Sometimes, the best lunches are the ones that don’t require much effort. On busy days, when time is tight and energy is low the idea of cooking or even assembling a sandwich can feel like too much. Enter the humble picky plate! It is just a collection of little nibbles thrown together on a plate. It’s part snack, part meal, 100% satisfying and my go to lunch lately!
Picky plates are fast. There’s no cooking involved unless you want to throw in something like a boiled egg or heat up leftovers. They’re flexible whether you’re aiming for a balanced meal or just want to use up odds and ends from the fridge. You can tailor them to your cravings, dietary needs or whatever random bits of food are lying around. They can be as healthy or indulgent as you like! You can keep it light and fresh with veggies and hummus or lean into comfort with cheese and crackers. It’s entirely up to you!
The one above included grapes, salted crackers, pineapple and almond soft cheese and mini savoury eggs. The one below has the pineapple cheese, a tangerine, slices of salami, seafood sticks, some pork pie and grapes, I also had a packet of crisps that wouldn't fit on the plate. And yes, I do always use old plates that the kids used to use when they were little. They are bigger than a side plate and smaller than a dinner plate, just the right size for a picky lunch.
How to Build the Perfect Picky Plate!
The beauty of a picky plate is that there are no rules. However, if you’re looking for a bit of guidance here’s a tried and true formula to make your plate satisfying and delicious:
Protein: This could be a boiled egg, a handful of nuts, some sliced meat or even leftover grilled chicken.
Crunchy Stuff: Add a bit of crunch to keep things interesting. Crackers, pretzels, breadsticks or even tortilla chips or crisps work well here.
Fresh Produce: Balance things out with some fruits or veggies. Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, apple wedges or berries are great options.
A little indulgence: A dollop of hummus, a smear of peanut butter, a couple of chocolate squares or a spoonful of pickle elevate your picky plate to something a bit more special.
Picky plates aren’t just for adults they’re perfect for kids too. Let everyone assemble their own plate from a selection of ingredients and suddenly lunch becomes an activity instead of a battle. Kids love the variety and the freedom to choose their favourites and you’ll love how easy it is to pull together.
In a world where we’re often told to meal prep, cook and plan ahead picky plates feel like a breath of fresh air. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes them fun, no two lunches ever need to look the same.
Do you have picky plates for lunch? What’s your go to combo?
That's a great idea, I often pick at things at lunch time rather than have a meal, a picky plate would be idea. I'd choose, crispbread, cottage cheese/or soft cheese, mini eggs or sausage roll, a banana or blueberries....oooh there is so much to choose from! I don't have my kids plates anymore though :(
ReplyDeleteI don't have something like this for lunch, but I do for dinner. I put some cheese, pate, salami, a couple of cherry tomatoes or some olives, a cracker or 2 and that is it. It's so easy to make the plate bigger or smaller depending on how hungry I am.
ReplyDeletePicky bits! Love them.
ReplyDeleteWe do these for our kids all the time! We call them "a little bit of everything" plates! I absolutely love the name picky plates, though! That's what I should start calling them since our kids are such picky eaters. Haha. I'm not a picky eater, but even I love a picky plate!
ReplyDelete