Low Calorie, Healthy, and Quick Mother's Day Brunch Recipes and Tips

If you're planning a special Mother's Day Brunch at home, and Mom or other members of the family are more health conscious this year, you may want to try some special recipes that are easy to prepare and nutritious as well. The following recipes and tips have worked well at our house and can offer more variety and choices, whether you have a completely healthy and wholesome Mother's Day Brunch, or you offer a few healthier options in addition to the regular food items you plan to serve that day:

Whole Wheat Pancakes
Many people enjoy pancakes, and this recipe is a healthier version than those made with white, refined flour, sugar, and other traditional ingredients. Additionally, each serving contains only one-half to one-third of the calories that many regular pancake recipes and mixes provide.

Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 1/4 cup skim milk, 1 egg, nonstick vegetable cooking spray.

Start by combining flour, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Then beat together the milk and egg in a cup or separate container. Stir this into the dry ingredients in the bowl until it forms a well mixed, but lumpy batter. Spray a nonstick skillet with the cooking spray and place over medium heat. Drop the mixture by spoonfuls into the skillet to make four-inch pancakes. Reduce the heat to low and cook until bubbles begin to form on the pancakes. Then flip them over and cook on the other side until golden brown. This mixture makes about seven servings at roughly ninety calories each.

Fruit and Yogurt Topping
This is an excellent topping to put on your whole wheat pancakes or other pancakes and waffles.

Ingredients: 2 cups sliced strawberries, blueberries, or other favorite fruit, 1/2 cup low fat yogurt, 2 tablespoons light maple syrup.

Simply mix the yogurt and maple syrup. Put on pancakes and top with the fruit.

Maple Syrup Alternative
This is a mixture that can be used in place of the light maple syrup mentioned in the previous recipe. It can also be used on other pancakes, waffles, and other foods in place of maple or other syrups.

Ingredients: 3 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 cup apple juice (without added sugar), 1/3 cup orange juice (may be fresh squeezed or store bought).

In a saucepan, stir the cornstarch and juices until smooth. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir for two minutes.

You may want to modify the recipes according to individual taste or preference. You can make whole wheat banana pancakes, for example, by adding 1/2 cup of mashed bananas to the mixture. You can also use other fruits according to individual preference, including Mom's favorites, of course.

Planning and carrying out a Mother's Day Brunch when you want to offer healthier food choices and you don't have a lot of time to prepare recipes that include long or difficult to find ingredients and lengthly cooking times can be challenging, even if you are having the brunch at home with a small, informal gathering. Nevertheless, many healthy foods can be easily prepared in advance such as gelatin molds, iced herbal teas, and vegetable and fruit platters. Freshly squeezed orange juice or fresh lemonade also make nice additions to a brunch and do not take a lot of time to make.

Remember to pamper Mom and give her the royal treatment. Make her feel like the unique and very special woman she is by giving her full attention and catering to her every need. Pour her beverages and bring all of her food to her. Create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for her by playing soft background music she enjoys, giving her the opportunity to smell the scent of her favorite candles or fresh flowers that you place near her on her table, and letting her view the food as it is served attractively and colorfully on plates and in cups that are visually appealing to her taste.

You may decide to take Mom out somewhere special after the brunch or present her with gifts at the event or afterwards. Regardless of what happens later in the day, you only have one Mom so you will want to put the finishing touch on her special Mother's Day Brunch by taking pictures of her with everyone. It will serve as a perfect reminder of how much she is appreciated by her loved ones for many years to come.