Appetizers For Kids – Cheese Board

Kids like to get in on the appetizer plate too. But let’s face it, they usually don’t appreciate the subtle difference between an expensive creamy Toscano cheese versus their favorite cheddar. So why not make appetizers for kids with the ingredients they like?

But this cheese board isn’t just for kids, it’s for any of us. The ingredients you typically have on hand, we all like, and can be put together in 5 minutes when unexpected guests stop by……….kids or adults.

How To Make Appetizers For Kids Cheese Board

A kid’s cheese board is basically a Lunchable presented in a nicer way. Think about it, which came first, kids eating crackers and cheese or Lunchables?

If you have a cheese board around use that. Otherwise a plate or basket lined with a paper napkin works. Or even better, use small plates and make individual kids cheese boards. That make is more germ free!

If you use anything that will “bleed” into other ingredients (think pickles) then put that ingredient in a small ramekin.

Present meat nicely so that the appetizers for kids looks more like an adult. If you have deli ham roll and then cut down to finger food size. I usually roll deli meat and then cut twice to end up with three pieces.

If using mozzarella sticks, cut them the same size as the ham and roll the ham around the cheese. Two flavors in one bite!

Kids also like to dunk and dip food. Make a dip like our Cheese Dip or buy a tub of spreadable cheese.

Either set up the cheese board like the adult charcuterie boards where each ingredient stands on it’s own, or go ahead and make some kid friendly appetizers by building a cracker with meat and cheese already piled on top of each other.

Appetizers For Kids – What Kind Of Crackers?

Start with whatever crackers you have in house. Favorites for kids are Ritz crackers (or any butter cracker), Triscuits, Wheat Thins, Saltines….you get the picture.

Buy a French baguette, slice and butter. Or brush the 1/2″ slices of French bread with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt and bake in an oven at 325 degrees for about 10 minutes and golden brown. The toast is crunchy and sturdy enough to hold whatever is put on it.

The toasted baguettes will keep at room temperature in a sealed baggie or container for a week or two.

Appetizers For Kids – What Kind Of Cheese?

Favorite cheese for children is cheddar cheese, American cheese (buy Boar’s head for superior quality, found in the deli section) or mozzarella. Some kids will also like the rich, creamy taste of Brie.

For the mozzarella you can cut up a block of cheese into matchstick sizes or small, thin rectangles. Another great alternative is to cut mozzarella string cheese sticks in half or thirds. Yet another great idea is to buy the fresh mozzarella that are shaped in little balls, you’ll find these in the deli or specialty section of the grocery store.

Some kids will opt for a more sophisticated cheese like a creamy brie or maybe the tang of Swiss.

Using cheese for appetizers for kids can pack on the calories and fat, so keep this in consideration. But kept in moderation cheese is a great way to get protein and calcium.

You can try a low or no-fat cheese if calories and fat are a concern. LiveStrong compares whole milk mozzarella (100 grams, 300 calories, 13 grams of saturated fat) with no-fat mozzarella (100 grams, 150 calories), the low-fat also packs an extra 10 grams of protein (builds muscle and bones) and double the calcium (good for bone mass). But………there is a difference in taste.

Kids also like to dunk and spread. So think of a warm cheese dip, here’s a kid favorite cheese dip recipe. Or buy a small tub of spreadable cheese. You can simply stick a knife in the tub or transfer the cheese into a small ramekin for a prettier presentation.

Appetizers For Kids – What Kind Of Meat?

Deli meat is perfectly acceptable appetizer for kids. Popular choices are ham, turkey or pepperoni.

To make the meat look more appetizing to our little friends, roll a piece or deli meat and then cut into bite size pieces. For a regular deli slice I typically cut twice for three pieces of ham or turkey.

Or go for the pizza favorite of pepperoni. Salami is a good choice as well.

Appetizers For Kids – Extras For The Kid’s Cheese Board

For adult charcuterie boards a popular choice is cornichons, the little tiny pickles you find in olive stations. For kids, a better choice are small sweet gherkin pickles. Less expensive and more familiar to children.

Serve the pickles in a ramekin or small vessel to keep the pickle juice from running into the other cheese board ingredients. I save the little glass jars from Yoplait Oui yogurt, that’s one of the jars above with the pickles in it.

If you reuse these jars make sure to remove the label before putting it into your dishwasher. They remove easily but leave a gummy residue. This residue comes off with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. Or make a paste with baking soda and water, then rub. Then run through your dishwasher.

Popcorn is a great addition too. Either popped at home or buy a flavored popcorn at the store.

Jams and jellies taste great on cheese and crackers. Stick with simple ones like strawberry instead of more complex or unfamiliar flavors.

Nuts are a great choice too, either the simple peanut or up the game with a buttery cashew or a crunchy almond.

How To Make Appetizers For Kids Portable

The best choice to make appetizers for kids portable is to use a container with sections and a lid. This keeps the crackers crunchy and the flavors from getting into the other ingredients.

The picture above shows butter crackers, aka Ritz, with spreadable cheese that comes in a tub, rolled deli meat slices, fresh mozzarella balls on a skewer and raspberries. Healthy, easy and loved by all!

If you don’t have a sectioned container then put each ingredient in its own small snack size container or zip baggie and the put the baggies into a larger plastic container to keep the crackers from crumbling.