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Original poster

What are your DC having for Christmas Dinner?

64 replies

CloudyVanilla · 19/12/2019 11:35

Not sure what to give my 4 and 2 year old for Christmas dinner - I want them to have something kind of festive but something they will actually eat and enjoy, I don't want it to be a chore for them!

The good news is my DD does love roast Turkey so that's not a problem. But neither of them are keen on pretty much any of the other elements of Christmas dinner.

So far it's looking like turkey, mini sausages, peas, carrots and buttered pasta Confused but I know a few people who would say I should only give them Xmas dinner on the day to make it a tradition.

Are your DC eating something different, or is it worth just making one meal and letting them eat other food on the day?

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 19/12/2019 11:37

Mine just have Christmas dinner and can leave anything they don't want.

Jemimapuddleduk · 19/12/2019 11:37

My dd (6) will be eating Christmas dinner. Ds (5) will be having a bowl of baked beans. He has autism and it’s the only hot food he will eat.

LittleReindeer · 19/12/2019 11:39

I’m making Christmas Dinner but have no doubt that my DC will eat a few bites then shout for a biscuit. I wouldn’t faff about cooking extra stuff like pasta, there’s enough to do already.

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JacquesHammer · 19/12/2019 11:39

Just give them what they like. If that’s “ turkey, mini sausages, peas, carrots and buttered pasta” then do that.

Isn’t the point of enjoying a meal together, enjoying what they eat?

BearSoFair · 19/12/2019 11:40

DS1 had a stage of being VERY picky with food around 4 or 5, that year he had chicken nuggets, new potatoes, and tinned spaghetti while we had a proper roast, I decided it was better for him to be happy! If I'd tried to give him a roast he would have refused it all, even the chicken. There will be plenty of Christmas dinners they can enjoy in future years Smile

MerryDeath · 19/12/2019 11:42

whatever we have, like every meal.

KittenVsXmastree · 19/12/2019 11:46

Mine aren't keen on potatoes, so we will have some yorkshire puddings there but will have roast turkey, stuffing (pork and herb varieties), veg etc.

dameofdilemma · 19/12/2019 12:11

Dd will have veggie sausages (like her mum and dad), potatoes, carrots, broccoli and one tiny crumb of Brussel sprout.
She's 7 now but has had the same more or less since around age 4.

She's not big on gravy, stuffing or meat but as long as she eats some veg we don't mind.

OddshoesOddsocks · 19/12/2019 12:15

Ill do a full Xmas dinner and just dish out the elements they like, I won’t have sprouts, dd1 (8) won’t have parsnips and dd2 (4) will have a little of everything but will eat a Yorkshire pudding and pigs in blankets Grin

If that’s what they’ll eat then give it to them, there’s no sense making them miserable forcing them to eat something they don’t like

Original poster
CloudyVanilla · 19/12/2019 12:15

Perfect thank you, you are right I want them to enjoy it and they are little so will have plenty of years to graduate up to a proper Christmas dinner in future :)

OP posts:
marchingonwithmother · 19/12/2019 12:16

I wouldn't cook pasta on Christmas Day. Just give them the dinner and they leave what they don't want. I leave off anything really offensive like Brussels sprouts

WhoCaresWins01 · 19/12/2019 13:14

From weaning mine have always had Christmas dinner - they ate the elements they liked and left the rest, everyone happy!

Minormiracle · 19/12/2019 13:19

Pigs in blankets and buttered pasta. They'll be in heaven!

Invisimamma · 19/12/2019 13:26

Tesco do Christmas potato shapes (like potato smiles), luckily my dc will now eat most of xmas dinner but we have done these in the past and they have gone down well.

I do them melon for starter and yule log for desert.

They say currently unavailable online but I saw them in the freezer section at Tesco last week www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/289767957

Winterdaysarehere · 19/12/2019 13:28

Matalan do a great Xmas plate for dc with veggies on - and it's not plastic tat !! Luckily dc loves his veg anyway but it's so canny I had to get it. Reduced now too!!

Boomdog101 · 19/12/2019 13:30

13 year old is having pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and some carrots. Its christmas! He will probably have a lot of rubbish too! 1 day a year does no harm in my experience. When he was little we just showed him what was on offer and let him choose what went on his plate. Dont stress. They will be excited too which often meant not much dinner gets eaten. Have a lovely day.

PhantomErik · 19/12/2019 13:32

I think within reason give them whatever they will enjoy.

We're a vegetarian/vegan household & my dc will have a variety of nut roast, quorn roast & sausages rolls as their mains.

They all love roast potatoes, carrots & green beans but only 1 likes cauliflower cheese, none like sprouts.

I'll also do yorkshire puddings, corn on the cob & stuffing balls so everyone can have what they enjoy.

DD will have gravy, DS1 will have his dry & DS2 will have tomato sauce!

I did raw carrots for DS2 one year as he was going through a phase of hating cooked carrots.

Make the meal a happy experience!

ineedaholidaynow · 19/12/2019 13:33

What will you be eating OP? I assume peas and carrots will be on the menu for the adults too. Do they not eat potatoes of any sort or just not roasties, what about mash?

happypotamus · 19/12/2019 13:52

We are having Christmas at home for the first time. I made all 4 of us sit down together and discuss what we want to eat for all 3 meals and puddings and any snacks people want. I have DC and 8 and 5 and vegan DH. DC suggested a lot of puddings! DC and I will have a roast (probably not turkey), a mixture of everyone's favourite vegetables, mash and roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and yorkshire pudding. DH will get some sort of vegan alternative to roast meat, veg, potatoes, maybe vegan pigs in vegan blankets if he goes to Holland and Barrett to get them

Trooperslaneagain · 19/12/2019 13:54

Sausages and Daddy's roasties

and the bloody plate covered with tomato sauce

Original poster
CloudyVanilla · 19/12/2019 14:02

Thanks for the lovely ideas!

My 2 year old DS will eat pretty much anything but for their carbs, they are really not big on potatoes, they prefer pasta and rice.

Actually, peas would not be on the menu for mum and dad but I don't mind wacking a few in!

They are surprising in that they don't like breaded chicken or anything, only roasted proper chicken. They won't eat many potatoes unless they are little boiled chunks in a home made soup. I may also try some Yorkshire puddings too! And DD is desperate for some baby broccoli too, so pretty festive really, it's just the lack of potatoes putting me off really.

And aha yes to all the ketchup Xmas Grin

OP posts:
Fucck · 19/12/2019 14:06

Don't sweat it, give them whatever you feel like. My ds had a cheese sandwich one year when he was small and fussy.
His taste has matured a bit, he'll have roast potatoes, carrots and his pigs in blankets now!

runwithme · 19/12/2019 14:11

We do lamb and gammon with the trimmings so they just help themselves. They are 11 and 8

Hovverry · 19/12/2019 14:38

Our DC were never interested in Christmas dinner, having filled up on chocolates (a rare treat)
The dinner was there, they could take it or leave it. They never even looked at Christmas cake or pudding or mince pies. Most kids seem to dislike raisins and sultanas.

Itsashame · 19/12/2019 14:42

I’m making a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and my kids (5 and 10) will eat what they like from it.
I won’t mind if they leave the sprouts!

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