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Elevate Your Holiday Table: Nourishing Food, Herbal Libations & Intentional Rituals for the Season

Elevate Your Holiday Table: Nourishing Food, Herbal Libations & Intentional Rituals for the Season

Posted by Cheryl Cryer on Dec 16th 2025

The holiday season is about gathering, connection, and celebration. And while food and drink are often at the center of it all, they don’t have to leave us feeling inflamed, bloated, or depleted.

This year, let’s shift the focus. Less excess. More intention. More calm, comfort, and nourishment, with just as much beauty and joy.

With a little creativity and plant wisdom, your holiday table can support the body, soothe the nervous system, and still feel festive and abundant.

Start with Color, Freshness & Whole Foods

One of the simplest ways to elevate your holiday spread is by leaning into fresh, colorful, whole ingredients.

When planning your menu, consider gently reducing foods that commonly contribute to inflammation and digestive discomfort, such as:

  • Refined sugars
  • Highly processed grains
  • Trans fats and fried foods

Instead, focus on:

  • Seasonal fruits and vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup
  • Healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado oil, nuts, and seeds

This approach supports digestion, energy, and comfort—so everyone can truly enjoy the celebration.

First Things First: Thoughtful, Nourishing Appetizers

This vibrant, herb-infused Green Goddess Hummus recipe that pairs beautifully with fresh vegetables, seeded crackers, or warm flatbread and brings both flavor and nourishment to the table.

Ingredients:

          ¼ cup tahini 2 tablespoons chives or green onion
          ¼ cup lemon juice 1 large garlic clove chopped
          2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
          1/2 cup chopped parsley One (15 oz) can of chick peas, rinsed
          1/3 cup chopped tarragon or basil 1 to 2 tablespoons water, optional

 

Instructions:

  1. Combine the tahini and lemon juice to your food processor (or heavy duty blender). Process for 2 minutes, pausing to scrape the bowl as necessary. 
  2. Add olive oil, parsley, tarragon, chives, chopped garlic and salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice mixture. Process for another minute. 
  3. Add half of strained chickpeas and process for another minute. Scrape down the bowl, then add the remaining chickpeas. Process again until it is thick and smooth, approximately 2 minutes. (add 1-2 tablespoons of water if it is too thick) 
  4. Scrape the hummus into a small serving bowl. Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil on top and sprinkle with additional chopped herbs.

Herbal Sips for Connection, Calm & Celebration 

Rather than framing drinks as “mocktails” or alcohol alternatives, consider intentional herbal beverages crafted to support presence, connection, and the nervous system.

Herbal and botanical drinks:

  • Add ritual and beauty to gatherings
  • Invite everyone to participate
  • Support digestion, mood, and balance
  • Feel celebratory without excess

These drinks stand on their own, not as replacements, but as elevated, nourishing choices.

Seasonal Herbal Beverage Ideas

Pomegranate Rosemary Spritz
Pomegranate juice + soda water + fresh lime. Garnish with rosemary and pomegranate arils.

Spiced Apple Herbal Fizz
Unfiltered apple cider + ginger beer + cinnamon. Garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick

A Festive Botanical Punch (Make-Ahead Friendly)

This infused punch is perfect for gatherings because it:

  • Can be made in advance
  • Allows flavors to deepen naturally
  • Looks stunning on the table

Ingredients:

           4 cups cranberry juice 1 apple, thinly sliced
           2 cups pomegranate juice 1 pear, thinly sliced
           2 cups apple cider, unfiltered            1/2 cup fresh cranberries
           1 cup sparkling water for fizz 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
           1 orange, thinly sliced 2 cinnamon sticks
           1 lemon, thinly sliced A few sprigs of fresh rosemary, for garnish
           1 lime, thinly sliced

Instructions:

  1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, and apple cider. 
  2. Add the sliced orange, lemon, lime, apple, and pear to the mixture. Toss in the cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and cinnamon sticks. 
  3. Let the sangria sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight if possible) to allow the flavors to blend. 
  4. Just before serving, stir in the sparkling water for a touch of fizz. 
  5. Pour into glasses, garnish with fresh rosemary, and serve chilled. 

Note: Makes approximately 8 servings. This sangria can be made a day in advance and will taste even better as the flavors infuse! Just add the sparkling water right before serving.

Elevate the Experience with Botanicals & Adaptogens

The holidays can be an opportunity to explore gentle botanicals and adaptogens that promote calm, connection, and ease.

Options may include:

  • CBD, Delta-9 THC or other hemp extracts for nervous system support and balance
  • Kava for relaxation and social ease
  • Adaptogenic herbs that support resilience during busy seasons

These ingredients are best used intentionally, in clearly labeled offerings, and always with respect for individual preferences and sensitivities.

Important Considerations

  • Start low and keep servings consistent
  • Clearly label any infused foods or beverages
  • Keep all botanicals safely stored away from children and pets

Education, transparency, and choice are key to creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

Thoughtful Additions for Your Beverage Bar

You can create a small “herbal beverage station” that allows guests to customize their experience.

Examples include:

  • Flavorless hemp extracts for easy integration
  • Botanical spirits and sodas crafted without alcohol
  • Herbal concentrates and syrups

    Add to your Beverage Bar - Healthy & Clean Cannabis Products We Love

    Flipside Cannabis Spirit is a craft cannabis spirit that provides an uplifting way to experience N/A. You will love this hemp-derived, THC infused, distilled, zero calories & zero sugar spirit. 

    The flavor is complex, herbal, enigmatic and a perfect one-to-one substitute for alcohol. Handcrafted in small batches by Goodland Extracts in Milwaukee Wisconsin and available  online and in shop.

    CBD Isolate Drops is a flavorless and odorless way to add CBD to your offerings. All the benefits of CBD without the hempy taste. Use a 1/4 dropperful (8.25mg) per serving. Also available in full spectrum and Delta9 THC. Available online and in shop.

    Cherry Pie High Soda, is another winner from Goodland Extracts for a delicious and all-natural boost to your mocktails. Crafted in small batches, this refreshing beverage is made with organic Montmorency cherries, real vanilla beans, a dash of cinnamon, and a splash of fresh lemon juice. It’s a truly unique and memorable treat. One can contains 10mg of naturally found (botanical) Delta 9 THC, zero synthetics. Suggested use for holiday serving: one can for four drinks giving each 2.5mg THC.  Available in a single can or 4 pack in shop. DM for shipping this and many more options.

    Sweet Treats with Intention

    Made desserts more mindful with gluten-free options, darker cacao, and intentional portions allow guests to enjoy sweetness without overwhelm.

    No holiday table is complete with a selection of sweet treats and delicious deserts. Amp up this box brownie recipe to add a little fun. We love the Krusteaz brand for this gluten free option. 

    Ingredients:

          2 eggs 1 teaspoon espresso powder
          1/3 cup milk or milk substitute 1 Krusteaz Gluten Free Brownie mix
          1/2 cup unsalted butter                     80mg CBD, optional (could also use THC)
          1/4 cup cacao powder

     

    Instructions: 

    1. Preheat oven to 325ºF and line a 8x8" square pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. 
    2. Combine eggs, melted butter, milk and CBD oil in a mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer for about a minute. 
    3. Add brownie mix, cocoa powder and espresso powder and beat for another minute or until fully mixed. 
    4. Pour brownie batter into prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. 
    5. Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
    6. Once cool, slice and serve. 

    *Adjust cannabinoids as needed remembering that a lower dose is better when people are grazing. Note: we used the 5000mg/30ml full spectrum CBD oil for infusing and cooking due to the concentration, which would be 0.5ml per batch. For lower concentrated oils, do not use more than 3ml of oil per batch or or adjust the liquids accordingly.

    Bringing It All Together

    Your holiday table can be:

    • Beautiful
    • Nourishing
    • Grounded
    • And deeply enjoyable

    By choosing fresh ingredients, intentional beverages, and plant wisdom, you’re creating more than a meal. You’re creating an experience that supports connection and well-being.

    Wishing you a season filled with warmth, presence, and ease.

    With care,
    Cheryl “CryBaby” Cryer

    !