Christmas dinner for people who don’t like roasts?

She says that no one apart from her likes roasts !!!!!!!!!!!! Why cook a whole bluddy roast when she is the only one whole eats it ?? Cook off some meats maybe, shove em in the oven, job done. The rest can be picky bits.

We get up when we want, spoil the pets, open some presents, have brunch (salmon, eggs etc) with bubbles, go and see local family, come home, open some more presents, snack on charcuterie board or something similar, watch a film, nap, friends for games & karaoke in the evening, zero stress. Best Christmas 🎄 Go out to a restaurant with family/friends on Boxing Day. Why waste the most celebrated time of the year being a Stepford wife just because they did it in the 1950's. Relax, be cosy, have fun 👍

I wish your family were mine OP! In my family, I'm the one who doesn't like roast dinners and everyone else does. I'd love to not bother with a proper meal and just eat chocolate all day. What we usually do, is DH cooks a big roast dinner (with the help of the DCs these days), then I either eat it as well, but don't eat the meat (it's the meat I don't like), or I buy a takeaway of my choice the day before (Indian/Thai) and have that warmed up, while they eat their roast.

At the end of the day, Christmas to me is a day for doing whatever we want, including eating whatever we want, so I would have a good discussion with the family, and come to an agreement on what they're number 1 favourite meal, or selection of foods is, and serve that up.

And it's a no brainer that they should do it.

When it's just been me and my partner for Xmas, we have had a fancy M&S pie with some posh mash and gravy (partner is a total veg dodger so gets away with not eating veg on Xmas day).

My ex boyfriend used to have lasagne for Christmas Day. It was actually one of many things that made me rethink our whole relationship but someone who doesn’t like a roast potato just isn’t the man for me.

This is maybe going to sound harsh - but cooking a roast is stressful, and it can be a bit wearing to have one person stuck in the kitchen all day preparing a meal that other people don't really want. It never creates a good atmosphere - the person cooking feels underappreciated and the non-cooking people feel under pressure to eat a massive meal that they dont' want.

I know that sounds harsh but my memory of a lot of family Christmas days is my mother acting the martyr and going to a huge effort to cook a completely over the top meal that no-one actually wanted - it would have been a far better atmosphere if she had spent the time with us in the living room.

Op instead of playing the guessing game..let them do Xmas dinner and have something nice in reserve for yourself incase it's a pile of doo.👍

Last year we had Gambas pil pil starter and a very indulgent risotto that the kids always love. Best Christmas dinner ever - previous years we have gone out to an Indian restaurant with family then everyone can choose curry or roast. Nobody ever chooses the turkey.

Make yourself a nice little mini-roast, it won't take long. I always treated myself to a good little roast on the times I was just cooking for myself on Xmas Day.

Let them eat whatever crap they want, it won't take them long to open the packets or whatever.

^
I’d pop a roast for one in the air fryer. Potatoes, parsnips, stuffing, bit of meat if you like, Yorkshire, carrots. Boil some greens/microwave.

Order a curry for the others.

Mine asked for steak, home made chips, garlic potatoes, onions, mushrooms and asparagus.
Great success.
Doing it this year too with M&S carrots, red cabbage and spouts.

I think a spread sounds nice. Just choose all your favourite things! For me, that would be selection of lovely breads, baked Camembert, chutneys, nice sausages, etc

I have a DF who orders her favourite food from the local Indian takeaway early on Christmas Eve and reheats it all for lunch in Christmas Day.

Would that he an option?

I have a curry. Most Indian restaurants near me are open Xmas Day for takeaway and several open for sit in too. No prep, no cooking, no mess, and nicer than a roast (in my opinion).

Curry?
Pizza?
Lasagne?
Pringles & Chocolates?

We've had all these in the past as we are not fans of a Christmas Dinner.

I did mussels and chips one year. Took 20 minutes.

What's wrong with you people?! I love Christmas dinner. Have it approx every two weeks, all year round

I’ve done mussels followed by steak with roast potatoes and nice veg sides, and Vienetta or tiramisu for pudding a few times, and it’s felt fun and festive without being a huge amount of work.

Aw, it's such a shame they don't appreciate it and can't make the effort once a year to enjoy the tradition. It is a lot of prep, which is part of the course for the day to sit down to a feast.

Like Sunday roasts, they were a given, but now quite rare with us also.

You could make less and have a carvery/buffet to graze during the afternoon and evening? Or let them do it all as they wish. Xxx

Thank you very much, that saves a spoonful of Paxo in each pot! 👍

This is what we do. Full xmas dinner on xmas eve then leftovers and picky food on xmas day so I dont have to spend all day cooking and we can eat lots of chocolates too

I love a traditional Christmas lunch. OP if you like Christmas lunch I’d echo a PP who suggested cooking your Christmas lunch on Christmas Eve. Reheat on Christmas Day and let your children have turkey, ham, chipolatas etc with baguettes. You shouldn’t have to miss out on your favourites just because they won’t eat vegetables.

It sounds like they graze and snack all morning. That’s fine after lunch but why don’t you say they need to have breakfast, one chocolate bar or mince pie and then leave room for a lunch you all eat together at the same time. If they’re filling up on junk all morning no wonder they don’t want a decent lunch.

We're probably going g to have steak with pepper sauce. Sides will be chips, possibly peas or other veg.

@AnnaQuayInTheUk Christmas Day is always a bank holiday; it’s only a working day if you work in the police/a hospital/care home etc.

No one slaves in our house - it s fully attended family affair everyone has jobs even the guests!