Christmas dinner for one

[Twtch]

What do other alone at Christmasers have for the main dinner? Looking for some ideas!

Christmas Eve I will probably have a takeaway
And Boxing Day I will probably pick at nice things from the fridge

I know I can have whatever I fancy, but I'd still like it to be Christmassy but without a mass of leftovers and stuck in the kitchen all day.

[ALemonyPea]

M&S do a really nice turkey dinner ready meal, and then you could get something nice for your starter, loads of fish dishes there if you like fish stuff, and they do gorgeous puds as well. Oh and a cheese board.

[Chrisinthemorning]

If it were me I would order an M&S seafood platter, but I know I'm unusual in that regard. With a few nice cheeses and a festive pud like an individual Christmas pud.

[Somerville]

For me and the kids 2 years ago when we weren't up to seeing anyone just after a bereavement, I M&S'ed it. Last year when I cooked again they kept wistfully mentioning the M&S versions.
Other supermarkets do swanky, small portions of all the traditional stuff, too.

If I was totally on my own at Christmas I'd mostly eat pudding and drink champagne I think. And enjoy doing a massive jigsaw without other people 'helping'.

[Twtch]

I didn't even think anyone did a Christmas ready meal! I should have thought of M&S to begin with!!

First Christmas alone without my Ex and DC are with him this year
First Christmas without my parents who live in Aus. now

Nobody I feel I could pop in to visit and no shelters nearby for volunteering etc.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed as how supposed to do Christmas alone!!

[Twtch]

Overwhelmed but also excited, no getting up early and mountains of mess to clear up

[FrannySalinger]

Do you enjoy cooking? I think I'd get myself a fillet steak and cook beef wellington for one. Dauphinois potatoes. Spinach. Alternatively, an M&S ready meal and a fuckload of prosecco. Hope you have a lovely day.

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

If you're near a big town, there's likely to be a soup kitchen or night shelter running on Christmas Day, if you were keen on volunteering somewhere. The Salvation Army might also have stuff going on.

Otherwise I'd go with an M&S meal, Christmas films, a nice walk somewhere, drinks and nibbles for the evening. What is your indulgence, hobby or passion? Maybe do that, or if not why not try something new (get a craft kit or some of those adult colouring books?). I taught myself to crochet several years go so I'd do that for the day, maybe a jigsaw too.

Hoping you have a lovely peaceful day.

[Somerville]

I suppose the trick is to find some things to do to make it feel special. Also to sound excited about those things in advance if your DC are of an age where they might worry about you being alone otherwise.

Go to midnight mass? Or church inn christmas morning? Or another way to get human contact would be to go out for a muddy walk - other walkers are always very friendly on Christmas Day and everyone you pass will wish you a happy Christmas.

As I said before, a big Christmas jigsaw. Or a new box set if you're more into that. And a great book and a long bath in the evening...

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

NowTV subscription (check for deals this weekend post Black Friday) or Netflix? A day of TV

[winterisnigh]

Hi OP, I also highly recommend m and s.
We usually cook however when we have done m and s on the odd occasion I have been impressed.


I think I would go and treat myself in there, you can get smaller portions of all main xmas food, pheasant, partridge, all dressed nicely, lobster? And some delicious cheese and treats.

And some films lined up, music on LOUD ( my dc never allow me this ) I would chanel teenager home alone

[winterisnigh]

Love frannys suggestion too, if you can cook

[ShowMePotatoSalad]

What about a whole poussin? Much more succulent that a turkey or larger chicken. I would buy a lovely dauphinoise potatoes to put in the oven and some pre-prepared veg. agree with a PP about prosecco. Have a great day x

[Twtch]

it's just the food I'm having trouble organising I can't decide, overwhelmed with choice!

I might just get a small ready cooked roast chicken and pretend it's a turkey!

The Christmas weekend will mostly consist of
getting up late,
coffee and christmas cake for breakfast
dog walked
Long baths with candles, fancy smellies
THE DREADED CHRISTMAS DAY MEAL!
Candles and reading with a big fancy box of chocolates
Cuddling with the dog, watching Netflix with more coffee & cake
Takeaway Xmas eve and cheese on Boxing Day

-- I have looked online (nothing anywhere near me) and asked at the church about volunteering who usually do a soup and sandwiches drop in for the homeless/elderly/alone, but it seems like nothing is happening this year as there was no demand

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Boo on the volunteering front but you seem to have plenty of ideas of things to fill your time. I'm sure you'll have a lovely day with a delicious meal

[Ifailed]

I will be roasting a pheasant with chestnut stuffing, roasted spuds and parsnips and maybe even a few sprouts. There will be enough meat and stuffing left over for boxing day to have with pickles etc.

Sainsbury's cognac TTD xmas pudding for one is too small, so I'll have to buy two!

[MadameJosephine]

I had Christmas Day alone once when DS was little, I was living an hour away from my family and I didn't drive. I went with a selection of lovely nibbles, an M&S ready meal, a whole tub of Haagen Daz and a bottle of bubbly. I spent the afternoon sleeping it off lok

[winterisnigh]

op what about one of those fancy chickens, the ones that Heston et al all seem to eat on xmas day - bresse blue or something

lots of nibbles sounds lovely too

[harderandharder2breathe]

The dog is great for company and getting you out for a walk, wish I had one!

I do a whole chicken (Asda do a range where you pierce the bag it comes in and bung it in the oven, easiest chicken ever), and trimmings. Things like pigs in blankets I'll buy a pack and have the leftovers Boxing Day, I try and cook them altogether though for ease. Stuffing out of a packet, again I'll cook it all and have leftovers but it's so cheap I won't feel bad if I don't eat it all. Veg I do carrots, parsnips and potatoes all roasted together, cheap and easy to buy only what I need, again don't feel guilty if I don't eat every single one. I'm debating sprouts, they're traditional but last year I forgot to cook them at all, I'll over ever have two or three, so might skip them this year.

I've made a Christmas cake for the first time, no idea where it's all going to go tbh I reckon I'll still be eating it at Easter. One portion Christmas puddings are in most supermarkets. And you can never have too many mince pies!

[CountFosco]

If you want to do a roast get a partridge. Christmassy but the right size for one person.

I'd love being able to watch all the lovely TV by myself with no interruptions. Bliss!

[Mistykit]

This is my 3rd Xmas in my own. I usually get party food from m&s so can graze on different flavours throughout the day. Xmas on your own is awesome.. chilled, full control of the tellybox, snuggles with pets, maybe a pamper bath etc ... total self I indulgence

[Potnoodlewilld0]

Just get pissed all day and have an early night?

[Ohyesiam]

Have you really looked into volunteering? I did Crisis at Christmas once at a tricky time in my life, and it was c one of my most awesome Christmases.Even after years of nursing, so being used caring for homeless people, it gave me a totally new perspective.

[idontlikealdi]

I'd have a really good steak. Followed by cheese.

Lots and lots of wine.

[CakeNinja]

Party food! It's my favourite 😂
I usually have a couple of my girl friends round in the lead up to Christmas which is a buffet night, made entirely of food which comes from a packet and shoved straight in the oven. Best night ever, but would be even better if I did it on my own so I didn't have to share the tempura prawns, or breaded mozzarella sticks!
I cook because I know it's better for my family than convenience food. But I hate it so much and would eat party food day and night if I could get away with it!

[KC225]

What are your neighbours like? How about inviting them over for Christmas morning for a sophisticated drinks hour. I know everyone is frantically busy but a glass of something and some light shop bought nibbles and Christmas music playing. Our old neighbours did this it was fun.