A celebration always calls for food and food is always a celebration.  The trick is finding dishes that are delicious but still keep those hips in check.  Your mom will thank you. Say, I love you, Mom by providing nutritious delicious dishes.  For some reason, greasy, heavy, and fatty breakfast food doesn’t seem to scream “I love you,” but rather “Here’s to purchasing Lipitor or any other cholesterol lowering drug!” cheers! Here’s a menu that provides a healthy alternative.

Menu

Fresh Fruit

Blueberries, strawberries, whatever if fresh and available!

  • +Multi-grain pancakes
  • ¼ cup whole flaxseed
  • ½ cup oats
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 lg. eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk or plain nonfat yogurt
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 cup water
  1. In a blender or spice grinder, grind the flaxseeds until the reach a cornmeal-like consistency.  Place in a mixing bowl.  Sift whole wheat flour, baking soda, and baking powder.  Mix well.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk (or yogurt), oil, and water.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients.  Stir just until combined. 
  3. Warm a lightly oiled skilled or griddle on medium-high heat.  When a drop of water “bounces: on the hot surface, ladle on about ¼ cup of batter for each pancake and cook until bubbles appear on the top, a minute or two.  Turn the pancakes and cook on the second side until golden brown, about a minute.

 

Serves 4 to 6

Yields about 8 large pancakes

Time: 25 minutes

 

Simply Baked Fruit Topping

Ingredients:

  • 2 TBSP pure maple syrup
  • 2 Tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 5 cups peeled and sliced apples
  • (or mixture of apples and pears)

***Other fruits that can be used include softer fruits like peaches, plums, apricots, pineapple, and mangoes.  

*** Add pecans, walnuts, or almonds for crunch!

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt.  In a nonreactive 9-inch square baking pan, combine the fruit and the syrup mixture.
  2. Bake in a preheated 400’ oven, stirring once or twice, until the fruit is tender, 35-40 minutes.

 

Serves: 4

Hands on time: 15 minutes

Baking time: 35-40 minutes

 

Green Eggs, No Ham

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups lightly packed spinach
  • 4 large eggs
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tsps. Olive oil
  • 2 Tsps chopped scallions or snipped chives

Directions:

  1. Rinse and drain the spinach and pat it dry, so that the eggs won’t be too wet.
  2. In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs with dashes of salt and pepper and set aside.
  3. Warm the oil in a skilled on medium-high heat, and then add the scallions and spinach.
  1. Sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes, until the spinach has just wilted.  Add the eggs, lower the heat and cook, stirring to scramble, until the eggs are set.

Serves: 2-3

Time: 15 minutes

 

Mimosa

  • 1 part champagne
  • 1 part chilled orange juice

 

Happy Mother’s Day and Happy, Intelligent Eats to all!

Katie

About Katie Paige Haarala

Kate Paige Haarala is a registered dietitian (R.D.) from Minnesota who has an undying passion for nutrition education and helping others incorporate healthy dishes into their daily menu.  She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Food, Nutrition & Dietetics along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science. You can catch more of Katie on her blog by clicking here.