This post is sponsored by WW International, Inc. All comments and opinions are my own.

Okay I know it’s officially fall but until our pool closes, I still consider it summer here at our house! Totally holding on to the summer moments and taking advantage of the beautiful afternoons. Keep reading for all the tips on how to build a charcuterie board, yes the beautiful one you see in the photo above! I enjoyed a ‘mom’s day out’ at our pool and it was everything. Made up a simple little charcuterie board with WW products from Safeway and hung out on our daybed with a book. Of course, no charcuterie board is complete without some sparkling wine!

How To Build A Charcuterie Board Step By Step

• Step 1: Choose a board or a plate large enough for the amount of people that you would like to feed. Place any bowls or dishes that you plan to use.
• Step 2: Add various types of cheese in different textures and cuts.
• Step 3: Add fruits and vegetables (and meat if you prefer).
• Step 4: Fill in with dried fruit, nuts, and crackers.
• Step 5: Add a fun garnish such as fresh herbs or flowers.

What do you put on a charcuterie board?

VARIETY OF SOFT AND HARD CHEESE

You can’t have a charcuterie board without wine, and you definitely can’t have a charcuterie board without cheese. I started off by making these little caprese bites using the WW Light Mozzarella String Cheese, cherry tomatoes and sprigs of basil from our yard. I just cut the string cheese into little pieces, halved the cherry tomatoes and skewered them on a toothpick with the basil. You could even drizzle some balsamic on them too! 

You can find the WW String Cheese in the dairy section at your local Safeway. It’s only 50 calories per stick, contains 6g of protein per serving and has 50% less fat and 25% fewer calories than low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese. It’s also a good source of calcium.

I added some Manchego and cheddar cheese as well. Pro tip – crumble your cheese using the tip of the knife instead of cutting it into cubes or slices. It gives it a fun texture because let’s be honest – half of the charcuterie board is how it looks and half is how it tastes ☺️.

NUTS AND FRESH FRUIT

You really can’t go wrong with any choice here. I went with honey roasted cashews, strawberries, raspberries and apple slices for my board. It’s fun to coordinate the foods you choose with the types of cheese but is not necessary. Berries pair well with the mozzarella cheese sticks. Other fruits that pair well with mozzarella include peaches, melon and pears. Apples, pear and grapes pair well with cheddar cheese. You could also add some dried fruit if you have it on hand.

BAGUETTES, CRACKERS AND OTHER GARNISHES

I was trying to stick with wholesome ingredients so I left the bread off because I would have eaten it all. Instead I added some simple garlic & pepper crackers and some lightly salted coconut chips. It’s always fun to add some festive flowers or greenery to the board too if you’re going to be entertaining. Just choose whatever is seasonal and it will look great.

DON’T FORGET THE CHOCOLATE AND SPARKLING WINE

Okay, listen closely – this is the most important part! Pop open a bottle of Cense Sparkling Wine and add some chocolate – you have now mastered how to build a charcuterie board. The Sparkling wine is crisp and refreshing with flavors of apple, pear and citrus. 

Each 5 fl. oz. serving is 3 SmartPoints^® Value and they also make a Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Sauvignon Blanc.

Since our days of eating popsicles are limited, I recommend you grab a box of WW Giant Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Bars. If you aren’t familiar with WW, every food has a SmartPoints^® Value. These are 90 calories and 4 SmartPoints^® per bar and contain no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. SO good. You can find them in the frozen desserts section at your local Safeway.

Lastly, I hope this inspired you to carve out some time to enjoy these last few moments of summer. Creating a simple charcuterie board would make for a really fun date night too! Head out to your local Safeway to find all the WW products I mentioned here. 

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