Food for Hungry College Students (Professor Edition)

October 26, 2018 9:18 AM

I teach a college class of 12 students who are in the middle of a stressful semester, and I'd like to give them a little tasty treat. But what to get?

I was thinking bagels and cream cheese (also with tofu cream cheese), but is there something that might be better and more inclusive of possible allergies? I don't want to get bagels and then have students not enjoy them because of gluten allergies.

I also don't want to spend a lot of money.

If it helps, I'm in Brooklyn.

posted by degoao to Education (8 answers total)

Best answer: Bagels, cream cheese, hummus, some sort of gluten free cracker. I think those four things could cover all your dietary need bases.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:24 AM on October 26, 2018 [12 favorites]

There’s a reason why bagels and topping is a classic for this kind of thing. Well, donuts are the other classic, but I’d not want to mess around with a GF version or analog. I think ThePinkSuperhero has the easiest classic crowd pleaser mix that covers GF and Vegan options.

Get stuff you like and overbuy by 50% so if everyone wants GF or nobody does, you’re fairly well covered and you can eat the rest over the next few days.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:28 AM on October 26, 2018

I just got my students those little individual tubs of hummus, and put out a a deli tray of cut up veggies and pretzels (could be gluten free, rice or seed crackers.) They loved it. The little individual tubs are a lot nicer than everyone dipping into the hummus.
posted by nantucket at 9:31 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]

Best answer: Include some fruit if you can because probably some of them haven't had any in weeks.
posted by wellred at 9:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [21 favorites]

OMG, yes, bagels. Also celery and carrot sticks to dip in the hummus would be an awesome complement.
posted by heatherlogan at 9:45 AM on October 26, 2018

OMG fruit. I brought cut fruit and skewers to the office as a break from bagels/donuts/cookies routine, and it was gone in minutes.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:48 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]

Nthing fruit. We started bringing fruit when we visit my college-age niece because she and her classmates just don't get access to the good stuff.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 10:03 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I got everything ThePinkSuperhero suggested plus a big ol plate of fruit.
posted by degoao at 10:24 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]