It may seem like Christmas is still a long way off, but the truth is that if it’s your turn to host the family and friends it’s getting to the time when you need to start planning. Top of the list will surely be what you’re going to serve for the all-important Christmas lunch.

These days the options are endless. Whether you want to cook a feast from scratch or buy a meal that needs little more than popping in the oven, the sky is the limit.

If you’re going the traditional route and are planning to cook up a turkey, goose or duck, it’s worth remembering that they will need to be ordered in advance. Although many high street stores and supermarkets offer this service, why not support local producers by visiting your butcher, farm shop or farmers’ market to pick up a freerange or organic bird?

Even for something more mundane, like a large rib of beef, you might need to place a special order with your butcher, so make sure to check in advance. Also, find out if there will be any vegetarians coming for lunch to avoid the embarrassment of serving up a meat feast they can’t join in on.

Once you’ve made the choice of meat, there are a few more technical issues to sort out. The most important of these is that your oven is large enough to fit the size of turkey or joint you intend cooking. A close second is that you have a roasting pan the appropriate size.

Next you will need to decide on the number of people you’ll be feeding and make a rough estimation of the size of bird or joint you’ll need.

If you opt for shopping up a storm, rather than cooking one up, make sure to check out the Christmas food ordering catalogue from your favourite store. It will have everything from stunning starters and delicious canapés to stuffed and beautifully presented birds, mouthwatering  meats, trimmings and veg galore, and a selection of desserts sure to please the most discerning of guests. All you need do is place your order in advance then plan to be cool, calm and collected when your Christmas guests arrive.