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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 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:

Juanbablo · 19/12/2019 14:47

Same as us. Except I don't have the meat. But luckily our dcs all really enjoy a roast dinner.

OhTheRoses · 19/12/2019 14:50

They will have the same as us just as they have at every mealtime since they were weaned. They have never had to eat anuthing they don't like but have been encpuraged to try new things. They are 24 and 21

superfandango · 19/12/2019 14:50

Don't sweat it, it's one day. Give them the bits of Christmas dinner they'll like, maybe a token potato or something for them to try and just let them eat what they'll eat. Surely they'll be getting enough carbs over the course of the day from all the other food?

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Christmas Events & celebrations Families General food

PickleSarnie · 19/12/2019 14:53

When mine were that age, I wish I’d just given them pudding to eat so that I could have enjoyed the meal I’d spent ages making only for them to whinge about it.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 19/12/2019 14:55

Same as us, they can leave whatever they don't want. No way would I be cooking pasta! Your children are at the perfect age to start trying new things in a relaxed way.

ifonly4 · 19/12/2019 15:08

Xmas dinner hasn't got to be the traditional roast potatoes and sprouts. There are variations of these which might could be acceptable as you as a family, ie new potatoes, mash, potato gratin and something like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans.

Either way, try and keep it easy for whoever is in charge of the kitchen. You can still ensure they eat plenty of healthy (as well as unhealthy treats) in the day by adding fruit to breakfast, veggie sticks to tea/evening buffet.

nowaypose · 19/12/2019 15:12

They have the same dinner as us and leave anything they don’t want.

MrsJBaptiste · 19/12/2019 15:16

Ours will have curry with us (we're one of the few families who are not thrilled by Sunday dinners and a roast at Christmas)

Otherwise I'm happy for them to eat what the hell they want, why force down vegetables on Christmas Day! Eat crap and enjoy 😉

BiddyPop · 19/12/2019 15:23

DD "doesn't like roasts" to quote herself. And in fairness, won't eat roast dinner in DGMs house and grumbles about it everywhere else picking out only a few bits. Hates slices of beef or lamb, grumpy about potatoes, picky about veg....

We know she will eat enough, in general. She has already talked about the roast turkey dinner being acceptable if there are some plain boiled carrots and maybe some corn available, (in addition to whatever other veg we do), and some mashed potato as well as roasties. And as we are cooking at home, and I can make her either cook those herself or at least do a lot of the prep, I am happy to facilitate.

But I am well used to turning around and having to do a different dinner totally, or a separate one for her, so if on the day she decides that she's not up for it after all, she can either have enough party food and cheese to fill her up, or make something herself.

We've gone through lots of food issues over the years, and as long as she will eat enough (as for years she was on the 1-4th centiles....so quite underweight), AND she will get involved in anything not already being done, I will be reasonably accommodating.

We put the veg and spuds on the table anyway, so it's up to her what she chooses, and if she doesn't want cauliflower cheese or sprouts with bacon (probably an adamant "No" in both cases), that's fine as long as she doesn't give out if others want some corn as well as the other things.

BiddyPop · 19/12/2019 15:43

My take on it is to pick your battles.

If DC will eat parts, give them those parts.

If they need some other bits to make it a sufficiently filling meal, maybe make some bits just for them but easy options - if you normally cook pasta properly, this might be a time for the microwave version to save time/energy/cooking pots.

The oven is on anyway - if they won't eat roasties, would they eat waffles or something instead?

Keep some veg plain - but let them take a small bit to try some of the fancy ones (or maybe put the flavoured butter or whatever on the side for people to add themselves). If they DO taste them, allow them to say they don't like it and leave the rest, as long as they eat their plain ones (proper serving size).

And ignore those who say "they must eat the turkey" - everyone is different with different tastes.

If you have guests for dinner, particularly any who might pass a comment, tell them in advance (as you're going into the table or similar) that there is plenty there for everyone and that everyone will have enough to eat, but that the DCs are allowed to not eat everything that is on the table because you want everyone to enjoy their dinner. (You could always add, if necessary, that everyone else will enjoy their meal far more if the DCs have enjoyed it too and aren't whinging or upset about being made to eat things they don't like - and you being their parents, have made this decision for them.).

Waitingforadulthood · 19/12/2019 16:01

Mine will eat most of the Christmas
Dinner- between them. One will just have veg and Yorkshire's, the other will try to just have meat and roast potatoes (she will be coerced into at least one veg)

I was a fussy child and well remember having cereal for Christmas dinner once. I'm not at all fussy now, so I've hope they'll each grow out of their fussiness in time, as I did

aSofaNearYou · 19/12/2019 16:09

Personally I'd just give them Chrismtas dinner, there's usually so much snacking on christmas that they won't get hungry and they'll grow to understand the tradition and join in more when they are mature enough.

Camomila · 19/12/2019 16:17

DS 3.5 will eat the chicken (will probably want ketchup!), maybe try a mini sausage bacon thing, lots of roast potatoes and some brocolli (we are having this instead of sprouts)
Will probably leave the carrots, parsnips and yorkshire puddings.

Original poster

CloudyVanilla · 19/12/2019 16:23

Thanks again for all the tips, it's useful to hear from those who have been there.

I usually wouldn't mind at all but my DD has started pre school and has come home with some very specific ideas about Christmas dinner - she is adamant about having Turkey, baby broccoli (?!) and Christmas pudding

I definitely don't want to disappoint her and want to encourage her joining in on the traditions, without putting her off. I serve Xmas dinner in a buffet style anyway so you're right they can just help themselves!

I will probably wack on some fresh pasta as well just because I know they will know they will love it and it will make the other elements go down better

OP posts:

merryhouse · 19/12/2019 16:24

you really don't need to worry about carbohydrates on Christmas Day!

BrieAndChilli · 19/12/2019 16:24

Luckily mine all love a roast dinner but our attitude for most meals since they were weaned is everyone has the same. People can leave bits they don’t like and I try and make sure there’s a good rotation of meals people like/serve unliked veg like mushrooms separately so people can add them if they want. We’ve never gone down the seperate meals for kids and adults malarkey. Especially for a big meal like this where everything is in the middle of the table and people can take what they want. I make sure there’s at least one veg each person likes and they can crack on with everything else to their liking

LER83 · 19/12/2019 16:24

Eldest 2 want sausage rolls, which my dad said he will home make for them. Then they can have whatever veg they want. Not sure why eldest is not eating the roast beef as he usually loves it! Youngest has autism so will give him one of the meals I know he will eat, prob macaroni cheese. Whilst I would normally get them to eat what we have, can't be dealing with an argument/tears on christmas day!

bookmum08 · 19/12/2019 16:33

As a child I had sausages and mash. I don't like roast dinner. Never have. Never will. As a grown up now I usually have a microwave meal (husband does a roast for everyone else). I am thinking this year I might go posh and have a M+S one.
I have always loved Christmas tea. Sausage rolls, fresh bread with proper butter, loads of tomatoes (I love tomatoes), trifle, cake. Mmm yummy.

BaubleTheLumpOfCoal · 19/12/2019 17:52

My DD (4yo) will be having a proper christmas dinner like everyone else.
She's recently become very good with trying whatever is put in front of her - so she'll eat the stuff she likes and leave the stuff she doesn't!

IHaveBrilloHair · 19/12/2019 21:37

I've always made us the same, the only bit Dd doesn't like is the sprouts, but she has to eat one, she's 18 now and still eats one, its a joke between us now.
Im not doing the traditional roast this year, but Dd has demanded asked for her favourite stuffing that is made with chicken livers.

Topbird29 · 19/12/2019 21:44

Ww have a 7 3/4 and 5 1/2 year old. Both will have most things on their plate, but will prob eat as pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puds (pre made aunt beasties for ease), steamed carrot and broccoli, and a roast spud they'll be happy. They may eat some turkey I'd lucky. Won't bother putting the extras like sprouts or parsnips on their plates! And pudding will be a cadburys reindeer cake - not really interested in xmas pudding yet! Still eat at about 1.30, bit for morning nibbles we found breaded prawns go down well. The main thing is not to get too stressed about it - they just get distracted by crackers, family, presents so mag be too excited to eat much anyway. Just offer some fruit as a snack later and sneak bits into them.

BackforGood · 19/12/2019 22:08

Mine have always had what we are having. There is enough there to fill themselves up, even if there were elements they weren't keen on. No way I'd be cooking pasta separately for them.

IHaveBrilloHair · 20/12/2019 00:43

I'd wonder why a child without SN can't find enough to eat on a Christmas dinner that they need anything different made for them.

Original poster

CloudyVanilla · 20/12/2019 01:45

@IHaveBrilloHair because they don't like the majority of the veg I'm doing nor the carb sources as I've already stated

I know people say there will be plenty of snacks which is fine! But to avoid them feeling sick and grumpy I also want them to eat a proper meal and was just curious as to what others did, as last year DD's food went mostly untouched and she ate too many treats which made her feel not great.

Really not a big deal I thought

OP posts:

56Marshmallow · 20/12/2019 01:50

DD will have mash instead of roast potatoes. She will also skip the stuffing.

No parsnips, pigs in blankets or bread sauce for either child.

However, they'll eat roast turkey, Yorkshire's, potato (mash or roast), tonnes of carrots and peas and gravy.

I'm happy with that.

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