Munchkin Munch Plate

Isn't that pretty? I get so tickled when food looks pretty. Preacher Man thinks I'm a nut because of this, but there it is. :)

One of our favorite summer lunches is a simple "munch plate". The Littles love them, they can be so pretty, they are nicest with fresh fruit and veggies, you can use them to clean out odds and ends from the fridge, and they don't heat up the kitchen!

Sometimes I do themes, which is especially fun with toddlers and preschoolers. Orange is a very simple one: oranges (obviously!) or peaches, chunks of cheddar, goldfish crackers, carrot sticks

Most of the time, I just throw everything on a lunch plate, but if you have any sectioned plates around, that can be nice. Tiny bits in an ice cube tray is also quite fun.

You can use anything and everything, though finger food is preferable. Some inspiration:

Protein:

• nuts - we are partial to almonds
• hard cooked egg or deviled eggs
  
• chunks of cooked chicken or other bits of leftover meat
• cheese cubes
• hot dog cubes
• rolled lunch meat
• mini meatballs
  

Fruits:

• apples
• pears
• mandarin oranges
• sectioned oranges/grapefruit
• peaches or nectarines
• pitted cherries
  
• grapes
• banana chunks
• mango
• pineapple tidbits
• raisins or craisins
• strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries
• chunks of melon
• avacado chunks
  

Veggies:

• fresh peas in or out of the pods (the ones in the picture were freshly shelled and uncooked)
• bell pepper
• cucumber
• carrot sticks
  
• broccoli florets
• cauliflower florets
• fresh green beans uncooked (surprisingly good!)
• celery (my Littles don't like the strings though)
• cherry tomatoes
• mushrooms
• radishes
• sprouts
  

Carbs & Other:

• dry cereal
• cubes of bread
• crackers
• cooked pasta shapes
• black beans or chickpeas (drained thoroughly)
• pickles & olives

Do keep in mind that some of these are choking hazards and select and cut accordingly.

This post is a part of the Four Moms Lunch Menu Linkup.