Celebrate the new mom in your life with a beautiful and delicious New Mama Charcuterie Board filled with all the foods she couldn’t eat during pregnancy!
What can’t I eat while pregnant is the question nearly all Mamas are asking once they see those 2 pink lines. And if it’s a second or third pregnancy, chances are they might be a little more liberal (heating up that lunch meat just a few less seconds, anyone?), but for the most part there are still a lot of delicious foods that are off limits for moms to be. With that in mind, bringing a new Mama charcuterie board with all her favorite treats she’s had to limit, is such a fun way to show some love during this new exhausting season of her life!
For a refresher of what’s typically limited/avoided, see below! And check out all the photos throughout the post for some New Mama Charcuterie Board inspo!
What foods should I avoid or limit during pregnancy?
- undercooked or raw fish (sushi)
- high-mercury fish
- undercooked eggs (“jammy” eggs, runny eggs, etc)
- undercooked or raw meat (this is a hard one if you love a good medium-rare steak)
- lunch meat- okay to consume but recommended to steam until 165 degrees+ due to listeria risk
- unpasteurized cheese or other dairy products
- Caffeine (ideal to limit)
- Alcohol
- Raw sprouts
I will say my first and second pregnancy food choices looked a lot different and I was a little more risky the second time around. I’m not making any health recommendations around what to eat or not eat, but if considering eating any of the above I would just consider the source. Are you preparing that steak at home? Is that sushi from a restaurant you trust or like gas station (hopefully you’re not eating gas station sushi, hah!). For a more in-depth resource of what you should consider, this is a helpful article.
What is a good meal to bring a new mom?
Although prepping a hearty casserole or lasagna can be super helpful, it’s also fun to think outside the box and really make mom feel like you’re bringing something just for her! Making her a “post-baby charcuterie board” filled with all the foods she likely wasn’t enjoying (or at least not full-throttle enjoying) for the past 9+ months is a fun and creative way to make her feel seen and appreciated! Consider including some of the following and balance it out with some charcuterie board staples like berries, nuts, chocolate and crackers. It probably goes without saying, but definitely include a bottle of her favorite wine!
- Soft-boiled or “jammy” eggs
- Assorted meats- salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, etc.
- Smoked salmon
- Sushi rolls of choice
- Assorted cheeses- muenster, Swiss, Colby Jack, Cheddar, Brie, any raw cheeses, etc.
- Pistachio-crusted cream cheese ball (roll cream cheese into a ball and then roll over crushed pistachios)
- Assorted gluten-free crackers
- Assorted nuts- marcona almonds, cashews, pistachios, etc.
- Dark chocolate– I love Hu Kitchen’s Salty Dark Chocolate and Hu Kitchen’s Gems
- Assorted berries- strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
- Mama’s favorite wine- bonus points for a clean-crafted or organic wine that will give mom less of a hangover!
Capers
For anyone who wants to bring me this in a few weeks, I’ll take double sushi instead of smoked salmon, please ;).
This is probably one of my most favorite “recipes” I’ve ever created even though it’s not exactly a recipe. I’d love if you shared this or pinned for later to spread the word about a New Mama Charcuterie Board!
New Mama Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- Large cutting board, tray or serving platter
Ingredients
- Soft-boiled eggs (click for a great guide by The Kitchn to making perfect, soft-boiled eggs
- Assorted meats (salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, etc.)
- Smoked salmon
- Sushi rolls of choice
- Assorted cheeses (Muenster, Swiss, Colby Jack, Cheddar, Brie, etc.)
- Pistachio-crusted cream cheese ball (roll cream cheese into a ball and then roll over crushed pistachios)
- Assorted gluten-free crackers
- Assorted nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, etc.)
- Dark chocolates (I love Hu Kitchen's Salty Dark Chocolate and Hu Kitchen's Gems)
- Assorted berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
- Mama's favorite wine (bonus points for a clean-crafted or organic wine that will give mom less of a hangover!)
- Capers
Instructions
- Artfully arrange the eggs, meat, smoked salmon, sushi rolls and cheeses on a large cutting board, tray or serving platter.
- Put the berries and chocolate in small glass jars or bowls and place around the items already on the board.
- Fill in empty spaces with the nuts, crackers and any remaining fruit.
- Sprinkle some capers over the smoked salmon.
- Serve with a glass of mama's favorite wine and enjoy!
Notes
Pin for later:
2 Responses
This is such a fun recipe idea! I will make it for my friend! Thanks a lot for sharing this creative recipe.
I’m sure your friend will love it! Thanks so much for stopping by.