Light / toddler friendly Christmas Day lunch

[PeggyMoo]

As it’s likely to just be us this year, we are planning on sticking to our toddler’s usual meal times on Christmas Day - 12pm for lunch and 4/5pm for dinner - and will therefore eat our Christmas dinner at 4/5pm as midday is just too early for a full roast! We will then follow up with a cheese board and Christmas pudding etc. once DS is in bed.

But I’m stuck on what to have for lunch at midday. Originally I was thinking Christmas starters but a prawn cocktail isn’t going to cut it! I’ve looked at getting canapés but it doesn’t really work with only 3 of you as the packs are expensive and obviously intended to serve more people! My DS is also quite fussy.

Is anyone doing something similar? Or can you suggest some festive lunch ideas as pre-Christmas dinner Christmas dinner!

I think I would have soup with nice bread, or some rounds of fruit toast? Not too heavy.

Doesn't have to be "festive" food to feel Christmassy imo, you'll have just opened presents etc, then you can go for a walk before dinner. Sounds like the lowest stress timings for you which I fully endorse!

A mix board, watermelon, ham, crackers, cheese, relish, grapes!

We’re doing the same for us and toddler DS. Going to have Christmas dinner with him at 5pm.

We’ll have lunch with him at 11.45am or so- prawn cocktail and smoked salmon for us (so eating our starter early) and will probably do DS homemade minestrone- so he still has something special, warm and tasty but also something I know he’ll eat.

He eats what we eat usually, and does like fish, but don’t think he’d go for smoked salmon and it wouldn’t fill him up enough anyway!

Adults here will have a late brunch-y breakfast and no lunch as such, but canapés/nibbles (to mop up the Bucks Fizz) from about 2 until dinner at around 5. Small Gdcs will have breakfast and lunch at usual times - probably Nutella pancakes for breakfast and something v easy like pasta or fish fingers for lunch, and join adults for the big roast dinner at 5.

Cold meats/ crackers, salads, crudites, sandwiches.

I'd have soup and nice, buttered bread.

Sweet potato and butternut squash soup is lovely. Dash of creme fraiche and chilli flakes to finish it off.

Truthfully whatever they will eat!
Kids can be over excited on Christmas Day too many other things to interest them other than food.
We tend to end up with a late brunch / breakfast, but I don't get too excited about how much the kids eat.

We are doing exactly the same as you except lunch even earlier at about 10.30am, as your kids are up at 6am.

I am going to do a normal lunch, I might make English muffin "pizzas" as everyone loves those. Soup also sounds fab, my toddler probably won't like it though.

What about keeping it to a simple toddler lunch- sandwich, fruit, yoghurt; but cutting the sandwich into a shape using festive cutters?

Or I'd just do something simple like beans on toast.

We are going to do Christmas sandwiches so lots of things on offer for fillings: turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, Brie, side of roast spuds.

I'd just have picky bits and let him help him self to what ever he likes. Like posh party food but with some bits I know he'll eat, sausages etc and then loads of other other M&S Christmas delights!
We have a 2 year old and a buffet works really well for him as he eats more when he chooses his own plate.

We did similar last year and went with eggs royal. Toasted English muffin, hollandaise, wilted spinach, smoked salmon and poached egg. My toddler loves smoked salmon!

DS is 3 and I think we’re going to have a spicy butternut squash soup with some warm bread rolls or English muffins. He loves soup and bread.

I would do meats, cheeses, olives etc and good bread.

Scrambled egg and smoked salmon?

@movingonup20 we do the same!

Could you make it a brunch type meal so avocado and eggs or cream cheese and salmon on bagels or toast ...

What will the toddler eat?

Scrambled eggs with toast plus smoked salmon.
Kedgeree, perhaps made with salmon fillets.
Salmon & broccoli quiche