Think outside of the store-bought chocolate box.
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching—it's this Sunday in case you didn't know—and finding the right gift for the right price tends to be challenging. Instead of grabbing the next box of Sees on your way out of the grocery store, how about purchasing or making something that exudes your feelings of gratefulness and care? Health-conscious moms especially appreciate those homemade food or gift ideas. Here are six.
Mom is always looking for a promising recipe for the next family dinner night. And she hates having to go out to the store to look for all of the special Xanthan gums, yeast extracts, etc. Find her a simple cookbook that will not make her buy a million one-use ingredients. One with a healthy flair on her culinary taste. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, keto, low-sugar. Whatever dietary restrictions she is following, your book should adhere to.
I’m currently cooking from these easy, healthy cookbooks: Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and The Love and Lemons Cookbook: An Apple-to-Zucchini Celebration of Impromptu Cooking by Jeanine Donofrio
No one can say no to a homemade cupcake! Whole Foods has a selection of healthy treats that are gluten, dairy, and nut-free. Some better than others. But all of them will provide your mom with the "especially baked for you" semblance. When in doubt, the strawberry rhubarb pie will never let you down!
Whether together or solo, giving Mom the gift of a cooking class will reinforce her recipe wheelhouse ("meal-house?") for meals to come. Classes will give her the opportunity to experiment with new ingredients, new tools, and new methods that will prompt her "this tastes delicious" dance. You know the one I'm talking about.
Get her a gift card to her favorite restaurant or grocery store. A place that she doesn’t usually eat because of price or distance would be extra thoughtful. Or her all time favorite restaurant is a guaranteed winner. Extra points if you do ditch the gift card and surprise her with a lunch/dinner out for the two of you!
Supply her with a way to make homemade bread! Store-bought gluten-free bread does not quite satisfy the way fresh, warm bread out of the oven can. A bread maker will help bridge that gap. And maybe she'll share her sourdough starter...
Nekter and Jamba Juice do not have to be the only place to get a superfood-stuffed drink. Get her a juicer—or a new blender that actually works—and she will be able to make her breakfasts brighter!