To panic about needing to serve a liquid Xmas dinner

[Ciderapplevinegar]

A relative is in the unfortunate position of not being able to swallow solid food. They are currently living on soup and meal replacement drinks. However, I am hosting Xmas this year and really want them to be able to take part. But I'm so stressed!
Has anyone got any ideas of how I can feed them? They've said they are more than happy to bring their own "food", but I know they'd love to be able to join in. Might have to just be a nice meal rather than a Xmas one - possibly custardy trifle? Extra saucy moulles? Any other thoughts?!

The Covent Garden Soup people did a recipe book a few years ago called "Soup for All Seasons" and they had one called "Turkey and all the Trimmings" - it used Christmas Day leftovers to make a tasty smooth soup. You could make a portion or two of it from what you are already doing for the rest of your guests; that would save time and feel more inclusive. Here is the original recipe (the quantities shown make enough for 4):

850ml (30fl oz) turkey stock 100g (3½ oz) cooked turkey meat
2 small carrots, diced Half a small swede, diced
2 small parsnips, diced 1 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
TRIMMINGS: 8 stuffing balls 8 chipolatas wrapped in bacon

Heat the oil in a saucepan then sweat all the vegetables for 10 minutes without browning. Add the thyme and stock then cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the turkey and cook for a further 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, reheat the stuffing balls and the chipolatas wrapped in bacon until they are piping hot.

Blend the soup then reheat gently, adding the parsley and seasoning to taste. Pour the soup into bowls and serve with the trimmings on top.

The idea was that you float the stuffing balls and pigs-in-blankets in the soup like festive croutons - but you could always blend them with the soup or leave them out.

There's a modified online version here:

Christmas Dinner Soup - Modified Recipe - Recipezazz.com

Hope this helps.

This is what I would do.
Experiment in advance with texture, liquidise the hell out of it and thin it down as necessary. Add a bit of single cream or yoghurt and it’ll be delicious.
I hope you all have a lovely time together.

I came here to say this. It’s lovely that OP is so thoughtful. Trying to enhance the experience for people with strict dietary requirements can heighten their stress levels. It’s horrible to have to refuse something which has been prepared specifically. I would ask that person what can be done to prepare the food they bring.

Let them bring their own food, the last thing you want is something going wrong over Christmas when health services are even more depleted than usual and hospitals are filling up with people with severe viral illnesses that can complicate pre-existing conditions. Christmas and New Year are the absolute worse times to try anything different.
They can still feel included by having the Christmasy themed tableware, e.g crackers etc and be included in all other things you do on the day. Whatever is happening to them is happening and pretending it isn't won't change that.

Could they manage ice cream? You could leave it out to melt a bit. If so, there are Christmas pudding flavoured ice creams, pour some Bailey's over for a bit of extra luxury. Of course, I doubt they'd be the only one's scrambling for that. Better buy two tubs 😁

Make three different soups - make ahead and freeze:

Middle Eastern lemony lentil soup
Broccoli with Stilton soup
Thai chicken and coconut soup

so they’ll have a bit of choice and variety.

plus a trifle or blancmange with raspberry couli

Please don't serve liquified moulles...

Don’t be so ridiculous. A trifle isn’t liquid us it. Have you ever seen someone who can’t swallow food struggle with textures. I have and it’s scary.

Why are you speaking so rudely?

If someone has a medical condition that means they are unable to swallow and are on a liquid diet, then attempting to give them food with any solid lumps at all could be quite dangerous. You could liquidise their dinner into a puree or soup if they wanted this.

I imagine someone who knows the reality of having lived with someone who has such a medical condition realises how frightening it is, a real worry that someone could choke and some suggestions here are quite dangerous.

Have you got a nutribullet? If so you could zizz up some turkey/veg/spuds into a puree and then strain it.

TBH I think you should ask the family member, they know what they can cope with and would like, and if it's less stressful for them to bring their own then let them do it

I'll ask again: why put it so rudely?

Posters are sharing ideas out of kindness and from their own experiences. The one that stands out for me is the advice that the situation may well be very different by December. Probably safest to let your guest bring their own food, much as I understand your wish to be a good host. It really can be frightening for all concerned if something goes wrong.

This.

Some of the suggestions on here, although well meaning, really aren’t appropriate. At best many will cause embarrassment, at worst distress and possibly real danger if they attempt to eat out of politeness.

I didn’t read that as rude, just matter of fact 🤷🏼‍♀️

It wasn’t my post, I was just trying to suggest that what you may see as rudeness, is someone just expressing their horror at a dangerous suggestion.

I know it wasn't your post. I was asking how you can fail to read 'Don’t be so ridiculous' as rude, whatever the possible context.
If you speak to people like that in real life, and/or think it's OK for people to speak to you like that, I suppose that's up to you.

If you don't think 'Don’t be so ridiculous' is rude then I presume you either don't talk like that in real life, or you do and you just don't realise how you come across.

Could you portion up a Christmas dinner and liquidise it so they get the same flavours but in a soup form?

Liquid is liquid, not solid with extra sauce or custard. Honestly it's better for them to bring their own food, so they are sure it's safe. Maybe check if there's a special Christmassy drink they'd like?

Do you know what level of modification they need. Going too liquid can be as damaging as not liquid enough.

It's a risk. Let them bring their own food

My inlaws used to blitz the Christmas dinner to make it into shepherds' pie consistency. If that is still too thick you could do something like sweet potato soup which is very Christmassy and is easy to eat/swallow with zero lumps.

@Ciderapplevinegar my sister is an NHS dietitian, I can ask her for ideas if you’d like?

Please please double check that your guest is ok with whatever you were planning to serve them.

There is little worse, as a guest, than being presented with something the host has worked hard on, invested a lot of time and energy on... that you have to then decline because it isn't suitable. The pressure to just shut up and eat it is incredible, the guilt if you cannot is enormous.

Please do not do this to your guest.

Tell them youd like to make something - ask them exactly what parameters must be met. If they live nearby, perhaps do a trial run of some options. But do not present this as a nice surprise as the chances are it won't be.