Christmas dinner in 2024 no longer looks like it used to, at least in homes where Generation Z participates in the kitchen.
Britain’s annual festive meal is much more likely to feature plant-based and gluten-free dishes, with everything from mince pies and pigs in blankets enjoying a “woke” makeover to suit modern tastes.
According to new supermarket data generated by Ocado, 37 per cent of shoppers say they will avoid the famous turkey altogether this year, and 33 per cent of Generation Z say they will cook a Christmas duck instead.
Meanwhile, several shoppers have opted to incorporate new additions to the usual fare, such as roasted potatoes with coconut oil and gluten-free bread sauce.
This is in stark contrast to the usual celebration dinner of roast turkey, roast potatoes and all the usual trimmings of gravy and cranberry stuffing.
However, according to the online supermarket’s survey of 2,000 shoppers, Generation Z has yet to turn its back on Yorkshire puddings, with sales of the baked side soaring by a staggering 147 per cent this month.
Sharing this sentiment is a wave of content creators who have embraced tiktok to show how they will depart from the conventional Christmas dinner in 2024.
Food influencer Elly’s Plate from London showed off her ‘totally vegan’ maple pigs in blankets, which she says are so good they’ll ‘answer your prayers’.
Gen Z is creating substitutes for the traditional Christmas dinner (pictured: creator Elly Smart shares her vegan maple pigs wrapped in blankets)
He said the special recipe was for those who were “plant-based” and who feared “they wouldn’t be able to enjoy pigs in blankets” this Christmas.
“No nonsense or cocktail sticks needed,” she added as she encouraged viewers to try her recipe.
Among the ingredients he mentioned tempeh, rice paper and vegan sausages, as well as smoked paprika, agave nectar, balsamic vinegar and liquid smoke for the marinade.
According to Ocado, almost half of Generation Z (49 per cent) agree that their Christmas food store has changed a lot in recent years, while, in comparison, only 21 per cent of those aged 45 and over agrees that they have modified their purchases. list.
Elsewhere, influencers Freya and Charlie in Bristol revealed their “ultimate vegan Christmas dinner”, which they said was “perfect” for this special time of year.
“There’s no need to give up indulgent dishes just because you’re vegan,” they added.
in a video Accompanying the post, they served what appeared to be a delicious plate of meatless roasted nuts, meatless pigs in blankets, mashed potatoes and a selection of vegetables.
Meanwhile, one Londoner advised his fellow Gen Zers to “forget the classic turkey” and try his “foolproof festive duck recipe”.
According to Ocado, 33 per cent of Gen Z shoppers said they will cook duck this Christmas (pictured: a roast ‘festive duck’ on TikTok)
People are trying unconventional Christmas dinners with roast duck, gluten-free mince pies and vegan pigs in blankets. Pictured: Freya and Charlie’s vegan Christmas dinner.
Known as Mann’s Got Munch on tiktokshared instructions on how to make the “perfect holiday duck,” complete with caramelized skin, juicy meat, and a spicy orange-plum glaze.
In her 56-second video, she said: “I want to bring something a little special to the festive table… so here are all the steps you need to make the perfect festive duck.”
He said a crucial tip for making a “golden duck” was to make sure its skin was completely dry. “Prick it all over and season it well with salt,” he added.
She then advised viewers to leave it in the refrigerator overnight before baking it “on high heat” the next morning. He then instructed her to turn it halfway, reduce the temperature and drain the fat to “cut the skin.”
The creator topped it off with a festive glaze: a “sticky, spicy plum and orange situation” that should be “lathered” over the duck.
Issy Sedgwick, also in London, decided tiktok to share a plant-based Christmas dinner ‘with all the trimmings’ she’ll be cooking for herself and her partner this year.
He explained that although he had shared content for the past six years, it would be the first time he had featured his meatless Christmas roast.
Issy confessed that she liked to ‘keep things simple’ as there was nothing worse than spending all of Christmas Day in the kitchen.
Several consumers have chosen to incorporate new additions to the usual meal and have moved away from the typical roast chicken and roast turkey dinners.
The trend could be due to rising inflation, now that things are so dire that the average cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has risen 6.5 percent in just one year (file image)
Issy Sedgwick (pictured right, left), in London, took to TikTok to share a plant-based Christmas dinner featuring roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, turkey with carved tofu and agave butter glazed carrots .
Elly used tempeh, rice paper, and vegan sausage to create her vegan maple pigs in blankets.
She said that on the special day, she and her boyfriend would enjoy a “loading plate” of roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, turkey with sliced tofu, and agave butter glazed carrots.
They also planned to enjoy homemade eggless Yorkshire puddings, bacon with smoked tempeh and Brussels sprouts, which would be “swimming in meatless gravy”.
The change in attitude towards festive food could be due to the increase inflationNow that things are so terrible The average cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has increased by 6.5 percent. in just one year.
Laura Harricks, customer director at Ocado, said: “It seems Gen Z are having their Christmas cake and mixing it up, combining traditional festive dishes with new alternatives and modern twists.
‘While many of the Christmas items we know and love are still selling well, this data shows that younger shoppers are enjoying Christmas in their own way.
‘Whether you’re sticking with festive classics or looking for something a little different this Christmas, Ocado brings you all the traditional favourites, plus exciting innovations such as Picard’s chocolate wine and potato firs or even Mince Pie liqueur . ‘.