Nearly all our Christmas dinner is out of a packet. Tell me I am not a bad person…

[Deminism]

I am hosting this year. Just seven people. But I want to be present for the kids etc.

All the veg and gravy and stuffing are out of (posh) packets. All the meat is prepared so I just have to put in oven at right moment.

I know it is my gaff my rules, but tell me I am not being a dreadful host please.

Same here - can't be bothered with all the faff.
I don't feel like eating it if I have spent hours preparing it, I want to spend time with my family not standing in the kitchen.

Christmas day is about family and friends, not slaving in the kitchen.

@Deminism I’m 100% with you OP! Last year it was just me, DH and our new 6 week old baby. We wanted Christmas without the faff so I bought it all ready prepped from M&S, shoved it all in the oven in the trays that I bought it in and it tasted bloody great 👏🏼😊 and even better - there was barely any cleaning up to do! This year it’s me, DH and our 1 year old and we’ll be doing it exactly the same! I’d far rather we both spent our day enjoying our family time than slaving chopping and peeling 👍🏻😊

Christmas dinner is not a morality test, or a domestic science exam!

You're making your life easier and therefore more pleasant.

Christmas dinner can be a pizza or a pot noodle if needs be. It's about christmas spirit in whatever shape or form. Not potatos and gravy as lush as they are.

Yep, I'm doing the same. It would probably take hours to make from scratch and I'd rather just enjoy my day.

Don't worry - everyone will be fine and probably not notice.

I but everything from M&S for Christmas and parties etc and am teased about it but why give yourself a headache that's not necessary!

I've pre prepared stuff and stuck it in the freezer ready to go im gluten intolerant and it's quite frankly easier ive also bought a pre prepped turkey joint from Iceland

Why wouldn't I I dont need an Instagram ready meal I require nice food and good company

I cook from scratch most of the time but not at Christmas! Most of it comes from M and S and I will have some bits that I have made and frozen during the year. Everyone loves it . It's your day too and everyone has more fun when you aren't frazzled.
One tip I would pass on is to sit down with the boxes for ten minutes the day before and set timers on your IPad or similar if you have one. One for potatoes, one for parsnips etc. Then you just need to react when the timer goes off on the day rather than mentally juggle it all.

DH works in hospitality and has been cooking Christmas dinner (largely from scratch, including trimming sprouts) all month.

We cut a lot of corners for our own Christmas meal! Family time is much better.

I used to find going to my mil at Christmas stressful

She put such pressure on the cooking. Everything home made, numerous pudding choices etc. Half of it went to waste and she would be exhausted. She also expected me as the dil to help so I would miss playing with the kids

Of course I want to help when necessary but the point is it was unnecessary. So much pressure and waste

Now I do my own Christmas and we do have home cooked but we keep it simple and I buy a pudding and sauces etc. Kids love me having time to play and less stress

You’re fine!
When people invite me for a meal I’m grateful I don’t care if they cook from scratch or not. Just have a nice day that’s what is important

Good idea. More time to socialise with your guests and spend time with your kids. Much better than spending hours hidden away in the kitchen and missing out.

My only comment is that I bet your dinner is delicious!

If it’s M&S it will be better then homemade anyway

@DSGR

If it’s M&S it will be better then homemade anyway

Speak for yourself!

@DSGR

If it’s M&S it will be better then homemade anyway

I was once behind a mum and daughter (adult) at the M&S checkout idly watching their stuff chug along. It was everything for Christmas dinner but all prepared and ready for a quick reheat. I went from self righteously judging to thinking what a brilliant idea and why was I standing there with all the usual fresh food that would take ages. Taught me a valuable lesson in more ways than one.

I'm a 56-year-old woman and I've never cooked a Christmas dinner in my life. I think anyone who does any of it, packets or no packets, is a hero. What a faff and palaver.

Don't worry OP the only thing I cook from scratch on Christmas day is the roasties.

Every single year its frozen veg, frozen bird in a foil tin and instant gravy.

It's fine op. It will be delicious.

@MsGrumpytrousers

I'm a 56-year-old woman and I've never cooked a Christmas dinner in my life. I think anyone who does any of it, packets or no packets, is a hero. What a faff and palaver.

I second this. 32, have never cooked a Christmas dinner (never hosted) and if I was going to, it wouldn’t occur to me NOT to get one from a packet. I can’t believe anyone even thinks that’s a problem?!

The only thing that counts is taste.

As the years have passed, more and more of our Christmas dinner is out of a packet. When I was in my 30s everything came from Delia Smith’s Christmas book, now it’s mainly courtesy of Tesco.

@ferneytorro

Same here and has been for the past c12 years - from Tesco, Sainsburys, m and s, Aldi ,we like to vary it - oh I lie, for some reason my husband has brought real sprouts when we had frozen ones in the fridge - maniac.

Frozen sprouts, and carrots too, are revolting. Buy tiny sprouts, quick wash then cook them, easy peasy!

@MsGrumpytrousers

I'm a 56-year-old woman and I've never cooked a Christmas dinner in my life. I think anyone who does any of it, packets or no packets, is a hero. What a faff and palaver.

I can't understand why people get so uptight about Christmas lunch, it's a roast with a bigger chicken-like thing.