A Better Together Charcuterie Board
How to Make a Charcuterie Board That Cheers Your Heart
A charcuterie board is an appealing appetizer that offers a variety of options for everyone. However, the classic charcuterie board usually consists of artfully curated selections of highly processed meats and high-fat cheeses that can harm your heart. The good news is that you can build a healthy and fun charcuterie board without doing a disservice to your heart. Here are some tips to add color and nutrition to your board and recipe that mixes sweet, salty and smooth ingredients for a scrumptious charcuterie board that will make your taste buds and your heart smile.
- Choose healthy sources of protein. Go for lean or extra-lean and minimally processed meats. Lean cuts of meat contain the words “round,” “loin” or “sirloin” on the package.
- Serve nonfat and low-fat dairy product substitutes. Mix and match healthy soft and hard cheeses varieties, such as mozzarella, blue cheese, feta, cottage cheese, ricotta, parmesan, Swiss, cheddar and goat cheese. Include at least two types of cheeses to bring out an interesting assortment of flavors and textures.
- Eat the rainbow. Brighten up your charcuterie board with fruits and vegetables of different colors. The good news is that canned, dried and frozen varieties are just as nutritious as fresh produce. However, choose products with the lowest amounts of added sugars and sodium by comparing nutrition information on package labels. The American Heart Association recommends eating four servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables per day.
- Put a healthy twist on your condiments and dips. Swap high-calorie dips and spreads with more nutritious and flavorful varieties like guacamole, horseradish, hummus, pesto, salsa and tzatziki.
- Crack a nut! Adding nuts (both whole and in halves) gives a delicious crunch to your charcuterie board but make sure not to overindulge. Some healthier nut options include almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.
- Munch on wholesome whole grains. Bread and crackers made of whole grains are good sources of nutrients. Complement your dips with whole-grain versions of pita wedges, bagel chips, pretzels, baguettes and breadsticks. Include gluten-free crackers and bread for guests who have gluten intolerance.
With our tips, the possibilities for charcuterie board creativity are endless. Not sure where to start? We've created a delicious and unexpected Salad Charcuterie Board with Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake Dip. Check out the directions below.
Salad Charcuterie Board With Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake Dip
Ingredients
- Celery sticks
- Baby carrots
- Apple
- Pear slices
- No-salt-added pretzels
- 4 ounces fat-free cream cheese (softened)
- 4 ounces of low-fat cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium peanut butter
- Chocolate-flavored liquid stevia sweetener to taste
- In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese and the peanut butter until smooth. Add the liquid stevia sweetener. Stir together until well blended, then put in a small bowl.
- Clean the fruits and vegetables and slice them according to your preference. Use a cookie cutter to create unique shapes and sizes.
- Grab a large round or square wooden cutting board.
- Place the bowl of dip in the center of the board.
- Arrange the celery sticks, baby carrots, apple and pear slices and pretzels in a decorative pattern.
- Serve with forks or toothpicks. Source: American Heart Association
