To ask if anyone else has NEVER cooked Christmas dinner

[OrtolanLBunting]

Or lunch depending on when you have the main meal.

I'm well into middle age but have never done it. Am happy to peel veg, set the table, clear away and wash up every single thing.

But cook it - never! wouldn't know where to start. And don't go saying it's just a Sunday roast cos I've never done one of those either.

Anyone else?

@sollenwir I can cook.....I just have zero interest in cooking a roast dinner or learning how because I don't like them.

I have only just started cooking christmad dinner for my family as my mum and dad used to do it every year, but now they are getting a bit older that has been passed onto me and my family and I'm more than happy to cook it

Same. I could cook one but not a fan of them nor think they’re worth the effort or mess. DH loves a roast and makes them but I’ll admit the mess he leaves behind makes me dislike them more every time.

I love cooking and do a lot of it. However, I have to take issue with that. It's never been easier in the UK to keep body and soul together and remain in reasonably good health without doing any real cooking. Ready meals, takeaways, convenience foods of all kinds - tins, packets, jars, frozen food. Microwaves, ordinary ovens, air friers, all make it really, really easy to heat food up quickly with no attention needed during the process. Even those trying to minimise UPF can do it with ease just by careful choices of ready-made or ready-to-eat food.

The life skill is knowing what you have to eat for good health and ensuring the food you buy is giving you all the essential nutrients.

I'm mid 60s and been married for 43 years. Never cooked A Christmas dinner as my husband always enjoyed doing it. I've always bought, written and distributed card, bought, wrapped and distributed presents (even for all of his family) done the decorations and bought all the food. It's worked out well for us.

I 54, don’t eat meat and I’m an absolute grinch regarding Christmas.

I love cooking but a roast dinner really isn’t one I enjoy so I’ve never cooked a Christmas dinner.

The best year for me was2021 when I was still covid positive and stayed home alone eating M&S party food all day. Bliss

Never. I'm veggie so do starters or pudding but never the main.

Well for starters

1. some people go out for a meal and no one cooks
2. not every parent cooking is elderly and
3. not everyone is cooking for 12-15

But then that's not really 'cooking', is it? I don't say I cooked when I put fish fingers and chips in the oven 😂

I'm 55 abd have never cooked Christmas Dinner. Before I married, my Mum always did it, once we had kids my husband did it.
In fact he does all the cooking! Kids are now grown up, so we're all eating out this Christmas!

I’m cooking it for the first time this year at the age of 53. Dh has done it every year for the last 28 years, and so I offered to give him a break not expecting him to take me up on the offer

No never in my life. Also never done a roast dinner.

We usually eat out on Christmas so that everyone can choose what they want for their meal, with so many different diets in our family cooking a roast dinner type meal would not suit everyone.

No, not far off 50 and no interest.
I spent Christmas 2020 on my own because of Covid and had one of my usual meals.
I'm vegetarian so maybe that's why I'm not mega interested in Christmas dinner.

I like all the cakes and chocolates...

Never have. We still go to my mom and dads. They're in their 60s now and I had my way a couple of years ago and forced them to allow us to go out for lunch. They won't allow it again. I am not a good cook and certainly can't cook in bulk. I can't afford to pay for everyone to go out for Christmas dinner but would be more than happy for each family to pay for themselves to go out. My mom makes an amazing Christmas lunch. It can't be equalled. But it is such a lot of work. I would much rather she didn't do it. I tidy everything up after as payment. Which I would much rather not do. We have a big family meal every week, so it's not as though we don't eat together often, we're ridiculously close. To me, a takeaway on the floor in the living room in our Christmas pyjamas is the dream. And then a Boxing Day buffet is my idea of heaven!

Me! When I lived at home my mum and brother did most of it and now DH does it.

I'm happy to give advice from a safe distance

Or not. It's not compulsory.

YABU for never having cooked a roast dinner, they are delicious and pretty easy to cook. Christmas Dinner cooking is usually shared in the house, just so nobody is stuck alone by themselves in the kitchen on Christmas day.
On the other hand, I don't like cooking a full English, because there are too many components to time properly for me. Roasts are much easier.

I do, or we wouldn't get one. I would LOVE someone else to do it, but it's usually only me, dd and elderly dm so it falls to me.

I live abroad so my elderly-ish parents can't come to me. I'd have to be cooking with their tools (some of which I can't use) and their not so clean pots, pans and stove and somehow taking over control of their kitchen. I don't see that happening at all and cooking a massive turkey as a vegetarian is just not gonna happen.

I don't demand a Christmas dinner from my parents either. I'd be happy with a cheese sandwich and some mince pies.

This absolutely blows my mind. I’m 61 and have cooked 43, yes 43 Christmas dinners!! No idea how you’ve got away with it, well done, I’m envious.

Me.

STBXH has cooked for me.

Now we're splitting I might not even bother. Christmas means both to me.

*Means nothing to me

I've never done it completely by myself; DH and I always do it together, often with help from other family. It's the same for Thanksgiving (I'm American) which is a much bigger production for us than Christmas dinner.

True, but sometimes there is nothing wrong with using a short cut or two.

I've done one for at least 40 years. It's one of the easier meals to cook.
TBH I thought when the old relatives had died and the kids grew up we wouldn't bother. No-one loves turkey really.
However my DC are now in their late 20s and protested strongly at any suggestion of change.