Tempt Holiday Guests With a Healthy Christmas Cheese, Fruit + Veggie Board

Nearly any large wooden board, ceramic platter or serving tray can be used as the base for your board. To create this festive arrangement, we used an extra-large 20" x 30" chopping board which allows for plenty of room to design the ornament shape. As an alternative, covering one end of your dining table with butcher paper before layering on the goodies is another option.

Guests will appreciate a variety of textures, ages and colors of cheese. Select 3-5 cheeses that reflect a lighter bite such as fat-free feta, chevre and light mozzarella. Sharp cheddar has big flavor so a little goes a long way. Don’t forget to add a pop of holiday flavor with a seasonal cheese such as Yorkshire cranberry cheese. A good rule of thumb is to serve 3 oz. of cheese per guest. Of course, you’ll want to adjust the quantities as needed to suit the appetite of your guests.

Crackers, breads, seeded crisps and flavored tortillas are all fine vehicles to deliver tasty cheeses. Choose at least two different types of these accompaniments, and consider a gluten-free option if serving a large crowd. Plan on serving 1 oz. (or 5 standard-size) crackers per guest.

Cube hard and semi-hard cheeses into 1/2 oz. portions up to 3 days ahead of time. Sharp cheeses can be layered between wax paper and stored together in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble your board. Cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature, so be sure to take your cheeses out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before serving.