Eating real food is a high priority in our family, since it’s helped us overcome many different health problems. (We’re hardly ever sick anymore!) That’s why we love this “charcuterie bowl” made with lots of our favorite real foods. It’s a quick and easy healthy snack—or even a light meal on-the-go—that’s high in fiber, protein and good fat. It’s so simple I can make it with one hand, which makes it’s my go-to when I’m breastfeeding and needing to eat every two hours. My kids as young as 4 or 5 can even make a snack bowl like this for themselves!
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Charcuterie Boards and Bowls
As you might know, “charcuterie” simply means “cooked meats” in French, and charcuterie boards—wooden or stone slabs artfully arranged with meats, vegetables and other finger foods, as I’m sure you’ve seen—have been all the rage in recent years at parties and gatherings.
Actually, with our large family of seven, a charcuterie board makes for an excellent lunch or dinner spread anytime, even when we’re not celebrating. I don’t make it fancy, though—I just set everything on the table and we all dig in. This takes that concept and turns it into an easy meal or snack for just one person by throwing all the same kinds of healthy foods into a bowl. Voila! (French for “there you go!”)
What to Put in a “Charcuterie Bowl”
I know I’m not the first to do this, but here’s my take on it. The most important thing is that it absolutely must have chocolate! And I don’t even wait to eat it last as “dessert.” It’s kind of like trail mix that way. Here are some other foods I like to put in my “charcuterie bowl,” depending on what we happen to have on hand:
- Grass-fed beef sticks or jerky
- Organic deli turkey or leftover roasted chicken from dinner
- Uncured, nitrate-free turkey pepperoni (not the healthiest, but it’s something we usually have in the fridge for homemade pizza)
- Almond, oat or seed crackers
- A slice of sourdough or organic sprouted bread (I like the Simple Truth brand from Kroger, in the freezer section) with grass-fed butter (and avocado if I’m up to it)
- Homemade granola clusters (made with sprouted oats, coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon—we make this in big batches to eat in place of cereal and granola bars)
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cheese (organic cheddar, mozzarella balls and crumbled feta are my favorites)
- Baby carrots or carrot sticks (sometimes with a little homemade “ranch” dip made with cultured sour cream and seasoned salt—eating a full, raw carrot each day helps the body detoxify excess estrogen, for women)
- Baby peppers
- Celery stalks (three a day for the full benefit)
- Olives
- Real fermented pickles or sauerkraut (for my daily dose of probiotics)
- Fresh berries, cherries or grapes
- Apple slices
- Mandarin oranges
- Almonds
- Pecans or walnuts (good for the brain)
- Pistachios
- Brazil nuts (a great source of selenium, for thyroid health)
- Pumpkin seeds (zinc, for the immune system)
- Dried apricots or other dried fruit (unsulphured)
- Dark chocolate squares or chocolate chips (high in magnesium and copper)
As you can see, I try to include as many real, nutritious and low-processed foods as possible. A little preparation in advance, like boiling a big batch of eggs and washing and chopping produce to keep in the fridge helps, too. I also love to have a wide variety of flavors and textures—a little sweet, a little savory, a little crunchy and a little chewy. It’s more fun and interesting that way.
With a Cup of Tea on the Side
If I have time, I like to brew a cup of chamomile tea to drink with this. Chamomile is one of my favorite herbal teas because it’s sweet and comforting, not to mention good for reducing pain during postpartum and monthly cycles.
In the winter I like to drink it hot, sometimes with a little milk and honey in it. And in the summer I like to drink it with ice and a splash of juice in it, like cherry or pomegranate. It makes this meal both refreshing in the summer and cozy in the winter—with a cup of tea on the side, I feel full and nourished.
Pair it with good book when the baby’s napping, and it truly feels like a treat!
Of course, even if I’m eating this as fast as I can with a hungry, crying baby on my hip, without a relaxing cup of tea to enjoy, at least I’m well-fed, and I can keep going for a few more hours without my blood sugar bottoming out.
For On-the-Go, Big Kids, Toddlers and Baby-Led Feeding
I can also take this on-the-go in the car or on a walk. I like to put it in a trusty shatterproof, plastic-free and lead-free enamel bowl, so I don’t have to worry about anything breaking. (We’ve had this Crow Canyon enamel set in our family for several years and it’s very well-loved!) A stainless steel cup (like from this Elk and Friends set we own) also works well in a cup holder in my car or stroller.
Last, I’ve found it’s a great snack or meal my older kids can make for themselves when they’re hungry or need something quick to take with them in the car to a practice or activity. All they need is a little prompting and they can put it together using whatever we have available. We don’t buy packaged snacks, so this definitely comes in handy!
Sometimes I make a bowl for one of my younger kids or toddlers to eat at our “kid table,” too. It’s even ideal for baby-led feeding, made with age-appropriate foods for babies who are just starting to feed themselves. Again, a shatterproof enamel bowl or platter is the way to go.
(Note: We use real food from home to feed our babies instead of buying baby food, often referred to as “baby-led weaning” or “baby-led feeding,” which is becoming more common these days thanks to this book. We still spoon-feed some homemade mashed foods, but it’s almost always fresh from the same meal the rest of the family is eating. It’s easier, healthier and saves money!)
More Real Food Inspiration
I feel like this just goes to show how easy and uncomplicated eating real food can be! For more simple, healthy meal and snack ideas, here are a few of my favorite books on clean eating. These are the sources that inspired me to start eating a less processed, more nutrient-dense, whole foods-based diet when I was struggling with multiple health issues (all gone now, praise God!), and that I still go back to all the time. I highly recommend them.
- “The Maker’s Diet” by Jordan Rubin
- “Real Food: What to Eat and Why” and “Real Food for Mother and Baby” by Nina Planck
- “Born to Eat” (for making healthy meals that your baby and your whole family can eat together, so you don’t have to make or buy baby food or prepare different foods for everyone)
What are your go-to healthy foods? Leave me a comment to let me know!
Enjoy, ya’ll!
