Nutritionist urges balance with viral snack plate trend

Viral “snack plates” can make meals more appealing and easier to prepare, but they should not replace a proper hot meal every day, clinical nutritionist Siri Hundstad Quamme tells NRK.

The trend, which has become particularly popular on TikTok, consists of plates or boards filled with small portions such as vegetables, fruit, cheese, nuts, crackers and cold cuts.

Nursing student Maria Leiknes, 20, discovered snack plates through TikTok around summer 2025. She says they are a simple alternative when she does not have the energy to prepare a traditional dinner.

“I liked that it seemed like an easy way to put together a varied meal without having to make anything complicated,” Leiknes says.

She also enjoys arranging the food attractively, saying that the colours and presentation can make the meal feel more inviting.

Millions of views

There were 593,000 searches for “snack plates” on TikTok between 28 July and 3 August. Search activity also rose significantly during the summer. The hashtag #snackplates has more than 5,000 posts on Instagram.

Colour and variety can help

Quamme, who works as a clinical nutritionist at Sør Ernæring, says meals with different components, colours and textures can provide a better sensory experience.

She says snack plates can be useful for people with little appetite or those who struggle to get started on a meal. They require less planning and allow people to use ingredients they already have at home.

Food waste campaigner Mette Nygård Havre of Spis opp maten says the trend may also help reduce food waste by making it easier to use leftovers and other food already available.

Some foods benefit from being heated

Quamme does not recommend making snack plates an everyday habit. Some nutrients become activated or easier for the body to absorb when food is heated, including nutrients found in tomatoes and broccoli, she says.

She also believes the process of preparing a hot meal can affect the body psychologically. Cooking, sitting down at the table and taking time to eat can help the nervous system calm down and prepare for the meal.

If a snack plate is used as dinner, Quamme says it should contain enough food, protein, fibre and healthy fat. Carbohydrates are also important because they provide energy and act as fuel for the body. They are found in foods including grains, fruit and vegetables.