Ideas for food hamper for fussy DGPs?

[yawning801]

Last year I did a food hamper for my DGPs (83 and almost 87). I want to do it again this year, but without making everything like last year. The problem is... they are so fussy!

Things that are off the list:
Any alcohol whatsoever (teetotal),
Chocolate mints,
Any mints,
Pasta,
Nuts,
Coffee (they're laden down with it and hardly drink it at all),
Any teabags apart from their usual, so jasmine tea etc is a no-no,
Mince pies,
Biscuits,
Jams (DGF doesn't have them, DGM will have them from my parents).

Please help me think of small-ish and relatively luxurious things to put in a hamper (aka wicker basket with no lid!).

TIA x

Bump!

Difficult... am also doing hampers this year but mostly for people who eat everything...

how about a nice cordial, cheese, marmalade and another spread (lemon curd), chutney, a sauce they might like, some unusual herbs or spices?

Thank you Wizz - ideas noted!

Bump number 2!

Anyone else?

crackers ?!

i mean, not like a pack of TucBiscuits (though theyre amaaazing), but like, nicer, fancier ones? old people are hard to buy for

Have a look at the Fortnum and Mason website - I buy foodie presents from there - it is expensive but that means you don't have to find as many products that fit their requirements, and they might be impressed by the F&M name.

Some nice fudge or truffles, you can get cheapish bags from Thorntons.

I was going to suggest things they could have as light meals or snacks so nice crackers, a small cheese board, local mustard, relish, little tin of red salmon, or some nice smoked salmon from Scotland you can buy online, something for the makings of a nice breakfast on new years day/christmas day. A nice fruit cake, a Dundee cake perhaps. To be honest I would be going regional or British.

I usually have nice cheese and cold meats delivered to my brother for christmas and he has it with his partner on Hogmany.

This has reminded me of my granny who'd make up a tiny hamper for a few of the elderly people in her street for Christmas. It contained a small edam cheese, crackers, a small tin of a salmon and a miniature of whiskey.

I know you said its a food hamper, but could you add in 'food-related ' items such as mugs, coasters etc?

What about a newspaper from the year they were born. I think you just get the first page but it could be nice for them.

A CD of music from when they were courting.

A nice family picture.

Oat cakes.

Something like this

www.historic-newspapers.co.uk/original-newspapers/newspaper-titles/

Or maybe one of the day they were married. It would cost less.

Thank you everyone! Some interesting ideas here!

Bothams of Whitby do hampers with things like fruit cake, Wensleydale cheese and fruit breads, it might be worth looking at their website.

I see trickofthetail1 has beaten me to it but I was going to suggest cake based on what my aged Ps (83 and 86) seem to love. Betty's in Harrogate deliver a nice selection of hampers.

I sent my parents a hamper from m&s one Christmas, never sent any kind of hamper again after my mum's comments. "Well I won't be able to drink the wine or eat the fruit cake..." even though there were plenty of other items she could consume in it. I pointed out that she could take the wine to other people's homes and could offer the fruit cake to guests at her own. Her reply "I didn't think of that" made me think that obviously she hadn't thought how her comments sounded rude and a bit ungrateful.

In your position, I would buy items that you know they like and will eat/drink, and forget the luxury aspect. If there are any items in Christmas packaging like biscuits and chocolate, so much the better. You can tart up the filled basket with a nice ribbon and Christmas artificial foliage or a tree decoration.

Box of crackers (as in cheese crackers not Christmas crackers)
Mustard
Microwaveable Christmas puddings and pots of custard
Lemon curd
Biscuits
Old fashioned fudge and other soft sweet shop sweets
Stock cubes
Tinned fruit
Microwaveable syrup sponges etc

Have you considered a nicer version of their usual teabags. E.g. If they usually drink builders tea tgebmaybe some English breakfast? If they normally drink earl grey then tea pigs do an amazing oolong early grey etc. Do they like chutney? What about crackers for cheese? Any dried fruit? Or dried meats? What about a new salt/pepper grinder with salt and pepper?

Are you honestly sure they want a 'hamper' - or any sort of Christmas present or do you feel you 'ought' to buy them something?

My parents are in their late 80s and really, really don't want anything - I am honest with them and we don't exchange gifts but go out for a meal/theatre/experience (DM suggesting health farm next year ). They do receive presents from other family members but quite honestly 90% ends up going to the charity shop with all the 'luxury food items' donated to the local Food Bank. (Incidentally, our Food Bank is inundated with 'hamper type food gifts' every year after Christmas).

I never forget clearing out my grandmother's house after she died - years and years of what we had thought were 'carefully chosen' presents', just unopened and unwanted (Think years of out of date cakes/biscuits/chocolates .)

Why not have an honest chat with them, they might much prefer a lunch out with you or something like that?