Charcuterie – The New PB & J
A French term roughly translated as cured meat, charcuterie found popularity back in the 15th century largely due to its ability to be stored at room temperature. While lack of refrigeration is no longer a factor, charcuterie is all the rage these days. From casual at home snacking to formal black-tie events and every kind of restaurant in between, you’ll find yourself enjoying little bits of a lot of things rather than meal-sized portions. Even better, we don’t have to eat what we don’t like. Bingo! This type of eating is perfect for picky eaters – especially kids.
Packing the perfect lunch at 6 a.m. while trying to get your kids (and maybe even yourself) out the door can be challenging. What’s worse is finding the same perfectly packed lunch untouched at the end of the day because “effective immediately, your child no longer likes _________” (insert item here).
With picky eaters and food allergies, the traditional peanut butter and jelly might not make the grade anymore. Next time you’re packing school lunch, mix it up with charcuterie-inspired options. Even if two or three items come home, you can rest assured that your child had at least some nourishment during the day.
Choose one from each column for a well-balanced lunch:
| Fruits | Vegetables | Protein | Dairy | Grains |
| Grapes | Carrot Sticks | Beef Jerky | String Cheese | Whole Grain Crackers |
| Apple Slices | Snap Peas | Cubed Chicken Breast | Yogurt | Pretzels |
| Cubed Melon | Broccoli Florets | Edamame | Cheese Slices or Cubes | Popcorn |
| Raisins or Dried Cranberries | Jicama Sticks | Almonds | Yogurt or Sour Cream Based Ranch Dip | Dry Cereal (low sugar) |
| Berries | Edamame | Tofu | Cottage Cheese | Whole Grain Toaster Waffle |
| Sliced Bananas | Sliced Bell Peppers | Hard Boiled Egg Slices | Low-Fat Cream Cheese | Pita Chips |
How to Pack
For a simple, disposable option – fill sandwich or snack size bags with dry ingredients and disposable two-ounce sauce cups with sauces and other ingredients that might leak or spill. Pack it all in a paper lunch bag and skip the dirty dishes.
Reusable lunch containers are the perfect size – just fill with disposable or reusable cupcake liners to create individual cups for each food. Or try two-ounce little containers that come with lids. Reusable containers are easy to find and won’t break the bank – especially if you want to trash any that have been lurking in the bottom of a backpack for two weeks.
For items that need to stay cold, a frozen bottle of water is a perfect option and makes for an icy cold drink at lunchtime.
Looking for more ideas to enhance your child’s lunch options? NOAH’s team of registered dietitians are available for creative suggestions. Schedule an appointment today!
