Turkey Snack Board for Kids: A Fun, Colorful Thanksgiving Snack They’ll Love
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Time to Read: 6 min
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, you already know one truth: kids always get hungry before the turkey is ready. A Turkey Snack Board is the perfect way to keep little ones happy, engaged and feeling included at the holiday table.
This playful, colorful “kids’ charcuterie board” is packed with fruits, veggies, cheeses and crackers arranged into a festive turkey. It looks adorable, encourages balanced snacking and gives children their own special spread—so they’re not grazing on the adult charcuterie.
Setting it out on Ahimsa’s stainless steel dishes keeps everything secure, durable, kid-friendly and colorful!
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Why Parents Love This Turkey Snack Board
This idea checks all the Thanksgiving boxes:
Fun & kid-approved – The turkey shape makes even simple snacks feel special.
Colorful & inviting – A rainbow of fruits, veggies and crackers makes it easy for kids to explore new foods.
Perfect for the kids’ table – Gives little ones their own festive spread.
Mindful mealtime friendly – Fits naturally into age-appropriate servings and encourages variety.
- Great for helpers – Kids love arranging feathers and colors.
Turkey Snack Board
5-10 min
Ingredients
Customize it with what you have on hand! Here’s an easy starting point:
Base “Feathers”
Round or square crackers (mix 2–3 kinds)
Pretzels
Sliced cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss)
Protein “Feathers”
Turkey slices
Pepperoni
Salami
Ham
Colorful Produce
Carrot sticks
Celery sticks
Bell pepper strips
Cucumber
Cherry tomatoes
Grapes
Blueberries
Olives (for eyes or fillers)
Optional Extras
Cubed cheese
Mini hummus cups
Dried fruit
Whole-grain crisps
Turkey Body
Half a pear or a small round cheese
Olive or blueberry “eyes”
Carrot triangle for the beak
How to Assemble Your Turkey Snack Board
This part is all creativity—kids love helping.
Create the Feather Fan
Arrange crackers in a wide fan at the top of the board.Add Colorful Layers
Alternate sliced cheese and meats inside the cracker fan for the feather effect.-
Build the Turkey Body
Use a half pear or round cheese as the turkey body; add candy eyes or blueberry “eyes” and a small carrot / cheese triangle for a beak. You can use a slice of meat (used prosciutto here) or red bell pepper for the "gobble." Add Fruits + Veggies
Fill the “feathers” with bell peppers, carrots, celery, grapes and cherry tomatoes.Fill in the Gaps
Add pretzels, cubed cheese, fruit or hummus cups to round it out.Serve on Kid-Friendly Dishes
Use Ahimsa’s durable, nontoxic stainless steel sets to portion out items or let kids take what they want.
For individual servings, Ahimsa’s Balanced Bites Plate is perfect for colorful, kid-friendly snack portions.
Mealtime Essentials
Tips for Success
Prep ahead: Chop cheese + veggies the night before.
Let kids assemble: They love making the feathers.
Mix familiar + new: Use favorite snacks alongside “try something new” bites.
Keep it colorful: Kids gravitate toward rainbows!
Use stainless steel: Ahimsa’s plastic-free dishes are durable, safe and long-lasting—perfect for holiday hosting.
Bringing Joy to the Kids’ Table This Holiday
The Turkey Snack Board is a simple way to make Thanksgiving feel magical for little ones. It adds color, fun and a sense of celebration to their own space at the table — giving kids a moment that feels special while everyone gathers, cooks and connects.
It encourages kids to explore a variety of foods, builds independence as they choose their own favorites and turns snacking into something playful and memorable. Most of all, it creates a joyful moment for the whole family during a busy holiday.
If you want to make your kids’ table even more colorful and festive this season, explore more of our stainless steel favorites.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
