It's all fun and games at my house until somebody says, "lunchtime!" Cue the tears, hair pulling, and frustration — from me. Hey, my toddlers aren't easily fooled. They know there's broccoli hidden in that chicken alfredo pasta, and they aren't happy about me trying to trick them. That's why I love these mini toddler charcuterie boards [1] so many people are posting on Instagram! They look like adult cheese-and-wine boards, but made with tiny sandwiches, cut-up fruits, little vegetables, adorable desserts, breakfast foods [2], and more. Instead of trying to hide the healthy stuff, they just make the fresh food look super appetizing, [3] so your little ones will be begging for more.
If you love the idea of serving your toddlers bite-sized portions of food [4] that they can eat with their fingers, then check out some of these inspiration pictures posted by creative parents. You — and your kids — will never cry lunch-related tears again.
Colourful Fruits, Veggies, Crackers, Cheese, Chicken, and Marshmallows
This yummy lunch board is perfect for an indoor picnic! It contains a wide variety of foods for even the pickiest toddlers that hits all the major food groups: protein, fruit, vegetables, carbs, and a teensy bit of sugar.
Star-Shaped Sandwich and Fruit Medley
Reach for the stars with this adorable lunch idea. Cut a ham sandwich (or any type of sandwich) into a star shape. Then, mix cut-up strawberries and blueberries with Cheerios for a crunchy side.
Pasta, Spinach, and Fruit
I'll admit, this car-shaped lunch board does make any food look amazing. But this pasta, spinach, and fruit lunch will still be a win with your toddler on a regular plate because it just looks so fun! Creamy orzo sprinkled with spinach on top, served with blueberries, bananas, and kiwis? Yum!
Chicken Fingers With Peppers, Cheese, Fruit, and Pretzels
This lunch looks so good, you'll be sneaking bites as well! Simply cut-up chicken fingers and serve with marble cheese, pretzels, a mini sweet pepper, cucumber and baby carrots, honeydew melon and strawberries, and tiny clusters of banana, chocolate, and granola bites (if you don't have these prepped, just regular granola will do).
Bite-Sized Wraps, Tomatoes, Puffy Chips, and Fruit
If you feel like getting creative, make a wrap and cut it into bite-sized portions (the author of this post made sweet potato falafel and yoghurt wraps, but you can do something as simple as turkey and cheese). Then, add quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, strawberries, and blueberries. Finish with puffy chips and a cute, animal-shaped board!
Flower-Shaped Sandwich, Strawberries, and Veggie Chips
Your toddler lunch board doesn't have to be fancy to get your child to eat it. Just cut a sandwich into small, flower shapes — or use a cookie cutter — and serve with strawberries and veggie straws. It's a perfectly balanced meal!
Pasta, Veggies, Fruit, and Fruit Bunnies!
Last night's dinner makes great content for today's lunch. Simply heat up some cooked, whole wheat spaghetti noodles (you can top with pesto and parmesan for added flavour), then serve with a vegetable (like green pea snaps), blueberries, shredded cheese, and a treat, like Annie's Homegrown fruit bunnies.
Cheese and Meat Roll-Ups, Veggies, Fruits, and Popcorn
The more colourful the lunch, the better! This rainbow-coloured spread includes cheese and meat roll-ups, cucumbers and carrots cut into long strips, mini breadsticks, strawberries, grapes, and blueberries. You can also add a small dollop of sour cream or ranch for dipping and popcorn if your child is older than 5 [6].
Cheese Bread, Fruit, and Cucumbers
Does your little one love cheese bread? Make these fun cheese twists and serve them with sliced tomatoes, chopped, cucumbers, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries to keep their bellies happy and full.
Chicken Quesadillas, Blueberries, and Yoghurt
This easy-to-make lunch is healthy and delicious. Just add a scoop of strawberry yoghurt, some blueberries, and cut-up chicken quesadillas. Serve with dipping sauce to complete the meal.
Quesadilla Roll-Up, Fruit, Veggie Straws, Yoghurt, and a Sweet Cookie
Sometimes lunch is all about giving your kids a million options until you find something they like. That's why this board is so great — it includes a chicken-and-cheese quesadilla rolled up, yoghurt, star-shaped cucumber, chopped grapes, strawberries, watermelon, raspberries, and blackberries, and veggie straws. You can even add a sweet cookie for dessert!
Cheese and Crackers, Crab Sticks, Raisins, and Tomato
Have an adventurous eater on your hands? Interest them in this delicious lunch, featuring crackers covered in cheese spread, crab sticks, raisins, and a tomato. It looks so good that you will want to make a plate for yourself!
Mini Waffles, Blueberries, and Cottage Cheese
Breakfast time is great for charcuterie boards too! This one is made with mini waffles, covered in Nutella and topped with strawberries and bananas, as well as a side of blueberries and cottage cheese. If they love it, serve it again for lunch!
Cheese and Marmite Pinwheels, Tomatoes, and Blueberries
Give your kid a lunch that's healthy and fun to eat by making cheese-and-marmite pinwheels, which can be sliced in half for younger toddlers. Serve with chopped grape tomatoes and blueberries.
Chicken, Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, and Vegetables
Your chicken nugget-obsessed toddler will love this simple plate, featuring two chicken nuggets, a little ketchup, a scoop of mixed vegetables featuring corn, green beans, and carrots, and cut-up chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. And if your child won't eat, try giving him a few toys or books at the table to distract him into happy chomping!
Sweet Potatoes, Tofu, Avocado, Cucumber, Rice Noodles, and Tomatoes
Make a baby Buddha bowl for lunch this week! This one is made with roasted sweet potato chunks, pea and lemon mini bites, halved baby plum tomatoes, peas, turmeric tofu chunks, avocado and black sesame seeds, vermicelli rice noodles, cucumber, and pomegranate.
Banana Wraps, Yoghurt, Kiwi, Tomatoes, Hard-Boiled Egg, Breadsticks, Cucumbers, and Baby Crisps
This toddler lunch board looks like an appetizer platter you would have at a dinner party! It features yoghurt with tiny flower-shaped bananas on top, banana-and-tortilla roll-ups, breadsticks, cucumbers, tomatoes, kiwis, hard boiled eggs, breadsticks, and baby crisps. There is so much going on, your toddler is sure to love at least something about it!
Teething Biscuits, Yoghurt, Cheese, Granola Bar, and Strawberries
Teething toddlers will love this lunch! It features teething biscuits and cut-up chewy granola bars, as well as cheese, strawberries, and yoghurt with chocolate drizzle. Yum!
Star-Shaped Sandwich, Raspberries, and Tomatoes
Moms of picky toddlers rejoice — this lunch board is simple and delicious. Cut a peanut butter sandwich into a star shape, then cut up tomatoes and add little raspberries for just a splash of sweet. Arrange it on a cute plate and you're done!
Ham, Salami, Cheese, Crackers, Grapes, and Strawberries
If your kid is always begging for prepackaged lunches, this spin will surely delight. If you want to go all out, you can make your own crackers (but those in the box will do just fine). Assemble piles of crackers, sliced ham, folded salami, flower cut outs of cheese, halved grapes, and a few strawberries for fresh colour.
Dried Strawberry Yoghurt, Pineapple, Walnuts, Raisins, Cranberries, Blueberries, and Cheese
Listen: if you don't have little cookie cutters to create dinosaurs or shark shapes, that's OK. Your kids will still love this lunch board, featuring cheese, dried strawberry yoghurt, pineapple, blueberries, raisins, cranberries, and walnuts.
Cheese Toast, Yoghurt, and Watermelon
Satisfy those sweet and savory cravings with this lunch board, featuring cheese toast, yoghurt, and a slice of juicy watermelon. It's simple and delicious!
Mushroom Quiche, Cheese, Avocado, Tomatoes, and Cucumbers
Who says you can't get a little fancy with their lunch? This lunch board looks amazing, as it features sliced up mushroom quiche, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado slices, and cheese. Your toddler will be in food heaven.
Cheese Toast, Cucumbers, Strawberries, Grapes, and Blueberries
Fill your little's hungry belly with this lunch board, made up of grilled cheese toast, sliced strawberries and grapes, blueberries, and fancy cucumbers. (Fun tablecloth optional.)
Salmon, Tater Tots, Broccoli, and Corn
This looks like a mini adult plate, which just makes it that much more enjoyable for kids who want to be like their parents. It is made up of salmon, tater tots, broccoli, and a tiny corn-on-the-cob.
Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Strawberries, and Blueberries
Leftovers are the easiest thing to feed your toddlers. I love this plate, featuring chicken, mashed potatoes, strawberries, and blueberries. Recreate it by heating up last night's dinner and adding some fresh fruits.
Pizza, Asparagus, Cucumbers, Strawberries, and Blueberries
Add some nutrients to their pizza lunch, by serving it with star-shaped cucumbers, tiny asparagus heads, blueberries, and strawberries. They will love the combination of their favourite food (pizza!) with healthy, colourful bites.
Creamy Shell Noodles, Broccoli, and Peaches
Get creative with your lunches — your toddler only likes mac 'n' cheese? Mix it up by making creamy shell noodles one day instead. Serve this with broccoli and peaches and arrange it beautifully on a plate for a lunch they can't resist.
Bread, Vegan Chicken, Peppers, Strawberries, Cashews, Raisins, and Yoghurt
Make your toddler's lunch look like a work of art! Simply cut his or her bread into a butterfly shape, fix a sandwich, then add sliced up strawberries and a single cut up green bean to serve as the body and antennae. From there, add decorative strawberries and peppers, and serve with a mix of cashews and raisins and a side of yoghurt.
Sprinkled Donut, Raspberries, and Blueberries
Don't have anything for lunch? Don't sweat it! Anything would make for a toddler charcuterie board if you just arrange it right. Keep it simple: add some blueberries and raspberries to a plate with a sprinkled donut.