Christmas dinner eaten elsewhere.

JIL

kazwookie said:

Goodness just ask them what they would like..................

Plate it and delivery, I would also add some fruit.

One of each couple has dementia, so its not that straight forward. 
I'm just looking for ideas of how to make it extra special. Rather than just a drop off which is what we do with fish and chips on a Friday.

maman

Of course you want to make it special. Personally I wouldn't plate up as leftovers is one of the things I enjoy most at Christmas and I hate sprouts. ☹️ Of course, it's different if all they can manage is to reheat a plate. 

The discussion reminds me of when I was a child, pre microwave days, and my dad's dinner was reheated on top of a saucepan of water because he got home from work too late to eat with us. 🤔

Floss

JIL said:
One of each couple has dementia, so its not that straight forward. 

But their partners will have preferences and would probably appreciate the question.

Crackers, chocs, cheese & biscuits, wine, LED candles.
Table gifts? Promise of a Zoom call for lighting your Christmas pudding? 

Happy_Kitties

JIL whatever do I think it is lovely what u are doing. So many of us are having to adapt this year. I think it will be gratefully appreciated  I know I would be happy!

Shropshirelass

This is a lovely practical idea. As two oldies OH and I would vote for plated up dinners, maybe gravy and custard separate ( or ice cream!). Dealing with a lot of warm dishes might prove stressful. We are far from our family, and I will be planning making Christmas dinner just for the two of us. Will prep over a few days in advance. Thank goodness for frozen sprouts!

JIL

Floss said:

JIL said:
One of each couple has dementia, so its not that straight forward. 

But their partners will have preferences and would probably appreciate the question.

Crackers, chocs, cheese & biscuits, wine, LED candles.
Table gifts? Promise of a Zoom call for lighting your Christmas pudding? 

They are just genuinely grateful. Everytime they have been at Christmas, (or any other time) theres always been a choice. 
I and husband will still do our Christmas food and will cater for us and children and two partners. So I'm hoping that we can cook once, feed 12 in three different homes.
Zoom isnt something we can do, no wifi and would be great if it were possible.

greenbee

@JIL - after lockdown it might be worth getting them both on broadband and setting them up with FB portal. It works with FB messenger, WhatsApp and now zoom as well. It’s ideal for older, non-technical people as it only does video calls. You can get a stand-alone version, or one that connects to the TV using HDMI. Broadband will also come in handy if you want to add tech that will help them stay at home at some point in the future.

SootySweep1

Hi
For me it depends how you normally serve & how they like to eat & how capable they are. Personally I stick serving dishes in the middle of the table & everyone helps themselves. So I'd send round a dish of veg, potatoes, turkey + stuffing & gravy. They can plate up what they like.
The foil trays you can get are great & allow you to finish things in the oven, soggy roast potatoes aren't nice !
Jen

JIL

greenbee said:

@JIL - after lockdown it might be worth getting them both on broadband and setting them up with FB portal. It works with FB messenger, WhatsApp and now zoom as well. It’s ideal for older, non-technical people as it only does video calls. You can get a stand-alone version, or one that connects to the TV using HDMI. Broadband will also come in handy if you want to add tech that will help them stay at home at some point in the future.

Thanks, will look into it. 

Apintplease

Pop down to Poundland and get the foil or plastic take away dishes with lids. Im sure the environment can cope - ask them to save the dishes for reuse 

Plastic for the micro - the veg and meats - foil for the oven, stuffing , roasties and pigs in blankets

So turkey and ham sliced in one dish, carrots and peas in another, cauliflower and sprouts in another. The roasties etc in the foil to go into the oven. I'd put a wee splash of water in with the meat, it will cause steam and heat the meat quicker without drying out. Maybe a small flask with gravy if you are scared of them heating that up - it can give an awful scald

Add the crackers, some mince pies, cheese and biscuits , bottle of wine, after dinner mints

My mum is the same age as your olds and whilst she does still enjoy her meals, she has become a picker, eats around the things she's never been fussed on so obviously my suggestions above are from my own experience of mum eating. She hates to see a pile of food on her plate and would rather serve herself and then go back again if she wants to. if the food is on the plate, it ends up in the bin because no matter how small a portion I think Im giving, its too much for her to face

But like all olds, she likes her sweet treats and theres always room for a slice of cake when a sprout is going to see her off