I want to feed them; they're too busy to eat.

March 3, 2008 7:19 AM

What is a good protein-y gift food for a busy office?

A friend of mine is a tax preparer who owns her own business, which means that this time of year she works 10-12 hour days seven days a week for about ten weeks straight. It's a tough time of year for her and her partner, and I like to remember them during it by dropping something by the office. Last year the kids and I took a flower arrangement, and that was nice. This year I'd like to take food, but I don't know what. Here are the criterion I'd like to meet:

1. It should be something that can sit around on a table for a few hours without going bad, and that will be tasty at room temp.

2. It should be something that people can just grab and nosh--no prep or especially messy stuff. I'm picturing people eating from their hands as they walk back to their offices, then giving their hands a quick wipe-off and getting right back to the keyboard.

3. It shouldn't just be sweet--I don't want to just do cookies or brownies, although that would be nice, I'm sure. I'd like to do something that has a bit of protein to it, so that it might help somebody get through those last two client meetings before dinner without passing out.

4. I'd like it to be something interesting.

I am happy to either prepare it myself, or to give something that can be bought. I live in a town where I can probably get unusual ingredients if necessary, or buy something ethnic.

Is there a food that meets these criterion? I'd love suggestions.

posted by not that girl to food & drink (12 comments total)

Criteria. Of course I meant criteria. Sigh.
posted by not that girl at 7:23 AM on March 3, 2008

Some nut-intensive snack might be nice. You can find these at gourmet food stores, or just buy some mixed nuts. They fill you up fast.

Of course some people are allergic to nuts, and they do have _some_ fat, but really, I think they're an excellent snack.
posted by amtho at 7:25 AM on March 3, 2008

individual bags of nuts?
posted by meeshell at 7:26 AM on March 3, 2008

Beef Jerky - you can make it yourself in an oven, or find really nice versions on the internet or locally. Just don't buy that stuff in bags at the store. If you make it yourself you can experiment with different seasonings - soy sauce based ones are a big favorite. It's pretty much 100% protein, can sit out forever, and is generally a big hit with all except vegetarians.
posted by true at 7:27 AM on March 3, 2008

This looks like something you might be interested in.
posted by watercarrier at 7:33 AM on March 3, 2008

you could make some spiced walnuts
posted by wayward vagabond at 7:37 AM on March 3, 2008

Off the top of my head:

Cheese plate with crackers

Antipasto plate, with cold cuts, olives, bits of preserved veg

Pates of various kinds with french bread

Stromboli (pizza rolled up with the crust as the tube)

7-layer dip with nacho chips (cheese and refried beans as your protein)
posted by LN at 7:45 AM on March 3, 2008

Send them a gift basket from here. The wasabi peas and chocolate covered espresso beans are amazing, and I haven't had any of their mixes that weren't really good.
posted by jtfowl0 at 8:01 AM on March 3, 2008

Cheese & salami slices with crackers and some fresh, grabbable fruit (e.g. grapes). Nom nom nom.
posted by tastybrains at 8:21 AM on March 3, 2008

Peanut brittle.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 9:49 AM on March 3, 2008

Every year my office buys a bunch of nice large fruit baskets and delivers them to our CPA friends. They love them because they generally rely on junk food to keep them going and don't have time for a sit down meal so fruit is grab and go with little mess.
posted by firetruckred at 10:00 AM on March 3, 2008

I had not thought of nuts, maybe because I'm not a nut-eater myself. But I think I'm going to do something that incorporates nuts. Thanks for the ideas.
posted by not that girl at 2:18 PM on March 4, 2008