How Mother’s Day can be Extra Special this Year

This Mother’s Day will be unlike any other, but even though you might not see your mother, grandmother, or other important moms in your life in person, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate.

Here’s how you and your family can make Mother’s Day extra special this year and make sure mom still gets the love and attention she deserves.

Flower Power

Flowers are always a wonderful way to brighten the home and make your mom smile. Not only are they beautiful, but they also reduce stress and boost mood.

A 10-month study conducted by Rutgers University found that flowers are a natural mood enhancer and have an instant impact on happiness—regardless of whether we experience flowers in nature or as a gift. Participants in the study said they felt less agitated, anxious, and depressed.

Most florists and garden centers are still selling and delivering flower arrangements for Mother’s Day.

Since delivery may be busier this year, expect later delivery times. If you want to surprise your mom or wife first thing in the morning, consider getting the flowers delivered or picked up the day or night before. 

Cook a Delicious Brunch at Home

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, especially for brunch. This year, you may need to brush up on your brunch skills to celebrate your mom at home. 

Here are a few simple and healthy brunch recipes you can master before Sunday, courtesy of Hannah Smith, Eastern Region Clinical Nutrition Manager at Rochester Regional Health.

1. Vegetable Frittata

“This recipe is a great way to incorporate vegetables in the morning. It’s recommended to evenly distribute nutrients throughout the day to absorb as much as possible, and this meal is a great start. You can adjust this recipe to include whatever Mom’s favorite veggies are!”

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ medium onion, chopped
• 1 cup asparagus
• 2 cups spinach
• ¼ cup fresh parsley
• 5 large eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ cup milk of choice
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Whisk together eggs, milk, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, parsley, spinach, and asparagus. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Pour egg mixture into the skillet, making sure the eggs cover the vegetables.
• Add cherry tomatoes into the pan and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
• Once the eggs begin to set, place the skillet into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the frittata is completely cooked.

2. Avocado Cucumber Tuna Salad

“This is a great light and fresh recipe that can be enjoyed alone or with other foods. You can have a scoop over a bed of leafy greens, with whole wheat bread, or with pita chips. Avocado is a good source of monounsaturated fat, which is the kind of fat you want to incorporate into a healthy diet.”

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups cucumber
• ½ cup red onions
• 1 cup red bell pepper
• 2 medium avocados
• 2 cans of 12oz flaked light tuna, drained
• 1 tablespoon chives
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

• In a large bowl, add chopped cucumber, red onions, bell pepper, avocado, drained tuna, and chives.
• In a separate container, pour lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until combined.
• Pour the dressing over the salad to taste and toss.

3. Strawberry-Banana Smoothie Bowl

“This is a great option for mom’s wanting to include plant-based protein in their diet. Chia seeds are a great plant-based source of protein, fiber, omega-3, and calcium.”

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1½ cups frozen strawberries
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk

Toppings:

• Fresh strawberries, sliced
• Fresh bananas, sliced
• Chia seeds

Directions:

• Combine frozen banana, frozen strawberries, and coconut milk in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add more liquid to achieve the desired thickness.
• Pour smoothie into a bowl and add toppings.

Virtual Activities

This year, social distancing means you may be spending time with mom over video chat. Spending virtual time together can be an opportunity to get creative. Here are a few activities you can do with mom while on video chat:

• Virtual baking: Recreate memories and boost the mood by baking with your mom over video chat. Try picking a simple recipe and propping up your device in the kitchen to bake and celebrate your mom.

• Virtual wine tasting: Have a few different wines delivered to your mom and taste them with her over a video chat. Services like Drizly provide same-day delivery of wine or spirits, or if you want to support local in Rochester, Living Roots is offering curb-side pickup and 10% off all wines!

• Virtual garden picnic: Bring your video device outside and create a picnic in your backyard. Virtually meet your mom in the garden for afternoon tea and a nice conversation.

• Virtual 5k: Running improves mood and is a great way to get exercise. Choose a cause you and your mother are both passionate about, sign up, and run at the same time. You can celebrate on video-chat after!

• Virtual spa night: Send your mom a basket of self-care gifts like bath salts, fancy soap, and candles. Enjoy a relaxing spa night over video chat together.

Open Gifts Virtually

There are plenty of video-streaming service options to choose from when mom opens her gifts. Here’s some information on the most popular video platforms.

• Zoom: For shorter gatherings, Zoom is a great option. The video service is free for anyone to use, allows up to 100 connections, and does not require a specific app or device. However, the free version of the service only allows 40 minutes of streaming. By upgrading to the paid version, you get unlimited minutes.

• Skype: Similar to Zoom, Skype can be used on any device and does not require an app. There is no time limit and only 50 devices are allowed in one meeting.

• FaceTime: FaceTime requires an Apple device to operate. It can be used with Wi-Fi or cellular data and host up to 32 devices.

• Google Duo: This service can be accessed on the web or downloaded as an app and can be used on any device, but you must have a Google account. The service limits video chats to 12 people.

• WhatsApp Video: Allowing up to 8 participants in one call, WhatsApp requires a downloaded app and an updated operating system.

• Facebook Messenger: With a Facebook account, you can video call using Facebook Messenger. This service only allows up to 4 devices and participants must have the Facebook Messenger app on their mobile device.

Taking the extra time this year to plan a socially distant celebration for your mom will be unusual, but there are plenty of ways to show her love and appreciation. Although this year may be different from the rest, the health and safety of your loved ones is the most important gift of all.