Healthy Mother's Day Recipes for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

​Here are a selection of spring-themed recipes suitable for various Mother's Day meals from morning to evening with a focus on those that include no refined sugars, are low sodium, and include healthy & in-season produce and other ingredients (particularly those that have anti-inflammatory or stress relieving properties or are known for extended heart & brain health benefits suitable for more senior mothers).

Most recipes are vegan and dairy-free with a selection of gluten-free offerings as well. Meals & drinks are blended or otherwise on the softer side for easier chewing and swallowing.

Recipes

Mother's Day Breakfast Recipes

• These particular breakfast treats run the gamut from sweet to savory yet are entirely vegan, using various fresh & in-season produce with no added refined sugars. Healthy ingredients include turmeric (with anti-inflammatory properties suitable for helping with arthritis), antioxidants such as honey, cacao, or dark chocolate, as well as standard nutritional fruits & veggies such as bananas, cherries, and green leafy spinach. The recipes have soft textures suitable for easy chewing & swallowing, but may require further blending (particularly for the porridge) for those with more severe forms of dysphagia or other mouth issues.
• Fluffy Vegan Banana Pancakes | Vegan Tofu Omelette | Green Spinach Oat Waffles |  Chocolate & Cherry Porridge

Mother's Day Lunch Recipes

• These recipes for lunch or brunch remain light and chilled, making them suitable for a spring holiday. The base of these meals are fresh, in-season, and readily available produce such as mango, raspberries, limes, broccoli, and spinach with herbs & spices taking the place of refined sugars and additional salt. Other healthy ingredients include antioxidants such as ginger and turmeric and brain healthy coconut oil. While these recipes remain on the softer side for easier chewing and swallowing, some ingredients may need to be diced more finely (particularly with the salad or frittata) for those senior mother's with more severe forms of dysphagia.
• Spicy Chilled Mango & Ginger Soup | Easy Watermelon Mint Salad | Vegan Eggless Frittata | Beet and Spinach Bliss Balls

Mother's Day Dinner Recipes

• In comparison to breakfast & lunch, these recipes are more savory, hardier, and can be served heated as well. Once more the focus is on recipes that use fresh & healthy ingredients (low sodium with no added refined sugars), particularly those that use in-season spring produce such as asparagus, broccoli, and peas. Healthier options such as coconut oil (good for brain health) and extra virgin olive oil (good for heart health) are used over other normal vegetable oils with various herbs & spices such as cloves, chives, garlic, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and cayenne (particularly beneficial for those seniors with fading taste buds) used instead of additional salts or refined sugars.
• Asparagus, Pea, Broccoli Rabe Saute over Chickpea Chive Mash | Low Fat Low Sodium Crustless Vegan Quiche | Healthy Spring Risotto | Healing Red Lentils and Turmeric Soup (using DIY Vegetable Broth)

Mother's Day Dessert Recipes

• The focus here is on blended desserts that will be easy to swallow for anyone with chewing difficulties or dysphagia while still using deliciously healthy & in-season ingredients. Bypassing the additional toppings (such as the orange zest or seeds) or further pureeing may be required for those with more severe forms of dysphagia. Otherwise all recipes are vegan with no dairy, refined sugars, or additional added salt. The presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as raw cacao, turmeric, and ginger or brain healthy coconut oil are additional benefits for senior mothers.
• Vegan Chocolate Mousse | Orange Lavendar Pudding | Beetroot Rhubarb Ice Cream | Golden Milk Popsicles

Mother's Day Drinks

• Here are a sampling of both warm & chilled drinks suitable for whichever weather (whether high or low temperature) graces this coming Mother's Day. The recipes use in-season and all-natural ingredients with no dairy, additional salt, or refined sugars (substituting in natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup when needed). Ingredients include heart healthy antioxidants such as matcha (the healthiest variation of green tea), raw cacao or dark chocolate, and turmeric with brain healthy additives such as virgin coconut oil. Lavender is an unusual in-season ingredient that can also further help with stress relief for mothers & other family members alike.
• Matcha Green Tea Latte | Best Turmeric Hot Chocolate Recipe Ever | Blueberry Lavender Lemonade | Cucumber Mojito