What Time Did You Eat Xmas Lunch?

[londonscalling]

I was criticised (subtly) by an elderly relative for serving Christmas lunch so late yesterday.

By the time the teenagers got up, we opened presents, ate breakfast, had visitors in the morning and then cooked lunch, we didn't eat until 3pm.

Is that ridiculously late?

About 4pm. I couldn’t eat all that food any earlier. I normally only have a salad and some fruit during the week for lunch and it’s such a contrast. Was lovely. Happy New Year

Half six by the time we sat down. Starters were served as lunch at 2pm.

We had canapés at 1 when guests arrived and ate around 4, pudding at 6 then other guests arrived at 7, put out the cold cuts and cheeseboard etc at 9.
We never eat a big lunch so it was perfect for us.

Perhaps she wanted to watch the Queen’s speech!

No she didn't want to watch the Queen's speech as I offered to record it so she could watch it a little later. She said she wasn't bothered about seeing it. She doesn't have a medical condition that means she has to eat at a certain time. She wasn't hungry as I offered her some nibbles. Just being critical that we eat later than her!

We ate at 4.00 but only because dp opened the pub from 11-3 and then we reopened at 7.
Next year we will have the day without working!

We ate at 3. The kids got up at 6 and DP and I went back to bed at 10. We had some bacon rolls about mid day and decided 3 was probably about right for turkey. We had sticky toffee pudding for dessert at 7. And that was it

She doesn't have a medical condition that means she has to eat at a certain time.

No, I have no diagnosed medical condition, but I really struggle if I go more than 5 - 6 hours without food in the day. Exactly why I put it isn't just people with something like diabetes that struggle.

4.30. Always eat Xmas lunch at about this time

We have our starters for lunch 12-1pm
2nd course at 3pm
And our mains for dinner 5-6pm
Pudding, if we can manage, late evening.

All my friends have it together at like 2pm, I don't understand the rush to get it over with.

1pm here

1pm, thrn a buffet about 5/6pm

just after 3.30 I think.

Maybe it's more usual to eat at around 1pm? Probably my ex-inlaws would eat that early. We had a leisurely brunch and then started on the lunch prep.

We eat very early from 11:30 am and take ages. We are up at six and we get so hungry. Young children here though.

3pm in the end. I think we finished pudding around 6.

I must admit that if was invited for Christmas lunch, I wouldn't expect it to be served any later than 1.30. I'm not big on breakfast, so by 1.30 I'd be starving.

If I was invited to a Christmas supper, I'd have a light early lunch at home first, with an expectation that food would be served 6.30-8.30 pm.

I'd struggle with a meal at 3-4pm tbh, but as long as I'd been informed in advance, I'd arrange my other meals to suit, and it would be fine. I'd be pretty annoyed if I was invited to lunch and nothing came out til that time though!

2pm. Usually aim for that sort of time but sometimes it's later!

We usually have Christmas dinner around 5 - nobody would be ready for it at lunchtime, since we have a late brunch for the adults. This year it was more like 4.30 because of little Gdcs.

Such a rush for the cook to have it at normal lunchtime - and then you have to think about an evening meal, too. Stuff that for a game of soldiers.
IMO later is infinitely more civilised.

Agreed. We tend not to have breakfast and just go straight for mains at around 3-4pm. Then pudding anytime between 7-9pm. Perfect.

12.45 Aiming for 1pm but got it finished early which is just as well as Ds was literally hovering over the oven in a state of utter starvation having refused any food except stocking chocolate so as not to ruin lunch
I like it done and dusted early so I can lol around all afternoon/ evening

1.40pm. Would have been earlier but for the car breaking down.

About 2, I think

2 ish.
Breakfast, then some presents, then went out for a walk.
Started cooking at 11ish. Started serving up at 2, probably everyone was sitting down eating by 2.15.

3 and we have various children in daily from baby to teenager.

5pm here. We were at our son's. We usually aim for 3pm and eat about 5pm!

We think next year when we have the family to us, lots of children, we will try to eat lunch at lunch time so we have an evening! It's all very flexible though.