Holiday Traditions Reimagined: Nourishing Recipes for a Wheat-Free, Dairy-Free, Low-Sugar Season
I’ve always loved the tradition of the holidays — the familiar aromas, the recipes passed down from my mom, and the comforting meals we crave year after year. But as I discovered my wheat and dairy allergies and shifted toward lowering sugar and eating more intentionally, I had to reimagine the holiday dishes I loved most. These updated recipes — my Heritage Stuffing, Spinach Madeleine, Fresh Cranberry–Orange Jam, and Candida-Friendly Parsnip & Sweet Potato Mash — honor tradition while supporting my body through the Vata and Kapha seasons. With Ayurvedic spices, gluten-free swaps, and dairy-free options, these dishes are nourishing enough for everyday winter meals and festive enough for your holiday table.
Candida-Friendly Holiday Mash (Parsnip, White Sweet Potato & Yukon Gold Blend)
These mashed potatoes are my holiday staple when I want something creamy, comforting, and low in sugar. Instead of relying solely on Yukon golds, I blend parsnips and white sweet potatoes for a lighter, cleaner mash that still tastes rich and decadent. Grass-fed butter and coconut milk create the perfect smooth texture, while a touch of cinnamon or clove brings in warm holiday flavor. This candida-friendly mash pairs beautifully with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry jam — and no one ever realizes it’s healthier.
Fresh Cranberry–Orange Jam with Apple, Ginger & Cinnamon
This cranberry jam is my upgraded version of classic cranberry sauce — fresh, bright, and lightly sweet with oranges, apples, ginger, and cinnamon. The apple adds natural pectin, and a spoonful of Collagelatin gives the jam a beautiful, spoonable texture without tons of sugar. It’s the perfect balance of tart and cozy, and tastes incredible on turkey, gluten-free bread, muffins, crackers, or even swirled into yogurt. Simple, clean ingredients with so much holiday flavor.
Spinach Madeleine (Goat-Cheese, Gluten-Free, Cow’s Milk–Free)
Spinach Madeleine was the dish my family eagerly anticipated every Thanksgiving — creamy, comforting, and just spicy enough to feel special. My mom’s version used frozen spinach and traditional dairy, but over the years I transformed it into a lighter, cow’s-milk-free, gluten-free recipe made with fresh spinach, goat cheeses, and a silky coconut-milk béchamel. This modernized Spinach Madeleine is rich without being heavy, beautifully flavored with shallots and jalapeño, and perfect as a holiday side dish or a cozy treat served with gluten-free bread and veggies.
Lisa’s Heritage Stuffing (Gluten-Free, CCF-Spiced, Optional Sausage or Oysters)
This is the stuffing that has become the heart of my Thanksgiving table — a blend of my mom’s classic recipe and the Ayurvedic wisdom I’ve woven into my cooking over the years. With fresh fennel, cumin, and coriander creating a natural CCF digestive blend, and grounding root vegetables that bring warmth and texture, this gluten-free stuffing is deeply nourishing and endlessly customizable. Whether you make it with sage sausage, oysters, or keep it vegetarian, this dish brings comfort, balance, and tradition to the holiday table.
Almond Butter Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten-Free)
These soft and chewy Gluten-Free Almond Butter Thumbprint Cookies are a delicious twist on a classic holiday favorite. Made with a custom gluten-free flour blend and topped with dark chocolate kisses, they bake up perfectly tender and full of flavor. Perfect for gifting, gatherings, or a cozy afternoon treat.
A Thousand Layers of Memory: My First Gluten-Free Croissants
Baking has always been alchemy for me—flour, butter, and patience transforming into something sacred. After years away, I returned to my roots to make gluten-free croissants inspired by Let Them Eat GF Cake. What began as a two-week prep turned into a journey of memory, healing, and the delicious art of coming home to myself.
Autumn Foods: Nourishing Balance in Vata Season
As the air turns crisp and the leaves surrender their vibrant colors to the earth, our bodies, too, feel the shift of autumn. In Ayurveda, fall is governed by Vata dosha, marked by qualities of dryness, lightness, coldness, and movement. To stay grounded and resilient in this season of transition, we must look to foods that bring warmth, moisture, stability, and nourishment.
This is the wisdom of autumn eating: aligning with the season so your body feels supported, not depleted.
Fall Pumpkin Turmeric Buttered Coffee (Ayurvedic Bulletproof Coffee)
Autumn is the season of crisp mornings, falling leaves, and the airy, cool energy of Vata dosha. As the body transitions into fall, we crave warm, grounding, and nourishing foods and drinks that bring stability and comfort. This Fall Pumpkin Turmeric Buttered Coffee is my Ayurvedic twist on the popular bulletproof coffee trend—infused with pumpkin, turmeric, and cozy fall spices.
Winter Salts: Warming & Energizing Blend for Kapha Season
Winter is the season of Kapha dosha—heavy, slow, damp, and cool. These qualities help us feel nourished and cozy, but they can also lead to sluggish digestion, low energy, and congestion. This Winter Salts blend is spicy, stimulating, and invigorating, designed to balance Kapha by warming the body, boosting metabolism, and clearing stagnation. Sprinkle it on soups, legumes, roasted vegetables, or even avocado toast for an energizing kick that keeps you light and bright through the colder months.
Fall Salts: Grounding Ayurvedic Blend for Vata Season
Fall ushers in the Vata dosha—dry, light, cool, and unpredictable, just like the wind. While autumn inspires creativity and clarity, it can also bring anxiety, dryness, and digestive irregularity. This Fall Salts blend is warming, grounding, and nourishing, designed to balance Vata’s airy qualities. With earthy spices and mineral-rich salt, it enhances roasted vegetables, soups, and grains—bringing comfort and steadiness to your meals as the seasons shift.
Summer Salts: Cooling Ayurvedic Blend for Pitta Season
Summer brings the fiery energy of the Pitta dosha—hot, sharp, and intense. While the warmth fuels activity and creativity, it can also lead to overheating, irritability, and inflammation. This Summer Salts blend is designed to cool and calm Pitta, soothe digestion, and keep the body refreshed. Light, cooling herbs paired with mineral salt make this the perfect seasoning for fresh vegetables, salads, or cooling summer soups.
Golden Turmeric Buckwheat Porridge for Metabolism & Inflammation
Start your morning with a warm, nourishing bowl of buckwheat porridge infused with golden turmeric milk and topped with antioxidant-rich blackberries. This Ayurvedic-inspired breakfast is designed to support metabolism, reduce inflammation, and stabilize blood sugar — making it especially beneficial for perimenopause, hormone health, and overall wellness.
Unlike many quick breakfasts that spike blood sugar and leave you crashing, this porridge provides steady energy, sustained focus, and long-lasting nourishment.
Hormone-Balancing Chia Pudding
As we navigate perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations can lead to symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, and weight gain. One simple way to support hormonal balance is through nutrient-dense breakfasts, and chia pudding is a powerhouse for stabilizing estrogen levels.
Spring Salts: An Ayurvedic Blend for Renewal
Spring is the season of renewal—when nature comes alive and we shed the heaviness of winter. According to Ayurveda, spring is ruled by the Kapha dosha (earth and water), which can leave us feeling sluggish, congested, and heavy. Creating a Spring Salts blend with herbs and spices helps to balance Kapha, clear stagnation, and bring energy back into the body. This mineral-rich, spiced salt can be sprinkled over vegetables, soups, or warm grains to add both flavor and seasonal balance.
Winter Turmeric Buttered Coffee (Ayurvedic Bulletproof Coffee with Pumpkin)
On frosty mornings, there’s nothing more comforting than wrapping your hands around a warm mug of coffee. This Winter Turmeric Buttered Coffee takes the popular bulletproof coffee concept and gives it an Ayurvedic twist, blending the grounding richness of pumpkin with the warming spice of turmeric.
Buttered coffee—blended with healthy fats like MCT oil and grass-fed butter—is known for providing sustained energy, appetite balance, and sharper focus. In Ayurveda, adding pumpkin and warming spices makes this drink even more seasonal and supportive, helping balance Vata’s dryness and Kapha’s sluggishness during the colder months.
Roasting Root Vegetables the Ayurvedic Way
Root vegetables are some of the most grounding, nourishing foods you can eat—especially in the fall and winter. According to Ayurveda, fall is dominated by Vata dosha (dry, cold, and erratic). The sweet, heavy, and stabilizing qualities of root vegetables help pacify Vata and bring warmth and stability to body and mind.
Roasting root vegetables is not only delicious—it also enhances their natural sweetness, makes them easier to digest, and aligns perfectly with Ayurvedic principles of seasonal eating.
Squash: A perfect Fall Ingredient
As the crisp air of fall arrives, our bodies naturally crave warmth, nourishment, and grounding foods. In Ayurveda, this is the season of Vata dosha—characterized by qualities of dryness, coldness, lightness, and unpredictability. To balance Vata, we turn to foods that are sweet, heavy, and nourishing. Squash is one of the most perfect fall foods for bringing balance and stability during this season.
Get Grounded Brownies (Ayurvedic Fall Recipe with Ashwagandha)
Fall is the season of grounding, slowing down, and reconnecting with the earth. As the air turns crisp and the days shorten, our bodies crave comfort foods that feel warm, nourishing, and stabilizing. These Get Grounded Brownies are crafted with seasonal staples like pumpkin, sweet potato, or squash, combined with the rich depth of cacao.
Spring Eggs Benedict with Asparagus & Kumquat Hollandaise (Ayurveda-Inspired Recipe)
Welcome spring with this fresh and nourishing twist on classic Eggs Benedict. Instead of a heavy winter version, this recipe highlights seasonal asparagus and a bright, citrusy kumquat hollandaise sauce. Perfect for a mindful brunch, it balances richness with cleansing spring produce to support digestion, reduce inflammation, and align with the body’s natural rhythms.