Christmas day used to mean turkey, stuffing and pigs in blankets without question — but young adults aren’t treating it as gospel anymore. The survey from plant-based brand Dopsu shows a clear shift: many under-30s now see the classic festive plate as old hat, and a good chunk of them don’t even bother with turkey at all.

The poll of 1,500 people aged 18–30 found that almost six in ten think the traditional festive spread is out of date. Close to four in ten in that age group never eat turkey, plenty say Brussels sprouts are a non-starter, and more than a quarter would happily leave pigs in blankets in the supermarket. In short: the “must-have” Christmas day items aren’t must-haves anymore.

Instead, younger Brits are widening the menu. The research found that some will happily order in or cook what they actually want: pizza on Christmas day, a Chinese-style spread, a curry, or a fully meat-free meal. It’s not a rejection of Christmas — it’s a refusal to be bored by it.

Among those still planning to serve a traditional Christmas lunch, there’s a definite modern twist. Around one in five are switching to vegetarian stuffing, the same share will put vegetarian gravy on the table, and others are bringing in plant-based meat alternatives to sit alongside (or instead of) the roast.

Crucially, this isn’t only about taste. Nearly all of those surveyed said it’s important to cater for vegetarians and vegans over Christmas, and well over half said they’d be happy to eat a fully plant-based Christmas day lunch themselves.

Sustainability is creeping in too, with most respondents saying it should influence how we shop for the big day — and a noticeable number planning to make sure their ingredients are responsibly sourced. Some are even swapping out the booze for alcohol-free wine or beer on the day.

Abigail Flynn, Brand Manager at Dopsu, said: “This research is fascinating as it shows how our changing diets are affecting what we eat on one of the biggest food traditions of the year.

It’s interesting to see younger Brits opting to eat an entirely different meal this year. Many more who still plan to serve up the traditional roast will be adding a modern plant-based twist to it, which shows how people are flexing their shopping habits as times change.”

Traditional desserts aren’t getting an easy ride either. A noticeable slice of young Brits secretly don’t like mince pies, more than a quarter can’t stand Christmas pudding, and almost a quarter would rather skip Christmas cake altogether.

And for all the effort that goes into the big meal, the love affair is short. Just under a third of those asked said that by Boxing Day, they’ve had enough of festive food.

Christmas day, then, isn’t disappearing — it’s evolving. Less obligation, more choice.