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Original poster

Can (should) children eat Christmas pudding?

103 replies

Dampfnudel · 12/12/2016 10:26

We are going to relatives for Christmas, and there will be Christmas pudding. They always drench it in brandy and set fire to it, plus it is home-made and I think there is a fair bit of alcohol in it too.

My 9 year old loves foods like that - dark and full of dried fruit. I know she'll want to eat a big portion of Christmas pudding, and I am worried about the alcohol content.

Am I being ridiculously over-protective? I am considering buying a mini size non-alcoholic pudding just for her.

This has never come up with any of the other children in the family (who are older), they always have ice cream or chocolate sundae or something instead because they don't like Christmas pudding. Last year I only let DD have a very small portion because I was concerned about the alcohol, and the rest of the family told me I was daft, and DD was upset.

Am I worrying about nothing, or is it too much alcohol?

OP posts:
rightsofwomen · 12/12/2016 15:32

twitter Ha ha, I honestly don't know, it was a bit chaotic this morning!

StubbleTurnips · 12/12/2016 15:33

It wouldn't fuss me. But then again I've just found out 3.5 yo DD has been feeding the Christmas cake whisky, and DH let's her lick the spoon after Hmm

She keeps telling me it makes the Christmas cake delicious.

MrsDustyBusty · 12/12/2016 15:38

I never even thought about the alcohol content - if there even is one after the cooking. Still, I ate it as a child every year. I'm not really a "never did me any harm" one, but in this instance I think I'll just stick to that.

Idiotxit · 12/12/2016 15:39

Obsidian What if your DS doesn't want to drink alcohol? If he's 'used to it' in 15 years time then aren't you potentially removing the opportunity for him to make his own choice about it?

I prefer to lead by example and have my DC grow up seeing adults drink wine and the odd beer occasionally, but responsibly and sensibly. Hopefully, like other things, they'll be influenced by that as well as other factors.

I wouldn't give any alcohol to a 3 year old, but that's just me.

Hiphopopotamus · 12/12/2016 15:43

Obsidian - I get the principle of what you're doing, but really, three years old?? I'm fairly sure the law is five.

ppeatfruit · 12/12/2016 15:44

The thing is dh puts so much brandy on the pudding it collects on the serving plate so it's 'sits' in it , it's not all burnt off.

Like Idiotxit I wouldn't give it to her , why not cut some off under it, before the brandy is thrown over it . You could put a bit of grape juice on it with custard for her.

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 15:46

Idiotxit, if he doesn't want it then he doesn't have to have it. Like I said in my post, "with his dinner if he wants it" (first paragraph second to last sentence). My husband is t-total, so it's not like he's only going to see alcohol being consumed as a celebratory drink as standard.

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 15:50

Hiphopopotamus, I'm not sure about the 5yo thing, but I know that parents can allow theirs children to have alcohol at home, and it's not like I'm giving it to him neat. He would get more out of a white wine sauce than the "spritzers" we let him have.

Iambubbles86 · 12/12/2016 15:51

Alcohol doesn't burn off- learnt that on here. Its a minimal amount that does, most stays. Google if u Dont believe me

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 12/12/2016 15:55

Not sure about the alcohol burning off! DH'S family make a very alcoholic pudding and I am tipsy every year after just a slice of pudding with a dollop of rocket fuel brandy sauce.

winefixeswhine · 12/12/2016 15:57

Wtf?! why would you give your THREE yr old watered down booze?? Even if it's a dribble why is it in any way necessary or something you'd even think of.

winefixeswhine · 12/12/2016 16:01

And it's illegal to give any alcohol to an under 5.

HeCantBeSerious · 12/12/2016 16:02

Haven't batted an eyelid at mine eating it from weaning (we have it all year round). Ditto whisky fruit cake and the odd sip of homemade beer.

winefixeswhine · 12/12/2016 16:02

G

Can (should) children eat Christmas pudding?
Can (should) children eat Christmas pudding?
ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 16:03

winefixeswhine - read the second paragraph of my first post. I've already answered that.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/12/2016 16:03

Any booze used to flame the pud will mostly have been burnt off. I do mine with 50/50 brandy and vodka, which seems to 'catch' more easily than brandy alone.

My homemade puds don't have any brandy in them - only brown ale. It's a very old recipe and always popular, even with people who don't usually like Christmas pudding. It's not as dense, dark and heavy as many.

ExcellentWorkThereMary · 12/12/2016 16:04

A 9yr old eating Christmas pudding is no issue. A 3yr old being fed alcohol is against the law and fairly worrying, IMO.

CatWithKittens · 12/12/2016 16:07

If you can persuade your relatives to warm the alcohol and then light it in the pan before pouring it over the pudding less alcohol will be absorbed into the pud and the figures I have seen suggest that at least 75% of the alcohol will have gone. Given that nobody uses a lot of brandy and it is poured over the whole thing I doubt whether anybody gets much from the flaming process. The actual pud is a different matter. I have seen it suggested that boiling/steaming it is much better for reducing "live alcohol" than microwaving - alcohol goes as a result of a combination of heat over time.

Idiotxit · 12/12/2016 16:11

Like I said in my post, "with his dinner if he wants it"

But he's three...a three year old doesn't 'want' alcohol!

I get your approach, but that kind of incremental thing really should start much, much later, as kids approach or enter their teens, in my view. Not three!

Plus as other's have said, it's also against the law.

You sound like a caring parent - I would honestly suggest that you reconsider this.

glitterazi · 12/12/2016 16:12

3 year old's drinking alcohol?! WTAF?! Just......why?! Honestly, this place is crazy sometimes.

amusedbush · 12/12/2016 16:15

I usually wait until they're back from school or just before bedtime.

Grin

As others have said, she'll be fine with Christmas pudding. My parents, beacons of parenting that they are, still laugh about the Christmas I was 13 where I was plied with bucks fizz by my unaware granny (she thought it was posh fanta!), got a bit sloshed and collapsed the fold-up chair with me in it. No wonder I’m not much of a drinker now Grin

Artandco · 12/12/2016 16:27

Dribble of wine with lemonade for 3 year old? I wouldn't even give mine lemonade at 3 years old

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 16:28

Dear people losing their marbles about what I let my 3yo drink,

Alcohol does not burn off when heated the way you seem to think it is.

A study by a team of researchers at the University of Idaho, Washington State University, and the US Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Data Laboratory calculated the percentage of alcohol remaining in a dish based on various cooking methods. The results are as follows:

alcohol added to boiling liquid and removed from heat: 85% alcohol retained
alcohol flamed: 75% alcohol retained
no heat, stored overnight: 70% alcohol retained
baked, 25 minutes, alcohol not stirred into mixture: 45% alcohol retained
baked/simmered, alcohol stirred into mixture: (see table)
Time (h) Alcohol retained
0.25 40%
0.57 35%
1.1 25%
1.6 20%
2.0 10%
2.6 5.0%

If you aren't going to lose your marbles over kiddies eating Christmas pudding then you don't get to lose them over dribbles of alcohol in water/lemonade.

The website advising that alcohol be treated like smoking or drugs is creating a false equivalency because there is no such thing as "responsible smoking" or "responsible cocane/heroin use".

I would rather my child not consider it a taboo.

There may not be "data to support responsible drinking as a result of the continental approach", however the reverse is also true. They don't have a binge drinking culture, nor do they have serious issues with alcohol related illnesses/addictions therefore allowing my child to consume less than 5% of a unit of alcohol once in a blue moon will not harm him.

Yours sincerely,
Someone who thinks before reacting

Original poster
Dampfnudel · 12/12/2016 16:28

My thread is trending! Grin.

I do like the idea of cutting her some from the middle before the alcohol is poured on, I will suggest that. They do steam it for hours, not microwave, so that is good.

I feel very reassured that most people would not think twice about it.

OP posts:
MrsMattBomer · 12/12/2016 16:33

Put it this way, there's probably more alcohol in mouthwash, liquid soap and air fresheners than they'll get from a portion of Christmas Pudding.

I only know this because DP once had to have a drugs test and it came up positive for traces of heroin! DP's never touched drugs in his life (outside of joints when we were teenagers), so we were baffled. Turned out DP had had a sandwich which had poppy seeds in the bread, which can flag up as heroin, as heroin is often made from the opium poppies that are also used for poppy seeds!

Anyway, they gave us a list of all the weird things that have drugs in them, as well as alcohol. Very eye-opening!