Name: Fruit and Cheese Board Lunch for One
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 pear (sliced); 1/2 apple (sliced); 1 ounce Cheddar Cheese; 1 ounce Gouda Cheese; 1 tablespoon mixed nuts; 1/2 tablespoon fig preserves; Whole-grain crackers (optional)

by Laura Fuentes

Oct 5, 2020

5 from 1 vote

This fruit and cheese board is the perfect lunch for one -or two- with apples, pears, cheese, and a few other on-hand add-ons.

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

For years, I packed a lunch for the office that resembled whatever I was packing for my kids’ lunches that day. And now that I’ve found myself working from home, I’ve learned that something as simple as a fruit and cheese board is a perfectly acceptable grown-up lunch.

It all began when Harry & David shipped me a box of their famous Royal Rivera® Pears, apples, and some cheeses for me to try.

Their perfectly wrapped pears and apples arrived without any damage and the cheeses were exactly what I expected -delicious.

Harry & David gift boxes are the perfect gifts, IMO, since the contents will be consumed and can be turned into delicious meals or snacks for any occasion.

Making a Fruit and Cheese Board

Whether you use a plate, platter, or a wooden board, making a fruit and cheese board lunch is super simple.

I used to lean towards the “I’ll just grab the cheese and crackers and eat an apple while I’m at it.” However, the simple act of building a board, in 5 minutes, has helped me be more mindful of the amount of food I eat.

Sure, we’ve all seen the gorgeous platters on Pinterest for entertaining and parties, cheese, and fruit boards filled to the brim; but no way is that realistic when you’re home and just need lunch for one.

What to put in a Fruit and Cheese Board

Most of the things I used to build a fruit and cheese board I had on hand. The apples, pears, fig spread, and cheeses came from a Harry & David box; while the crackers and nuts came from my pantry.

When the famous pears arrived, they weren’t quite ready so I let them sit on my counter for a couple of days. Once ready, they were juicy and mouthwateringly delicious.

I love crisp apples, which pair great with just about any cheese. In my box, I had Gouda and Cheddar Cheese -my favorites! So as you can imagine, I couldn’t wait to pair them with my ripe pears and enjoy them for lunch.

img: sliced apples pears and cheese on a board

What Boards are best for a Fruit and Cheese Board?

It depends. For entertaining or when I’m making a dinner board for my family of 5, I like to use a large cutting board. Most of the time, however, I use a rectangular board -for two.

I also have small boards that I like to use for when I’m enjoying these pairings for myself.

It is true that making lunch for one daily can be a daunting task. My suggestion, keep it fun, keep the ingredients simple, and use high-quality ingredients you can savor each bite.

The fruit and cheeses used in this post were sent to me by Harry & David. To shop premium fruits, cheeses, wines, and gift boxes, check out Harry and David online.