Trader Joe’s Snack Board Supper
August 10, 2010
Trendy and tasty! Making a successful snack board requires some strategy, but once you understand the concept, it’s easy to pull together. Here are my top tips for making the ultimate snack board.
Addicted to my Spinning Snack Board (and maybe my grocer)
Trader Joe’s and I have been in a serious relationship for a while now – It helps that it’s just a few minutes from my house! I love their products, their pricing, how kind the employees are, and the samples. As any kindred Trader Joe’s addict knows, the snack food selection is absolutely stellar. I love to pool together our family’s current favorite Trader Joe’s products to make an easy snack board supper. Lucky for me, I usually have a plethora of these products on hand so this silly excuse for dinner doesn’t require a trip to the store either!
The pièce de résistance is easily the board you serve the spread on. My go to has been this Lazy Susan Serving Board, which fulfills the cross between beauty and functionality.
How to Build a Snack Board Supper
- When making your board, choose foods that are good at room temperature to make sure things can last the length of your meal or party. The best snack boards are composed of hearty bits and bites that go well together, but there’s no need to have dozens of items on your board. I recommend including one item on your board from each of the following categories:
- A healthy item: Always include vegetables and/or fruit. Snack boards are about balance and the ability to make a complete meal out of easy snacks, so it’s important to include nutritious items.
- Meat: Unlike a traditional charcuterie board, the meaty options for a snack board don’t necessarily have to be preserved, smoked or cured. You can include items like chicken, cold cuts or meatballs.
- Cheese: Traditional cheese boards usually feature a few exemplary cheeses. Snack boards, however, may include cheese, but it shouldn’t be the star of the board. And it doesn’t have to be terribly fancy; your everyday Swiss makes the cut with ease, as does cheddar or Monterey Jack.
- Dip: Including a dip is essential. A dip helps bring seemingly unrelated items together on a snack board. No need for an elaborate homemade dip: Greek yogurt, vinaigrette or store-bought hummus are all great unifiers. Having crunchy crackers alongside creamy dips adds to the fun.
Keep it SimpIe
Cooking isn’t required, so if you do make something, keep it simple. This whole fuss-free endeavor should only take 15 minutes to throw together. To make composing a board manageable, place the emphasis on what you can pull from your pantry or buy from the grocery store. Spend your time shopping for items, prepping the ingredients and organizing your board in an artistic way.
Don’t Forget Design
We eat with our eyes first, so think about color and texture when assembling your board. A board full of the same color won’t draw people in. And a board full of the same texture won’t keep them interested. Try to have an item or two that brings a pop of color, whether it’s veggies or sliced hard-boiled eggs.
erin gentile Says
I had my three kids at swimming lessons and my husband was on his way home from work. How was I supposed to get dinner on the table when no one was home to prepare it?! I was very close to pulling through the fast food widow when I remembered your Snack Boards. I had apples, pepperoni, turkey meat, cheese, nuts, crackers, cucumbers, sugar snaps, grapes, etc all sitting at home in the fridge. I quickly threw everything out on the cutting board and by the time my kids had changed out of their swimsuits, I had it all spread out. My 4yr old declared it the Best Dinner Ever. Thank you again for another family friendly, healthy and delicious meal suggestion.