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A Registered Dietitian’s Guide to Mindful Entertaining

Cozy lighting, fresh florals, kombucha mocktails, and much more. In collaboration with Health-Ade.

Emily Williams
Wellness
A Registered Dietitian’s Guide to Mindful Entertaining

Hosting a get-together can be as simple as stocking up on drinks and snacks and switching on a playlist. But what differentiates an ordinary gathering from a memorable one hinges on your intentions and the details. Just ask May Zhu—she’s a Chicago-based registered dietitian who, on top of her proclivity for all things nourishing, also happens to have a knack for crafting a warm, welcoming environment for her guests.

Approaching host duties from a thoughtful point of view can manifest differently depending on the scenario, Zhu explains to Coveteur. After all, hosting your best friend’s bridal shower doesn't look the same as an intimate at-home dinner party with friends. But no matter what the occasion your soirée is celebrating, creating a through line of mindfulness will always work in your favor.

Ahead, Zhu breaks down the granular details that go into mindful entertaining. Lighting, seating, music, and decor are all important, we know that. But an element she’s especially focused on right now is the food and beverage, particularly an innovative mix of mocktails she can whip up using fresh, delicious ingredients—all leaning on Health-Ade’s diverse variety of probiotic rich kombuchas. From a Passion-Fruit Tangerine Fizz and Pomegranate Blueberry Mojito to Zhu’s staple Cranberry Ginger Cocktail, there’s a uniquely flavored alcohol-free tipple for everyone’s palate. All of that, and much more, below.

What does the concept of ‘mindful entertaining’ mean to you?

“To me, it’s about bringing intention to every detail so that guests can have as relaxed and memorable an experience as possible. There are so many different elements of entertaining, but the two things I prioritize are the ambience and food and beverage options. Especially as a dietician, I’m very mindful of lifestyle preferences. If one of my guests doesn’t imbibe, having nonalcoholic options like a Health-Ade mocktail can make all the difference. It’s really important to me to create a space where everyone feels included.”

Paint us a picture: You’re hosting a get-together and setting the tone of the room—what’s the vibe?

“I really love creating a space that's cozy and relaxed, but with that buzz of energy you only get with city life. I like to think of it as a kind of ‘coastal grandmother' vibe but with a city backdrop. I turn to soft lighting and open and inviting seating; I will literally light a million candles. I always light my candles before guests come so the aromas and accents have the opportunity to fill the space first. And, of course, good food and great drinks are a must.”

When you’re having friends over, how do you approach details like decor, F&B, music, and general ambience?

“I like having soft music in the background compared to loud upbeat tones, that's more in line with my cozy and relaxed vibe. When it comes to decor, I'm really a big neutral, minimal decor girl but I use hosting as a time to bring in fresh color. I love decorating with bright florals. And since we eat with our eyes first, I take hosting as an opportunity to make the food and drinks as colorful as possible. Lastly, as a dietician, the food and beverage menu is always a priority for me; I love sneaking in extra elements of nutrition here and there. Lots of bite-size fresh and colorful produce dips with fresh herbs—and obviously plenty of beverage options.”

How do you organically integrate wellness products and habits into your hosting routine?

“For me it's all about (and this goes for life as well) having the right balance between something classic versus something new. I think about it in terms of taking elements of dishes and recipes that you already know and love, and mixing that in with some things that might be new and exciting for guests to try. I love making new things feel more familiar. Same goes for beverages. If I’m taking a wellness approach to the drinks menu and am looking for a sophisticated alternative to alcohol, I’d rather take a nuanced approach with something like a Health-Ade mocktail instead of juice or sparkling water. Kombucha is fermented, probiotic-rich, and doesn’t compromise on taste — it’s a much more interesting alternative to alcohol. Since there are so many flavors to play with, it makes the drink menu feel just as unique! Ultimately, I think guests feel special when you remember little details about them so I always try to ask ahead of time if they have a favorite dish or flavor pairing that they enjoy and then incorporate them in small ways on the menu while still adding elements of wellness.”

Are there any go-to Health-Ade mocktails you rely on for entertaining? Any food pairings that complement these sips?

“Yes! I love doing a fresh spin on a blueberry mojito with the Pomegranate Health-Ade. Fresh blueberries, mint, and lime juice and then you top it off with the Pomegranate Health-Ade so it has just a hint of pomegranate. It's just this really bright mint-forward drink that I love paired with fresh caprese bites. I love the Health-Ade Ginger Lemon flavor too with a splash of cranberry juice and fresh lemon and ginger—it makes for a very delicious cranberry ginger mocktail.

I like to think there are two routes I go toward when it comes to food pairings with kombucha. I’ll either complement the flavors, pairing like with like or do a contrast. Since Health-Ade Kombucha is fruit forward (they flavor with organic cold pressed juice), I’ll pair it with something with fresh fruit or herbs. On the opposite end, pairing a slightly sweet kombucha with something salty like a baked brie or something spicy like a taco with a fruit salsa can also complement the kombucha.”

What role has kombucha played in your wellness regimen?

“I love how kombucha is so accessible now. Incorporating probiotics into your day is as easy as drinking something delicious like kombucha. As a dietician, I’m always telling my clients that diversifying where they get their probiotics from is one of the best ways to support their gut health. Our goal at the end of the day is getting a variety of the good type of bacteria that kombucha has to support healthy digestion. The taste is a plus because it has the perfect refreshing mix of sweet and tangy! I just love getting to enjoy the fresh and interesting flavors while knowing it's another easy tool for both me and my clients to support overall health.”

For those who haven’t tried kombucha before, what’s your advice?

“First and foremost, try kombucha on its own! I like to think of it like champagne without the alcohol— it’s carbonated with a delicious bubbly balance of tangy and sweet that’s flavored with organic cold-pressed juice. It also has a nice mouthfeel similar to what you’d find with a cocktail or craft beer, but without the common negative side effects. Getting creative with the way you use it is also a way to dive in. Obviously mocktails are big, but because it has the perfect acidity, you can also add kombucha to smoothies, make dressings out of it, and you can even use it in recipes for protein marinades. I love that kombucha is versatile like that. Be open to trying it in new ways and with different flavor combinations until you find one that resonates with you.”

Do you consider entertaining to be a form of wellness?

“I think there are several different elements to wellness and one of them does include social time. There are a lot of health benefits from being able to intentionally connect with a community. Quality social relationships can help boost our overall mental health! I love that entertaining is an opportunity for me to create a safe space to make people feel welcomed and included. Plus, for me there’s something calming about the process of being able to make something delicious and enjoyable for someone else.”

As it pertains to social gatherings and mindful entertaining, what’s your vision for 2023?

“I do feel like I’ve nailed down the overall ambience that I like for entertaining but for 2023, I would love to bring in more of a fun educational aspect into it. For example, instead of just serving mocktails I’d love to add in an interactive element; like having guests make their own and learn a little bit more about the ingredients and explore the flavors in a new way. Especially when it comes to bringing more of a wellness element to entertaining, being hands-on is a great way to learn something in a meaningful and memorable way because you're using all of your senses.”

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