Slowing Down During the Holidays
The holidays often bring a sense of rush – endless lists, busy kitchens, and the pressure to make everything feel special. But nourishment doesn’t come from more complexity; it comes from slowing down. Over the years, I’ve learned that nourishing holiday meals begin not with elaborate recipes, but with a calm mindset and a steady kitchen rhythm.
Our family holidays are simple. We cook with whole, real ingredients, prepare meals in batches, and set the table with intention. When I focus on rhythm instead of perfection, I find there’s more space for conversation, laughter, and connection. This post is about creating that sense of ease – how to make holiday meals nourishing, calm, and deeply satisfying without overdoing it.
The Meals That Carry Us Through
Instead of planning every meal from scratch, I like to start with a few versatile, nourishing bases that can be turned into multiple dishes. One of my favorites is a batch-cooked mince base – a simple mix of grass-fed beef, herbs, tomato, and vegetables. It becomes the foundation for hearty spaghetti one night and comforting enchiladas the next.
This way, you’re cooking once but eating twice, which naturally builds calm into your holiday rhythm. When the kitchen isn’t running at full speed, everyone feels it – the meals taste better, and the mood stays lighter.
Real-food batch cooking is the heart of keeping holiday meals nourishing. It doesn’t have to mean large freezer sessions or complicated planning. It’s as simple as doubling a sauce, roasting extra vegetables, or baking a little more sourdough than you need. Those small steps create breathing room in your week.
Batch Cooking for Calm Family Dinners
When you batch-cook, you’re not just saving time – you’re saving energy and creating rhythm. For me, that rhythm starts with choosing ingredients that feel grounding and restorative.
I’ll often begin with a large skillet of sautéed onions and garlic in butter or olive oil, then add fresh herbs like thyme and oregano. From there, I brown quality mince, add pureed tomato and grated vegetables, and let it simmer into a rich, flavorful base. Half of that becomes spaghetti bolognese, and the other half transforms into enchiladas wrapped in sourdough tortillas.
Both meals are easy to digest, nourishing, and naturally free of seed oils. The ingredients are simple, yet the result feels abundant – a key part of keeping holiday dinners calm and fulfilling.
Batch cooking like this also supports your rhythm outside the kitchen. It gives you time for family walks, slow mornings, or a little extra rest during a busy season. The nourishment goes beyond food – it’s in the flow of your days.
Sourdough Enchiladas and Everyday Festivity
When it comes to holiday meals, we often think of big roasts and heavy desserts. But festive doesn’t have to mean complicated. In our home, nourishing holiday meals are about foods that feel both special and familiar.
Sourdough enchiladas are one of those meals. They’re made with wraps from my simple sourdough recipe, filled with the same batch-cooked mince and topped with cheese and enchilada tomato sauce. It’s the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table quickly – warm, comforting, and full of real flavor.
They also reheat beautifully, which means I can make them earlier in the day, light a candle, and let dinner unfold without the evening rush. That small shift transforms the meal from “getting food on the table” to “sharing time together.”
Even if you don’t make enchiladas specifically, the idea applies to any simple comfort meal – something you can prepare ahead and enjoy slowly. That’s the essence of calm family dinners.
Setting a Peaceful Table
When we think about creating calm family dinners, it’s easy to focus entirely on the food. But the space we eat in matters too. A calm meal begins with a calm table.
I like to use soft linen, simple plates, and a few candles. There’s no need for perfection – just gentle light and warmth. Sometimes I’ll bring in a few sprigs of greenery or a wooden board to serve from. These small touches create a sense of care without adding stress.
When the table feels peaceful, the conversation slows naturally. Children linger a little longer. We all eat more mindfully. This kind of environment makes our nourishing holiday meals feel special without the chaos that often comes with celebration.
Finding Flow in Holiday Weeks
In our home, the holidays are less about fitting everything in and more about finding flow. That means working with the season, not against it. Cooking once and using meals twice. Gathering simple ingredients and making them stretch. Lighting candles before dinner. Listening to music while we cook together.
The goal isn’t just to feed your family – it’s to create a rhythm that sustains you. A slow rhythm that brings everyone back to center. Because when your kitchen is calm, your home feels calm.
If you’re looking to simplify this season, start small. Choose one base recipe to batch-cook. Add one ritual that makes dinner feel special – maybe a candle, a song, or a shared blessing before eating. These gentle rhythms are what make nourishing holiday meals so much more than food.
How you can find your families calm too
At the end of a busy year, nourishment often looks like simplicity. Real ingredients. Calm energy. Meals that carry you through the week without stress.
By choosing whole foods, cooking with rhythm, and creating a peaceful space, you’ll find that holiday meals can be both grounding and joyful. The goal isn’t to do more – it’s to do less, with more presence.
That’s how I keep our holiday meals nourishing and calm – and how our family finds flow, even in the busiest season of the year.
What to Read Next
Seed-Oil-Free Sourdough Wraps (Simple Everyday Staple)
Learn how to make soft, flexible sourdough wraps free from seed oils – perfect for tacos, enchiladas, or quick lunches. A nourishing staple you’ll use every week.
Seed-Oil-Free Breads You’ll Actually Use Every Week
Discover my easy, everyday bread recipes that fit into busy family life – no seed oils, no fuss, just nourishing real food made simple.
Tips for crafting your own weekly flow – Free PDF
A guide to help you create a simple rhythm that supports your whole family – from baby to toddler and beyond.
Watch the Full Episode
If you’d like to see how these ideas come to life, you can watch the full episode on YouTube:
In it, I share our family’s slow approach to holiday meal prep – from cooking simple, seed-oil-free meals to creating a peaceful table rhythm that brings everyone together.
Start Your Own Family Flow
If you’re ready to bring more calm rhythm into your home, download the Family Flow Starter Kit. Inside you’ll find gentle daily anchors, printable tools, and ideas to help your family’s days feel more connected and grounded today.
As always, thank you for spending this time with me here. I hope this season brings you moments of nourishment, warmth, and ease – both at the table and beyond. I’ll see you next week with another cozy, real-food rhythm from our family flow.
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