How to Build a Nutritious Snack Board for Entertaining

To encourage the consumption of whole grains, legumes, and other under-consumer food groups

Building a nutritious snack board is an easy way to add more diversity to your diet. The key to creating a balanced board is to incorporate a variety of under-consumed food groups, such as whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, in place of traditional boards. Entertaining with a snack board looks fancy, but tends to be easy, cost-effective, and flexible so that there is something for everyone’s food preferences.

3 Steps to Create a Nutrient-Diverse Snack Board:

1. Select your hummus. Place hummus onto the center of your board and use the back of a spoon to create a swirl in the hummus, working from the center out.
2. Choose your items. Select 1-2 foods from each food group to make sure there is nutrient diversity and variety in flavors, colors, and textures.
3. Arrange your board. Aim to put each item in 3 separate piles spaced randomly on the board. This is the “Rule of 3” that designers use to make things visually appealing.

What to include in a nutritious snack board

Get Creative! Include each of the following food groups on your snack board to make it balanced and fun for entertaining. Aim to choose produce that is in-season since it will likely taste better and be less expensive.
 

• Fruits like apples, grapes or dried berries
• Vegetables like carrots, bell peppers or roasted sweet potato
• Whole Grains like crackers, popcorns or toasts
• Legumes like edamame, lentil chips or seasoned chickpeas
• Extras like jams, pickles or nuts

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