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Dips - add dips to the bowls for fruit, veggies or even a cheese ball
• Treats and baked goods

Consider: Room Temp or Cold Food

Keep in mind if your food choices need to be served at room temperature and how long they will be sitting out. You can create a charcuterie board on ice, but I wouldn't recommend using wood dishes if that is the case.

Consider: Style and Theme

It's a great idea to style charcuterie boards by theme for added variety and dependent upon who you are serving. You can style boards by color, holiday, a sweet board or savory board, meats and cheeses, breakfast or by season.

Shop Favorite Charcuterie Boards

You can probably find a good charcuterie board option at places like Home Goods, At Home, or even your local grocery store.

Here are a few of my favorite boards. Hint: It doesn't have to specifically say that it is a charcuterie board. You can also find other options that will work, but they may not have a raised edge. This is fine as long as you aren't moving your tray all over the place.

Try any of these bread boards that will also work in place of a charcuterie board too.

These large ceramic platters with a raised edge are a great option!

These rectangular acacia wood serving trays are lovely for charcuterie boards if you want something smaller.

Or try this beautiful round bamboo board with a curved edge to contain your food.

Creating a charcuterie board for kids and teens can be fun and easy. With the right balance of ingredients, you can create a board that is just as pleasing to their eyes as it is to their taste buds. Even those with picky eaters can enjoy this interactive, delicious experience. Throw in some cheeses and you have yourself a healthy and delicious snack that will invite your kids and teens to ask for more.

Another perk? Charcuterie board ideas can help your kids try new foods and expand their palate. So next time you’re looking for a snack, why not try a charcuterie board and let the kids take the lead? With a little creativity and planning, you can create a charcuterie board that your kids or teens are going to love.

Happy Entertaining!

Brooke