How do you cope with Christmas?

[Claire Bear]

Hello All,

I was wondering with the festive season on its way, how do you cope at that time of the year, especially when its a particularly indulgent time for eating chocolatey and creamy things?

Claire :(

[jill]

It all depends on whether you want to suffer or not. I stick to what I know I can have but buy in extra chocolates and nibbles that are definetley lactose free. My mum has already made my christmas cake for me which she makes with pure soya margarine, and I tend to do my own baking if I want other sweet and savoury stuff. You can buy already prepared pastry which is made with vegetable margarine.

The one thing that I do miss is Quality Street, just because we always had a tin when I was growing up. I always make the Brandy/Rum Sauce on Christmas Day with my Soya Milk - nobody has ever complained, maybe because it has so much alcohol in! I then take some to Pauls parents on Boxing Day and warm it in the microwave, to have over my pudding.

Eating out on our works Christmas do is a bit limited in variety though, its always melon then the carvery, followed by the pudding with a lactase tablet and I don't eat the sauce. You get used to it and learn to go without the creamy stuff, sometimes just the sight of people tucking into gooey cream cakes makes me feel abit yukky.

I suppose I cope well really, particularly now i've got my rum truffles again from Aldi! and I haven't had any yet!

[goose]

:Doh my mum is well trained in dairfree xmas lunches, best thing aboot xmas is the dairfree chocolate hamper

[rebecca c]

My family are great so xmas dinner is always fine - not many treats for me as I dont do alcohol or chocolate either. Last year I made myself some lime creams with fresh lime juice - they were OK so I may make them again. Meringues with fresh fruit are also an essential, homemade - even better. If you can eat chocolate check out Nigella Lawsons chocolate meringue recipe in forever summer

Works dos are a nightmare but I go with the attitude I am going to be with people and have a nice time. I eat before I go and I dont begrudge the money becuase it is so nice to go out and socialise. People do notice and comment but really people dont think much about anyone but themselves and that can come in handy at these events becuase if I cant eat whats in front of me I pass it to my husband and nobody even sees.