Thinking about what Christmas food and drink to have for the ultimate feast with family and friends must be one of the best things about this time of year.

Browsing the supermarkets for the latest sweet treats, party food boxes and cheese boards is one way to get into the mood for the festivities.

But making sure everyone has their favourites to tuck into can be a task in itself, from conventional desserts to classic meat platters.

However, one of the nation’s most loved TV chefs has said now could be the time to ditch an iconic Christmas food if it’s “gathering dust” on your table.

Nigella Lawson has explained why it’s okay to ditch some 16th-century traditions this year.

Nigella Lawson reveals why she is ditching this traditional Christmas food

Nigella told The Sunday Times: “Much as I love a slice of dense, damp Christmas cake, especially when eaten with a slice of strong, sharp cheese, I am surrounded by those who abominate dried fruit in all its seasonal manifestations.

"If no one in your family likes dried fruit, there's no point having a Christmas cake gathering dust or just being eaten on sufferance. If chocolate cake appeals more, go for it."

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Moving on with the times, Nigella has created a chocolate and raspberry ‘Winter Wonderland’ cake recipe on Ocado as an alternative, especially for her family – including her two grown-up children, Cosima and Bruno Diamond.

“It was made clear to me long ago that, in the interest of harmony in the home, I needed to introduce a new tradition that made us all happy, and this cake is it,” she explained.

“Tradition is a glorious thing at this time of year, but I’m all for embracing new Christmas rituals of our own.”

If you can’t stand the taste of Christmas cake then you are not alone, as one in five people who buy or bake a Christmas cake admit they “do not enjoy it themselves”, according to a survey of 2,000 people by online grocery shop Ocado.