mission of delivering toys around the world, visions of sugarplums are surely dancing in the heads of all good girls and boys on his list.

The letters have been written, the assurances of good behaviour made to his local representatives, and now the waiting is almost over.

How magical it all is! But what if, in addition to delivering toys, Santa took time to sit down at each child's dinner table and share a meal with them? What would the children feed him? That is the question Taste put to a group of five-year-olds at Gilbert Institute, and after much careful thought this is what they said: Chicken and French fries followed by vanilla pudding and red juice is what Howard Viera would serve, while Neil Martins thought chocolate cereal, orange juice and vanilla ice cream would be a nice combination.

Krystl Robinson-Assan also thought vanilla pudding would be ideal -- as a follow-up to bacon and pancakes. Ribena was her drink of choice.

"I would like Santa Claus to have a tuna fish sandwich and some cake with pineapple underneath and white icing all around it because it tastes nice,'' said Alexander Brangman . "Then I would give him some milk and cherry cookies.'' Spencer Field also liked the idea of sandwiches -- but for the reindeer. He thought baloney, cheese and ham would go down nicely. Santa, meanwhile, would find strawberries, bacon, Christmas cookies and "ham meat'' -- along with coffee, root beer and milk -- awaiting him.

Like Spencer, Brian Rodriguez thought Santa would enjoy bacon, but he'd put eggs with his. Then he'd move him on to potato and ham sandwiches, followed by a pear, Christmas cookies, apple juice and some candies.

For Chelsea Faith Hamilton taking care of the reindeer was important. Their rooftop menu would consist of apples and water while Santa tucked in to cookies and coffee.

Chocolate chip cookies for Santa were a favourite choice of several children.

Chloe Hourston would serve chocolate ice cream and egg nog with hers, while William DaSilva suggested cup cakes with sprinkles on top, as well as pancakes and jam. Perhaps in an effort not to ruin Santa's waistline further, he'd also include carrots and water.

Carrots and water also came up on Chloe Hourston 's menu -- but only for the reindeer.

Ashley Moore figured a colourful approach would be best. Thus, Santa could chomp on cookies made with "different coloured chocolate chips'', white ice cream, milk -- and red lipstick "for his mouth''! A "balanced diet'' was what Jasmine-Blaire Butterfield had in mind, so at her home old St. Nick would sit down to "chocolate meat with carrots, broccoli and potatoes'', followed by milk, vanilla cupcakes with sprinkles, vanilla ice cream, cherry cakes and a banana.

Not too dissimilar was David Ferreira 's menu of chocolate chip cookies, jam, white ice cream, a banana and an apple; and Stephanie Cordeiro 's menu of coconut chip cookies, grape juice, an orange and banana.

Tiago Martins would never see Santa go hungry, and thought variety would be the spice of life, so he rolled several meals into one. Thus, Santa would get crab meat, macaroni, broccoli, cheerios, orange juice, cookies with cherries, an orange and a banana -- in that order! Gingerbread was top of Evan Marshall 's list, to be followed by a "special'' sandwich of ham and cheese with butter and mustard. Dessert would be chocolate ice cream in a cone, with chocolate milk to wet Santa's whistle.

As a traditionalist, Thomas La Lone thought Santa should have a proper Christmas dinner of turkey, broccoli, gravy, mashed potatoes and carrots; with chocolate ice cream and milk to follow.

Turkey also caught Ashley Gillis' fancy. With it, she'd serve salad, macaroni, carrots and "loose corn.'' Dessert would be a vanilla cupcake with sprinkles and grape juice.

As for the reindeer -- forget it.

"No food for the reindeers,'' she said firmly. "I wouldn't give them any junk food 'cause they don't like it.'' "When in Bermuda, do as the Bermudians do'' reasoned Arian Franks. So at her table Santa would enjoy finger-lickin'-good fried chicken along with carrots, mashed potatoes and salad. There'd be cream pie for dessert, as well as chocolate cookies and orange juice.

Stephanie Correia wanted her chicken to be oven-cooked, along with the macaroni. And because "chocklit'' was her favourite flavour, she'd serve Santa chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake with "nice chocolate icing'', and crisp chocolate cookies. A big glass of grape juice would round out this tummy-stretcher.

Kristin Hamilton agreed with Arian and Stephanie -- sort of. She'd go for chicken too, but "on the leg''. Then there'd be turkey with meatballs, carrots, an apple and some milk, plus candy for dessert. And while Santa was feasting on that little lot, she'd take apples and milk up to the little prancers on the roof.

"Well, I'd give Santa a cup of tea and mashie 'tato with gravy,'' said Juian DeCouto . "There'd be water for the reindeers, carrots for Santa and the reindeers too, chocolate milk and 'nilla ice cream, and chocolate cupcakes 'cause they're my favourite. I like chocolate.'' LET'S EAT, SANTA CLAUS! -- Ice cream, milk, fruit and juice were among the items these five-year-olds would feed Santa if he were to share a meal with them. Although Santa wasn't saying what he really thought of the children's choices, there was no mistaking the amused twinkle in his eyes.