How to Build a Nutritious and Delicious Charcuterie Board

The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.

A charcuterie board is one of my favorite things to indulge in at parties. It’s also the dish I always volunteer to bring because they are so fun to build!

Traditional charcuterie boards contain a variety of cured meats, dairy cheeses, refined crackers and, if you’re lucky, a handful of grapes.

In the spirit of keeping charcuterie boards delicious without sacrificing nutrition, I journeyed up and down the aisles at Heinen’s, hand-picking items to help you build a charcuterie board featuring Fx™-approved cheeses and accompaniments. So, get your creative juices flowing and choose one or more products from each category below to arrange on a plate or board, then watch your friends and family dig in with delight.

Dairy Cheeses

• LaClare Creamery Goat Cheese
• Heinen’s A2 Grass-Fed Cheese
• Snowville Creamery A2 White Cheddar Cheese
• Organic Valley Grass-Fed Cheese
• Cypress Grove Midnight Moon Goat Cheese
• Rumiano Organic Pepper Jack Cheese

Plant-Based Cheeses

• Nuts for Cheese (Black Garlic, Un-Brie-Lievable, Smoky Gouda, Super Blue and Pink Peppercorn)
• Treeline Goat-Style Cashew Cheese (Original or Garlic Basil)
• Miyoko’s Creamery Organic Cashew Milk Mozzarella
• Miyoko’s Creamery Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic Cashew Milk Cheese

Fresh Fruit

• Red Grapes
• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Pear Slices
• Star Fruit
• Figs

Fermented Foods

• Big Picture Fermented Olives
• Big Picture Fermented Peppers
• Wake Robin Garlicky Dill Cucumber Chips
• Wake Robin Curry Cauliflower
• Wake Robin Carrot Escabeche

Nuts

• Living Intentions Sprouted Almonds
• Crazy Go Nuts Banana Walnuts
• Woodstock Organic Brazil Nuts
• Go Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds
• Heinen’s Organic Raw Cashews
• Heinen’s Fresh Ground Almond, Cashew or Walnut Butter
• Skinny Dipped Dark Chocolate Almonds

Crackers

• Brad’s Cheddar Veggie Chips
• Mary’s Gone Crackers
• Edward & Sons Black Sesame Brown Rice Snaps
• Finn Crisp Sourdough Rye Thins
• From the Ground Up Sea Salt Cauliflower Crackers

Uncured Meats and Jerky

• Applegate Naturals Uncured Turkey Pepperoni
• The New Primal Beef Stick
• Pan’s Mushroom Jerky

Sweets

• Fulmer Honeycomb
• Undercover Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt Quinoa Crisps
• smartBARK! Salted Almond Chocolate Bark
• Navitas Mulberries
• Navitas Goji Berries
• Bare Cinnamon Apple chips

Key Takeaway

Use the guidelines above to build a board with a variety of flavors, textures, colors and hidden goodness to please all taste buds. Plus, you’ll get your friends to try something new without realizing it’s good for them! Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to bring the charcuterie board to every party hereafter.