My Favorite Mocktails

I can’t even remember when I started reaching for specific beverages for specific situations. I definitely never linked my drink choices to my nervous system. But in retrospect, I absolutely did. 

Early mornings — when I needed enough energy to squeeze in a workout or teach elementary-aged children — meant coffee. With lots of creamer. 

Midday, when I was starting to flag but still had recess duty ahead of me, it was Diet Coke. 

Evenings, when I needed something to take the edge off the day, meant pinot noir or a good glass of Chardonnay. 

And if I’m being honest, there were plenty of days when I was busy enough — or overwhelmed enough — that I forgot to drink much of anything at all. 

Years later, as I  learned about my nervous system and about regulation, I began reaching for beverages with intentionality and purpose. Now, I want to share my favorites with you.  

Mocktail #1 - Rise & Restore

When I use it: 
This is my foundational nervous system drink, and it shows up in different forms throughout my day. 

Why it helps: 

Rise & Restore is about signaling safety to my body. Warmth, gentle sweetness, and mineral support help my nervous system start — or end — the day without urgency. It’s not about stimulation; it’s about steadiness. 

What’s in it (and why): 

• Sea salt (morning only): supports hydration and adrenal function 

• Cinnamon: helps regulate blood sugar and adds warmth 

• Tart cherry juice: supports sleep cycles and nervous system calm 

• Magnesium glycinate (evening only): supports relaxation and parasympathetic activation 

• Hot water: warmth itself is regulating 

How I make it: 

• Morning Rise & Restore: 
  Hot water + pinch of salt + dash of cinnamon + splash of tart cherry juice 

• Afternoon Rise & Restore: 
  Hot water + cinnamon + tart cherry (no salt) 

• Evening Rise & Restore: 
  Hot water + tart cherry + magnesium glycinate (no salt) 

This drink has evolved with me — and that’s part of the point. Regulation doesn’t look the same at every hour of the day. 

Mocktail #2: Collagen Coffee

Okay, so this isn’t technically a mocktail. 
But it is a heavy hitter in my day — for energy, self-care, and happiness. 

When I use it 

I sip collagen coffee during my weekday drive to work. It’s part caffeine, part comfort — a quiet ritual before the day begins. 

On weekends, collagen coffee slows down with me. You’ll usually find me on the couch, coffee in hand, working through the New York Times games. 

At home, it’s a latte with steamed milk. When traveling, it’s simplified: regular coffee, a collagen packet, and whatever milk or cream is available. 

Why it helps 

Coffee on its own can be a mixed bag for a sensitive nervous system. It provides energy, yes — but it can also spike cortisol, especially when consumed on an empty stomach or during already stressful mornings. 

Adding collagen changes how coffee lands in my body. The protein helps slow the absorption of caffeine, creating steadier energy instead of a quick spike and crash. It also supports blood sugar stability, which plays a surprisingly big role in how regulated (or dysregulated) I feel during the morning hours. 

This version of coffee doesn’t just wake me up — it supports me. 

What’s in it (and why) 

• Coffee – Energy and alertness, without vilifying caffeine 

• Collagen – Protein support for blood sugar stability, joints, skin, and connective tissue 

• Pinch of sea salt – Supports hydration and helps balance cortisol 

• Cinnamon – Supports blood sugar regulation and adds warmth 

• Oat milk – Gentle, comforting, and easy on digestion 

• Splash of caramel flavor – Joy matters 

• Splash of vanilla flavoring – Also joy matters 

This is nourishment and pleasure. Both count. 

How I make it 

On a regular weekday morning: 

• Brew coffee 

• Add one scoop or packet of collagen 

• Add a pinch of sea salt and a dash of cinnamon 

• Stir well 

• Finish with oat milk and flavoring to taste 

When I’m traveling or keeping it simple: 

• Hot coffee 

• Collagen packet 

• Milk or cream 

• Stir and go 

No perfection required. 
Just intention. 

Mocktail #3: Bone Broth

I have to admit, this one surprised me. 

I always assumed bone broth was reserved for the ultra-granola, kombucha-brewing crowd. But when I started digging into nervous system regulation, it kept showing up — quietly, consistently, and without hype. So I tried it. 

And to my surprise, I was hooked. 

When I use it 

Bone broth is a mid-morning ritual for me. 

At work, I pair it with a two- to three-minute breathing break or a quick step outside if the weather allows. It’s a pause — not a productivity push. 

On weekends, I sip it mid-morning before lunch, often while doing something gentle and repetitive like laundry or light cleaning. It feels grounding without being heavy. 

Why it helps 

Bone broth is deeply regulating for a nervous system that’s been running hot. 

It’s warm, which naturally signals safety to the body. It’s savory, which helps stabilize blood sugar. And it contains amino acids like glycine, which has been shown to support calm, reduce inflammation, and promote parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) activity. 

Unlike caffeine, bone broth doesn’t ask anything of my nervous system. It simply supports it. 

It’s also surprisingly satisfying — which helps curb the mid-morning reach for snacks or stimulants when what my body actually needs is nourishment and grounding. 

What’s in it (and why) 

• Chicken bone broth – Provides protein, collagen, and calming amino acids like glycine 

• Pinch of sea salt – Supports hydration and adrenal function 

• Turmeric – Anti-inflammatory and supportive for overall recovery 

• Black pepper – Enhances turmeric absorption 

• Nutritional yeast – Adds B vitamins and a cozy, savory flavor 

This drink doesn’t feel indulgent — it feels steady. 
And sometimes, that’s exactly what a nervous system needs. 

How I make it 

• Warm one mug of chicken bone broth 

• Add a pinch of sea salt 

• Stir in a dash of turmeric and black pepper 

• Add about a teaspoon of nutritional yeast (adjust to taste) 

• Sip slowly 

No blender. 
No fancy equipment. 
Just warmth and intention. 

A Quick Note About Mocktails #4 & 5

Before I share my faux pinot and faux champagne, I want to be really clear about something: 

These drinks are not meant to taste exactly like pinot noir or champagne. 

And for me — that’s okay. 

What I was actually seeking wasn’t a perfect replica of flavor. It was the experience. 

These mocktails give me enough of the ritual that my brain doesn’t feel deprived — without the sleep disruption, elevated heart rate, or next-day fog that alcohol often brings. 

I’m not trying to trick my nervous system. 
I’m trying to support it. 

Mocktail #4 - Faux Pinot

One of the hardest parts of learning to regulate my nervous system has been identifying what actually acts as a stressor — and then figuring out how to keep the things I love without constantly hijacking my system. 

Wine was one of those things. 

Wine disrupts my sleep. It increases my heart rate. It often leaves me feeling flat or melancholy the next day. But more than anything… it was a habit. An automatic reach. A ritual that signaled the end of the day. 

I didn’t want to eliminate the experience. 
I wanted to adapt it. 

Faux pinot came from that desire. Faux pinot doesn’t taste exactly like wine — and that was an intentional choice. What I was really after wasn’t flavor mimicry, but ritual. The feel of a wine glass, the social experience of sipping alongside others, and the calming support of L-theanine give my nervous system enough familiarity that it doesn’t feel like it’s missing out. 

When I use it 

This is my evening unwind drink — especially on weeknights or on weekends when I want the ritual of a glass of wine without the physiological cost. 

I pour it into a real wine glass. I sit down. I sip it slowly. I let it mark the transition from day to night. 

Why it helps 

Faux pinot works because it preserves the experience while removing the primary nervous-system stressors. 

• Tart cherry juice supports melatonin production and sleep quality 

• L-theanine promotes calm and reduces anxious rumination without sedation 

• Sparkling water gives the fizz and mouthfeel of wine 

• Balsamic vinegar adds acidity and depth, mimicking the tannic bite of red wine 

Together, they signal comfort and closure to the nervous system — without increasing heart rate, fragmenting sleep, or activating stress hormones. 

It’s not about deprivation. 
It’s about substitution that actually supports recovery. 

What’s in it (and why) 

• Tart cherry juice – Supports sleep and recovery 

• Sparkling water (San Pellegrino is my favorite) – Adds fizz and ritual 

• L-theanine – Encourages calm focus and relaxation 

• Balsamic vinegar – Adds complexity and that “wine-like” finish 

Yes, the balsamic sounds strange. 
Yes, it works. 

How I make it 

• Add a large splash of tart cherry juice to a wine glass 

• Top with sparkling water 

• Stir in one scoop of L-theanine 

• Add 1–2 small dashes of balsamic vinegar 

• Sip slowly 

Same glass. 
Same ritual. 
Very different nervous-system outcome. 

Mocktail #5: Everyday Bubbles

My absolute favorite beverage is a glass of champagne. 

On the spectrum of wines, champagne is the least taxing on my nervous system. It impacts me less than red wine, less than most whites — and when enjoyed earlier in the day, it sometimes doesn’t impact my sleep at all. 

But sometimes is the key word. 

There is still an impact. And good champagne is expensive — not something I can (or want to) drink every single day. I wanted a way to keep the celebratory, light, fizzy experience without borrowing energy from the next day. 

So I created a faux champagne that I can enjoy after work — one that feels festive without leaving my nervous system depleted. 

When I use it 

This is my end-of-day sparkle drink. 

It’s what I reach for when I want something that feels special — a celebration of having made it through the day — without asking my body to pay for it later. It’s also my go-to for social situations when I want to sip something fun and bubbly without alcohol. 

Why it helps 

Faux champagne works because it hits the sensory experience without activating stress pathways. 

• The bubbles signal celebration and pleasure 

• The citrusy brightness mimics champagne’s acidity 

• The calming support helps my nervous system downshift instead of rev up 

It gives me the feeling of “cheers” without triggering sleep disruption, elevated heart rate, or next-day fatigue. 

What’s in it (and why) 

• Yuzu (a dash or two) – Bright, citrusy, complex; mimics champagne’s acidity 

• Sparkling water – Provides the bubbles and mouthfeel 

• L-theanine – Supports calm, reduces anxious overstimulation, and helps the nervous system unwind 

Simple ingredients. Big impact. 

How I make it 

• Add 1–2 dashes of yuzu to a champagne flute or a pretty wine glass 

• Top with sparkling water 

• Stir in one scoop of L-theanine 

• Sip slowly 

Same sparkle. 
Same ritual. 
A much gentler landing. 

I’m still learning what supports my nervous system — and what doesn’t.  These five drinks are simply what’s working for me right now. 

If you’re curious, try one.  Notice how your body feels afterward.  Not whether it’s “good” or “bad” — just whether it helps you feel a little more like yourself. 

And if you already have a drink that brings you comfort or calm, I’d love to hear about it. 

We all regulate differently. 

And that’s the whole point.