Christmas 3 - Dealing with the fuss pots

I've just been talking to my Upper sixth group (Rising 18, last year in school, for anyone who doesn't speak fluent English education) I asked them what they felt was the most important part of the Christmas meal. They each came up with a single idea then, as if somebody had flipped a switch they started to yell out random food words ("Pigs in blankets!!" "Stuffing...sooooo good!!!" "Parsnips gatta have parsnips!!!" "It is so all about the gravy" and so on) becoming more and more animated, shouting out their own feast ideas until I thought there might be a riot - It would make a change from them rioting about University fees.

I don't think that my students are that different from any other group of people at this time, everybody has a favourite bit of the meal and will defend it with a vigour bordering on the psychotic. The key to keeping yourself sane through this period is planning - If you have any fussy eaters coming to the feast, have the conversation about what they do and don't eat this evening - No don't let it ruin the weekend, pick up the phone now!