Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. She earned her Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and has a research background in maternal and child health nutrition and public health, as well as a Certificate of Training in Obesity Interventions from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family.
“Jarcuterie” and Individual Serving Ideas at Your Next Tailgate
2 min read
Any event, tailgating included, has looked different during the pandemic. Individual servings are a great way to reduce germs when groups are dining together, rather than serving themselves from a large pot or bowl. Enter “jarcuterie.”
This individual serving-take on the popular charcuterie board will be a portable fan favorite around the tailgate. Load a mason jar, plastic cup or low glass with a mix of healthy and indulgent ingredients. For an attractive product, consider using food items in different heights and a variety of colors. And to flaunt your team spirit, add a ribbon of your team colors around the rim.
These are some great jarcuterie ingredients:
- Spear-cut veggies, such as cucumbers, bell peppers, celery and jicama
- Fruit, such as grapes, strawberries and blackberries
- Skewers of mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil leaf
- Olives, salami, prosciutto and tortellini
- Cracker breadsticks
Crudité cups is another take on individual servings that’s healthy and delicious to snack on.
Crudité is a French word for cut vegetables often served as an appetizer. Place a dollop of a sauce or dip — such as pesto, garlic aioli or a Greek yogurt dip — coating the bottom of a cup. Top the dip with spear-cut veggies, such as blanched asparagus, jicama, celery, bell peppers and cucumbers. Cracker breadsticks are a great complement to this hors d’oeuvre.
Handling food safely is a great way to keep our friends and family healthy and safe. Consider some of these tips for safely preparing and handling food at a tailgate:
- Limit the number of people handling the food.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces often.
- Wash hands with soap and water frequently and use gloves.
- Offer individual servings of items, such as jarcuterie, crudité cups and mini muffins with football decor.
- Offer hand sanitizer and extra masks near the serving table
- Use masks when serving and being served food.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Whether a tailgate or any other get-together, individual servings are a great way to handle food safely. Choosing between the jarcuterie or crudité cups is a tough choice, though. We’ll take one of each!
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