NO Christmas lunch on Christmas Day!!!

[Staringatthetiles]

Has anyone ever done this and if so what was your alternative?

I don’t want to go into the reasons why but would love to hear if anyone opted out of cooking Christmas dinner especially any creative alternatives that will appeal to a family of 5 with 2 preteens.

Had Dominos one year (think we’d done the full dinner the day before).

Nice hot pizza, movie, opening presents. Bliss.

This year we are having Christmas dinner on Xmas eve and a curry feast on Xmas day with my ILs. I'm fed up of spending hours cooking on the day itself so I'm going to do it on a more relaxed and smaller basis. I'm having a rest on Xmas day and DH is in charge!

My sister has had a Chinese home delivery before

We spent the morning at the beach with the dogs then had our fave treat food for lunch. I had a baked camenbert and bread, he had a whole festive pork pie. Washed down with lots of wine and Xmas TV.

We always have the big meal on Xmas eve. Xmas day is relaxing, leftovers, chocolates, cheese etc.

I think we’re planning our Christmas dinner for Christmas Eve. It still won’t be a roast, just whatever we fancy as a nice meal.

Christmas will be toddler focused. DH is obsessed with ‘party food’ so I’ll do that as a lunch and something easy in the evening.

My vote would be for nice bread, cheeses, etc but as I’m pregnant I’m saving that for after the birth (when I can enjoy it with a glass of wine).

If I'm working again this year, I wont be having Xmas Dinner. I do 2-8 and I ate before my shift last year and was almost falling asleep on my shift I said I would skip it this year. The kids will have one with my mum after I've gone to work.

We always have a curry on Christmas Day.

As a kid we always had it on Xmas eve as my mum didn't want to spend the day cooking, then we just had leftovers and party food bits on Xmas day. Once I was old enough I started cooking it on Xmas day (probably aged 14-15) as it did feel a bit rubbish never having Xmas dinner on Xmas day every year and I didn't mind doing it. Now I've moved out my parents come to me and I still cook on Xmas day, but my attitude might change when I have kids!

I’ve done fillet steak with chips. It was great!

We had steak and home made chips one year. Was great.

We never have ‘Christmas lunch’ if by that you mean a roast. We kids have a ‘special’ meal of whatever we fancy! This year the DC have asked for Italian so will do a nice Italian feast!
We don’t eat roasts for the rest of the year we we’re not bothered by them, so definitely wouldn’t have one on Christmas Day.

What is the children’s favourite meal?

I don’t really understand moving the main meal to Christmas Eve (unless that’s usual). You just have the effort a different day?

I've heard Chinese takeaway is the usual alternative if opting out.

We order curries the night before

@maofteens

I've heard Chinese takeaway is the usual alternative if opting out.

Not for us, we’ve done a variety of different meals on Christmas Day but never Chinese takeaway.

We are having a party food buffet this year!

It's always me that cooks, and while I don't mind, exactly, it does mean most of my Christmas is spent in the kitchen - and by the time I do sit down, they're all snoozing on the sofa. Also, I hate turkey, so that's not a treat for me, and while I do a great roast beef dinner, we have that several times a year, so that's not special either.

But actually we all love lots of bits and pieces and just being able to help ourselves to what we fancy, so that's what we're having. And as pretty much anyone can shove party food in a bowl/in the oven, it's not all on me to provide it. I'm really looking forward to it.

We did it last year. I asked DD1 what she wanted, Spag bol and we had Christmas dinner on the 27th. It was so much more chilled.

Friends have pizza every year. Another friend had tapas last year. My parents had Indian takeaway a few years ago.

I couldn't do it. I do the lot with extra trimmings. But we all muck in, prep lots in advance and it's good fun. If I was stuck slaving away, I might feel differently.

DH is working over Christmas so we are having Christmas Dinner on Boxing Day. I haven’t got a plan for Christmas Day - it’ll be me the kids and my Dad. Probably a buffet / nibbles of some sort - I’ve ordered some stuff from M&S but it does need a bit more thought putting in to it.

Another curry goer here.

We’re flipping it this year. Buffet on Xmas day. With various things many people like. Main meal on Boxing Day.

We don’t have our winter meal on 25th Dec. So we have fish pie or curry or Thai or beans on toast —in pyjamas—.

@yoshiblue how is a "curry feast" easier than a roast dinner? That sounds like several curries and lots of cooking! Or do you get a takeaway?

We usually chuck a rib of beef or a brisket in the slow cooker overnight, some nice warm rolls and lovely picky bits on Christmas. I'm not wasting a day in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys themselves!!! Added bonus, DM and MIL refuse to visit because I dont do all the trimmings 🤣