We’re coming into prime TV viewing season, what with its upcoming awards shows and its bonanza of athletic events. It’s also the time of year where dinner time can turn into snack time, with friends and family gathering around the television and not wanting to miss a minute of the excitement.

When they’re enjoying their favorite seasonal shows, people want food that’s neat, convenient and easy to eat. Most folks don’t want to balance a plate on their knees with dinner-sized portions. That’s why the smart host provides manageable snacks that are satisfyingly filling! In the ideal setup, guests can take as little or as much as they like, and it’s easy and inviting to make the quick trip back for more!

Here are five menu ideas for an afternoon or evening around the set, along with some hints on how best to present them.

Toothsome Charcuterie

It seems like charcuterie boards are on every gastropub menu these days, and with good reason! They’re delicious and inviting, and diners always want to taste just one more sample from the tray.

They’re great for home service as well! They’re a superb opportunity to serve meats most people enjoy only occasionally: soppressata, prosciutto, fancy salami. Add a few cheeses, some olives and crusty bread or crackers, and you have a pick-and-choose snack selection that’s a definite crowd pleaser!

Alternative “Charcuterie”

“Charcuterie” means “cured meat,” so, strictly speaking, a charcuterie board is a meat board. However, that’s nothing to prevent you from serving other types of delectables in a similar arrangement!

For example, if you present an attractive vegan board, it can appear so appetizing that the meat-lovers in the crowd will want to sample it, too! It might offer olives, pickles, vegetables both plain and pickled, pretzels, nuts and crackers along with dips such as hummus and artichoke dip.

You can also serve nuts and dried fruit boards, relish boards and even dessert boards. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

Delectable Cupfuls

When the most interesting shows are up on the screen, people want something that’s easy to grab and easy to handle. Often, they prefer a little at a time, and they welcome the chance to sample a variety of treats.

To suit this tendency, why not lay out an assortment of individual servings in small plastic cups! They can be sweet or savory snacks, with a plastic fork or spoon tucked in when it’s needed. Guests can grab one or two and cycle back for another whenever they want!

Consider the possibilities:

• Bite-size cubes of meat and cheese
• Individual portions of seven-layer dip
• Chili topped with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream
• Spinach-artichoke dip with crackers deftly inserted
• Vegetables cut to fit
• Berries interlaced with candy or miniature cookies

It’s a multi-course meal with no wait staff required to serve it!

TV Viewing on a Stick

First sticks were for popsicles, then for corn dogs, but now just about anything comes on a stick! Lay these snacks stick side out so everybody can help themselves to one or two at a time. Here are just a few “stickable” treats.

• Miniature meatballs
• Chicken cubes alternated with pineapple
• Deep fried ravioli
• Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and basil
• Fruit with a chunk or two of cheese included

Complete the presentation with some themed stick party favors. Think about a tiny basketball on the end of a stick or pennants of your guests’ favorite teams.

I Scream, You Scream

When the noshing has settled down and everyone’s ready for something a little bit different, it’s time to break out the ice cream bar. You just need to deposit a scoop or two into each bowl and lay out the toppings!

Everybody gets to take a bowlful and make their way down the lineup of appetizing additives. Offer such choices as hot and cold fudge, berries, candy bar pieces, chopped nuts and marshmallow cream. Of course, there’ll be whipped cream and Maraschino cherries at the end of the display!

Serving To Fit the Occasion

Once you have your menu dreamed up, all you need is a place to spread it out and convenient ways for guests to enjoy it! That means surface space. Your dazzling dining delights can be presented on your dining table, a sideboard or even a sofa table. Or use a bar cart; it’s a portable serving unit that rolls to where it’s most needed and gets stored away when the set is clicked off and the visitors go home!

Be sure to maintain a stash of serving trays. That way, you can just grab one for every new course you bring out!

Also, give your guests plenty of space to set their food and drinks, such as coffee tables, side tables and tray tables. You’re ahead of the game if you have an occasional table or two to act as a supplement.

The seasonal TV sports and awards opportunities are enough to make any evening with friends an occasion. When great viewing is combined with great snacking, it’s an extraordinary social event where everybody will have a grand old time!