4 Tips for Veggie Boards that Don’t Suck
“OH THE DIETITIAN CAN BRING THE VEGGIES….”
I feel like that’s how the convo goes no matter WHAT party, gathering, or potluck is happening… NO ONE wants to bring the veggies, so they dump it on me. Ya’ll, just because I’m a dietitian doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to bring some bomb a** side dish or heaven forbid a main entrée item!
Leaving me with the veggies however, let’s me get more & more creative every single time. Lately I’ve been opting out of the standard veggie tray any grocer has and whipping one up that’s hand picked, hand made & looks a heck of a lot fancier than some carrots with ranch dip!
Oh they thought they gave me the boring dish?? Think again!
Okay… Sound overwhelming to whip up a Pinterest perfect veggie board on the fly? I know those pre-prepped ones are super quick & simple to grab, but you are 100% capable of creating your own customized board that is sure to WOW & keep everyone talking about those humble vegetables!
This year I brought a fancier-than-normal veggie board to a work holiday party and wanted to share my top tips on putting together your own that is pretty to look at, not psycho expensive & that everyone will love!
|| 4 VEGGIE BOARD TIPS ||
Keep it simple. You don’t need to throw the entire produce department onto your tray, okay? Don’t go too wild when you’re shopping for veg & stick to some crowd pleasing basics. Celery, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers give a little bit to every type of person walking up to the plate - some like it spicy, some want plain AF. Want to add the fancy factor? Play around with cuts on your veggies (sticks, slices, crinkle cut on the mandolin). A little texture & diversity in the shape of your veggies adds a lot of character. Add those COLORS too! Grab a couple colors of bell pepper, get the multi-colored carrots. You can still keep the head count low on which veggies you add, but mix up those hues for that wow factor!
Cover your macros. Carbs. Proteins. Fats. Get them all on the board! Add in crackers, hummus dip, a soft cheese, olives, nuts - all of these not only add awesome flavor combos for party-goers to enjoy, but create a cohesive, complete snack/mini-meal! Patrons may not be thinking about keeping their potluck meals balanced - but you can help them do it anyways (go you!).
Have dip options. Okay, I know this happens… because it’s always me. “Is that gluten-free?” “Is that dairy-free?” Veggies, olives & nuts are pretty straight forward - but when it comes to dips… Cover all your bases! Make sure you have a vegan option, vegetarian option, & if you wish to incorporate meat in some way, also awesome! Just make sure you accommodate (reasonably) for allergies or preferences that are bound to pop up! Want to be super cool about it?? Make little toothpick signs for your dips to let everyone know what is what & if allergens are present!
Overstuff it. Want your board to have that Pinterest-look AND feed all of your guests? Get as much as you can on that thing! The full, bountiful look we see all over social media right now is all about overfilling the board, filling every nook & cranny you can! Plus, the more you fit on there, the more people can enjoy! Bonus tip? It’s not going to look Pinterest perfect until it’s 100% done… Get over it, it’s true. Just keep filling & stop checking those inspo photos!! It’s going to look great!
Not so bad right?? Don’t let getting assigned the veggie tray scare you any more! And don’t reach for the pre-made stuff (I mean… If you’re in a pinch, it happens!). It’s fun to get creative with your food, especially when sharing with others.
Taking a veggie board to a function sometime soon?? Let me know! Share pics, tips, what you used — I’d love to hear it!
xx,
mallory