How to Throw the Ultimate Student Christmas Dinner

About the author: My name is Sophie Layton, and I’m an MA International Public & Political Communication and BSc Biology graduate from the University of Sheffield. I am currently the Managing Editor of WILD Magazine, Editor of Ed Fringe Review, and Newsletter Editor for the Essex International Jamboree, as well as former Arts & Theatre Editor of Forge Press. I am also the Digital Media Officer for the Student Publication Association. I am a keen thespian with the Sheffield University Theatre Company, with interests in culture, LGBTQ+ issues and political science.

Christmas comes but once a year, and celebrating with your new housemates before you all head home is a chance to spend quality time with your best university friends. But bringing together a cracking (no pun intended!) Christmas dinner is a tall order. Here’s how you can make it happen this holiday season!

Save the date! 📅

It may sound like a moot point, but saving the date is the most important part of House Christmas Dinner – the last thing you want is to do it on a day when half your house isn't free! Get together and select a date as soon as possible, and importantly, keep it free. Once everyone has a target they’re working towards, the rest becomes a lot easier!

Ho, ho, help….! 🚑

The last place you want to end up on Christmas Dinner Day is at the doctors or on your way to the local A&E, so find out early what everyone’s dietary requirements are. If you’ve been guessing up until now, this is a prime opportunity to find out for sure. Whether it’s allergies, preferences, religious or cultural requirements, or anything in between, working out what can and can’t be on the menu makes making said menu much easier (and less risky…).

A Christmas list 📋

With a date and allergies sorted out, it’s time to make a menu! Draw up a list of everything you want at your Christmas dinner, break down all you’ll need to make it, and importantly, get some other people to check it! It can be all too easy to forget something, so getting multiple people to check over it is key – plus, someone in the house may already have what you need! A few key things you may have forgotten: Seasoning Christmas crackers Dessert Drinks Dishes/trays

Shop ‘til you drop! 🛒

With your list in-hand, you now need to get all of your food! There are two key options here: you can either rally some support and head to the supermarket in-person, or potentially consider getting a food shop delivered to your house. Consider how many people you will be cooking for, and whether you will be able to carry all of it back with you. Remember, it may be a lot heavier than you imagine!

What shall I do? 🧑‍🍳

Before you reach Christmas Dinner Day, decide between everyone as to who will do what in order to help bring the day together. Maybe everyone’s going to chip in and do a part each? Maybe only a few people will be near the kitchen to prepare everything, but regardless, ensure these conversations are had ahead of time, or you’ll end up with six people preparing Brussels sprouts and no one cooking the turkey! It is also really important that people are clear on what they want to do and what they can do. Many people envisage themselves as Britain’s next MasterChef, but if this is the person who’s been living off of Pot Noodles for the last three months maybe don’t put them in charge of the roast.

Today’s the day! 🎉

When Christmas Dinner Day comes around, you should hopefully already have everything you need, a good plan, and all hands on deck to make it happen. Reliably, something will always go wrong, so be prepared to think on your feet. And if it’s not perfect, that’s okay! Remember, you’re a group of students looking to have a great day, if something goes awry, so be it! Between you, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out. Don’t forget to dress up, take lots of pictures, and laugh about the mistakes after your dinner’s all polished off!

As the sun goes down and you and your friends enter a food coma, be sure to celebrate the feat that you have all achieved bringing it together. Spend the evening with your new-found family, open your Secret Santa presents (put together with the help of UniHomes' Secret Santa guide, of course), reminisce about the semester you’ve had, and collectively do your very best to ignore the mountain of washing up…

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The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.