Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

No Christmas dinner

252 replies

thelifeoofme · 23/12/2022 08:44

IM NOT COOKING Christmas dinner. I have twins & a 6 year old. There's no way im doing it. I've bought party food, pizzas, pigs in blankets, picky bits & I'll lay a spread on the table. We don't have a dining table either so it'll be a pick n mix - I've been called all sorts for this but I am SICK of spending Christmas Day in the kitchen when I should be with those kids.

Am I wrong or right? An awful mother?

Am I depriving my children of a Christmas dinner & that's whole dinner experience?

OP posts:
IvyDora · 23/12/2022 09:10

Nope you are not an awful mother at all! If I were hosting Xmas day I would be doing exactly the same and have literally spent every year actively encouraging my own mother to do this so she doesn't spend an age slogging away in the kitchen for something that gets demolished within 30 mins. She never does though as she feels she has to do a Christmas dinner.

WhatWouldHopperDo · 23/12/2022 09:10

My DS who is nearly 18 has never eaten a Christmas Dinner and I'm fairly sure he's not damaged!

Who is making you feel bad? None of their business. Loads of people do different things for Christmas lunch. A fair few people I know go out for or make a curry.

Your plans sounds lovely and your kids will have a fabulous day. Take no notice of the food police! Happy Christmas!

knittingaddict · 23/12/2022 09:11

I'm also wondering who is being horrible to you about this. Not your partner I hope.

AnotherCountryMummy · 23/12/2022 09:12

Sounds yummy and I'm sure the kids will love it and love spending more time with you 😃 Win win all round!

EmmaGrundyForPM · 23/12/2022 09:12

That sounds great to me. We will be doing a traditional Christmas Dinner but my favourite meal is on Boxing Day when we have baked potatoes, cold cuts, cheeses, salad. I'd much rather eat that than Christmas Dinner.
Have a lovely Christmas

Jinglebellrocks · 23/12/2022 09:13

We love Christmas Dinner in our family so party food just wouldn't be a suitable replacement. If you aren't bothered and prefer the party food you should go for it, it's your Christmas day and what ever makes you all happy, is the important thing.We have the party food Christmas eve which works great as means left overs for nibbles on Christmas night if needed.

I also have young children and don't spend all day in the kitchen. I prep everything on Christmas eve, doesnt take long and i wish i'd done it ages ago! I stand the fresh veg in cold water in the fridge over night. I roughly chopped some pots, part cook them and toss in tray with all the seasoning, duck fat etc and stick wrapped in fridge. I prep the pigs in blankets (reserving 2 slices of bacon) caramelise some onions, stick, halfed oranges, garlic, onions in a bowl and wrap in fridge. i cook the swede in microwave and mash, all ready.
On Christmas day I don't need to chop a thing. Turkey gets throw in with the bowl of garlic orange onion and seasoning thrown on and the bacon id kept aside from the pigs in blankets. Then I chuck in a bought pork sage and onion stuffing, the pigs in blankets I've made, Aunt Bessie's frozen parsnips with abit honey and black pepper added, the pre prepped roasts. The veg gets steamed in some hot water. The onions gently warmed and gravy sorted. It's no different to making a load of part food and sandwiches. I get to laze around with the dc and it's just a case of setting timer for the oven and veg.

mrsbitaly · 23/12/2022 09:15

I don't know why your being given a hard time about it. I think it's a fab idea christmas day is about what you all enjoy amd I'm sure the children would prefer picky stuff over a xmas dinner. If the weather was nicer we would be having a barbecue 🤣

TimBoothseyes · 23/12/2022 09:15

Tell whoever is being horrible to you that ,as is so often stated, "Christmas is for kids" you are doing exactly what the kids want this year and not forcing them to eat a dinner they'd rather not have.

Wanderingowl · 23/12/2022 09:21

Imo, Christmas dinner is the most stupid overrated dinner going. In the past, when food scarcity was the norm, people were often hungry or filled up on cheaper carbs like oats and potatoes. So saving up for this one amazing dinner with an abundance of meat and vegetables was an amazing treat. But now, most of us just eat what we want, when we want and a roast is kind of boring. I'd honestly far rather enchiladas, tuna pasta bake, shepherd's pie, casserole, a slow cooker curry. Something that requires almost no effort but is just richly flavoured and delicious.

If I didn't eat at my parents' house, I'd absolutely just make a simple, favourite meal for dinner instead of a boring, over complicated roast.

pelargoniums · 23/12/2022 09:21

::settles in for a good “‘roasts are easy’ vs ‘only if you’re cooking them wrong’” thread with a Christmas twist::

Who’s calling you all sorts OP, and perhaps they’d like to spend most of the day in the kitchen instead?

PositiveLife · 23/12/2022 09:22

Do what suits your family on Christmas day. If that's spending loads of time together and eating pizza, great.

I don't remember the last time I had turkey at Xmas and we have it later (like 5pm). I do a small bit of gammon. Dd1 has chips with it Xmas Grin

EezyOozy · 23/12/2022 09:23

We are going to my dads on Xmas day , 4 children under 6… he is in his 70s , we are all vegetarian. He insisted on hosting … we have agreed we will have nice sourdough pizzas and sides , cheese and crackers . The kids will eat it and nobody will be stressed . Also not enough seats - some of us will just sit in lounge. I really don’t care as long as it’s stress free!

liarliarshortsonfire · 23/12/2022 09:24

Who is calling you all sorts over this?

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 23/12/2022 09:24

Outtasteamandluck · 23/12/2022 09:05

'Picky bits' 😂

Mumsnet top 10 of most hated phrases

With good reason.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 23/12/2022 09:25

Who exactly is complaining about your plan?

Original poster
thelifeoofme · 23/12/2022 09:26

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 23/12/2022 09:25

Who exactly is complaining about your plan?

My family. They think I should have a traditional dinner

OP posts:
WoolyMammoth55 · 23/12/2022 09:27

OP, I'm doing this too this year. DC 5 and almost 2 find Xmas completely wonderful and wouldn't eat a bite of the dinner that I slaved over last year...

We did the roast yesterday with extended family visiting, on the 25th it'll be smoothies for brekkie, pizza for lunch and marshmallows strawberries dipped in chocolate fondue for 'dinner' :)

Do what works for you and your kids, not what the Xmas Nazis say has to be done! Hope it's lovely <3

Donna1001 · 23/12/2022 09:27

We’re doing exactly the same thing, OP.

Christmas dinner is nice, but better when someone else cooks it. Although my family will all help. I’d still need to be heavily involved & I just can’t be bothered this year.

my kids are older (12 & 15), but neither are bothered about Xmas dinner, & moving away from the old tradition was DH’s idea. I think that was because this is the first Christmas since his mum died, so he probably wants something very different.

SillyLittleBiscuit · 23/12/2022 09:27

If the person moaning lives in the sane house let them cook if they’re not happy with what’s on offer. If they don’t live there why even tell them the plan? Crack on with what you want to do and enjoy!

Ilovesandwiches · 23/12/2022 09:28

As a kid at that age I’d have much preferred that sort of dinner anyway! You’re not unreasonable

thenewduchessoflapland · 23/12/2022 09:30

I stopped doing Xmas dinner years ago;my family would rather eat pizza and have snacks whilst watching Christmas films.

My family would rather have my time than a roast dinner.

You can literally have a roast dinner any other day of the year;why are you expected to be a sacrificial lamb at Christmas;is it not your Christmas too?

I take it it's the husband kicking off.

LosingTheWill2022 · 23/12/2022 09:30

Who on earth is "calling you allsorts" on this? Madness. Do the day your way.

And to all the "roasts are the easiest meals you must be doing it wrong " brigade, try and get your head roundhead idea that not everyone feels the same.

I will be catering for my family of 12 people (not on the day itself) and will be doing curries which I will cook the day before. Far easier than cooking a roast dinner!

MarrymeKeanu · 23/12/2022 09:30

Children won’t be bothered.

I have 3 children all under 6 and no intention of spending a chunk of the day in the kitchen.

My Christmas dinner is Turkey crown cooked on Christmas Eve. Aunt Bessie roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds, frozen veg, ready made tray just need to cook pigs in blankets and same for stuffing and parsnips. it doesn’t have to all be freshly made, whatever works for you is fine.

Applesandpears23 · 23/12/2022 09:30

Good idea! We’re having full on Christmas Dinner on boxing day so we can still have it but Christmas Day can be child focused fun.

TinFoilHatty · 23/12/2022 09:31

Jinglebellrocks · 23/12/2022 09:13

We love Christmas Dinner in our family so party food just wouldn't be a suitable replacement. If you aren't bothered and prefer the party food you should go for it, it's your Christmas day and what ever makes you all happy, is the important thing.We have the party food Christmas eve which works great as means left overs for nibbles on Christmas night if needed.

I also have young children and don't spend all day in the kitchen. I prep everything on Christmas eve, doesnt take long and i wish i'd done it ages ago! I stand the fresh veg in cold water in the fridge over night. I roughly chopped some pots, part cook them and toss in tray with all the seasoning, duck fat etc and stick wrapped in fridge. I prep the pigs in blankets (reserving 2 slices of bacon) caramelise some onions, stick, halfed oranges, garlic, onions in a bowl and wrap in fridge. i cook the swede in microwave and mash, all ready.
On Christmas day I don't need to chop a thing. Turkey gets throw in with the bowl of garlic orange onion and seasoning thrown on and the bacon id kept aside from the pigs in blankets. Then I chuck in a bought pork sage and onion stuffing, the pigs in blankets I've made, Aunt Bessie's frozen parsnips with abit honey and black pepper added, the pre prepped roasts. The veg gets steamed in some hot water. The onions gently warmed and gravy sorted. It's no different to making a load of part food and sandwiches. I get to laze around with the dc and it's just a case of setting timer for the oven and veg.

Why do people throw and chuck food, I can't imagine the mess made by throwing a turkey crown into a bowl of chopped onion and orange.

OP you ARE having a Christmas Lunch, whoever is objecting can get lost.