Unwrapping the cost of your Christmas dinner

The festive spreads that fill our tables define the spirit of the season – a place to gather with loved ones, toast to the holidays, and enjoy our favourite foods. But this year, for many, affording Christmas dinner is more difficult than ever.

For a family of four, the cost of the beloved Christmas dinneris expected to be £31.71. This is a 1.3% rise on Christmas 2022. This cost included favourites like a frozen turkey, vegetables, and a Christmas pudding.

The surge in energy prices has increased the cost of food over the last year, leaving a lingering shadow over the holiday festivities.

Analysis from Assosia for the Grocer Magazine highlights that the star of the Christmas dinner – the turkey – is showing a particular spike in price this year.

Of the 21 frozen whole turkeys and turkey crowns analysed, 13 saw price increases of over 10% on average. The average cost per kg of turkey has surged by around 12%, reaching £7.51 per kg.

The 1.3% rise in the cost of a Christmas dinner to £31.71 this year may seem modest.

However, when comparing the "cheapest possible prices for a set basket" in 2022, Good Housekeeping priced a festive feast for eight people at £29.36 last year. This was a 35% increase from the £21.72 cost of the same items in 2021.

At Action for Children, we see the toll that food and energy costs are having on families across the UK. Children without a bed sleeping on the floor with just blankets. Families phoning us crying because they have no money to feed their children. Parents skipping means so that their children can eat.

Like so many families, Christmas was a difficult time for Paula and her grandson Nathan. Instead of bringing joy, the festivities added to their financial worries.

The extra food, treats, and Christmas presents were expenses that Paula couldn't afford.

• Right now, there are 4.2 million children in poverty in the UK.
• One in five UK children (2.6m) are living in material deprivation, going without the basics like warmth, fresh food, or a celebration this Christmas – with more than half (1.5 million) under 10.

So, it's no surprise that this year families are having to skip the comfort and joy of a homecooked Christmas dinner.

You could help give a child their very own Christmas dinner. How? By becoming a charity Secret Santa for a vulnerable child.

Last year, your help meant we could reach children like Jess. Thanks to your generosity, we gave Jess' mum vouchers for food and presents. This meant they could have a Christmas dinner and Sarah could afford to buy the Christmas gift Jess had always wanted - her very own yoghurt and ice cream maker.

It's easy to become a charity Secret Santa.

Simply visit our donation shop, choose your virtual gift, and donate to our Christmas appeal.

By becoming a charity Secret Santa, you could help put the magic back into Christmas for a vulnerable child. The kind of magic that lasts a lifetime.