vegetarian food – Happymomblogger

When we think of Mom, images of laughter in the sun, skipping hand in hand, and a kitchen filled with the most amazing aroma conjures in our heads. Nothing is as special as your mother or even being a mother. So this year for Mother’s Day, I’ve come up with some easy and earth-friendly ways of celebrating mom. Whether you’re celebrating your mother, grandmother, aunt, or a woman who raised you, there are some clever and innovative ways to honor her without breaking the bank or the planet. These are all simple to do with your kids and if you want to send these ideas to your spouse so they can craft these ideas to present to you, then go right along!

Aside from the common flowers and cards to give mom for Mother’s Day, let’s spice it up a bit by giving these gifts an extra sparkle while also helping out our other “mother” – Earth. Below are some fun and creative ideas to get the engine running, while also keeping it simple and classic.

MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS:

– Upcycle gifts. An easy, lovely, and eco-friendly way of giving back to your mom is by upcycling your everyday items. Your mom will appreciate your ingenuity and your talent for saving money! Find some gently-used craft paper, copy paper, or newspapers and turn them into handmade flowers. You can either make them into origami flowers or cut them into flower shapes. Some great ideas can be found here: https://www.origamiway.com/origami-flowers.shtml, https://www.marthastewart.com/274777/paper-flowers?slide=3427052, https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/paper-flower-craft/. Take old clothing and turn them into purses, book covers, or grocery bags. And upcycle bottles and cans into adorable and useful containers. You can find tons of ideas online, but here is one that has some super cute ideas for upcycling bottles: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/723038915155498106/.

– All-natural bath bombs. Bath bombs are one of those gifts that are easily enjoyed but people don’t tend to buy for themselves. I get them as gifts quite often but I also like to make them to give as gifts. Bath bombs don’t necessarily have to be used in the bath tub because you can toss them into the bottom of the shower floor and they will evaporate in the hot steam while you’re showering! Here’s a recipe for Lavender Bath Bomb but you can add any flowers/herbs or essential oils to your bath bomb. Find out what your mom likes and include them in the scents.

– Mini Herb Garden. Who doesn’t like fresh herbs, right? Especially when you have a tabletop version in the kitchen or on the windowsill outside. Start with some super easy and super useful herbs such as Sage, Thyme, Mint, Lemon Balm, Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, and Oregano. All of these herbs can be used for culinary and medicinal purposes. You can either start with seeds and plant ahead of time (some grow into seedlings fairly quickly) or buy small plants and plant them into adorable planters (perhaps you can even use your upcycled planter!).

– Indoor plants. Studies have shown that certain indoor plants can improve air quality in your home. Certain plants such as Ferns, Bamboo, and Dracaena all have health benefits that can improve your mom’s mood and keep your home free of air pollutants and allergens. You can find these type of plants at your local nursery or online.

– Chore Wish. Ask your mom ahead of time or create your own chore list. Depending on the age of the child, pick chores that they can easily do, such as sweeping the yard, washing dishes, or folding clothes. Your mom will REALLY appreciate the effort you put in and be thankful for taking some extra chores off her hands. Create a wish list on a colorful chart and have your mom check it off as you go.

– Recycled materials. Give mom gifts made from recycled materials. You can find tons of useful and wonderful items such as pretty grocery bags (find sturdy and elegant ones from Whole Foods Market and online), journals made from recycled paper, and clothing made from recycled materials.

– Vegan and/or vegetarian brunch. Give mom the gift of good health and good taste. Vegan and vegetarian food are no longer just salads and crudites. Vegan options are food that are not made with animals or animal by products. Vegetarian food can include eggs and dairy, but just not animal meat or seafood. Check out some of these healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes: https://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/vegan-recipes

– Flowers from the garden. If your mom already has a beautiful and bountiful flower garden, then trim some of her favorite flowers to put into an elegant vase. If not, then buy organically grown flowers – organic flowers are not sprayed with toxic pesticides and are healthier for the earth. You can even put the flowers in one of your recycled containers to make it even more unique!

Whatever you decide to do this Mother’s Day, do it with all of your heart and kindness. Your mom after all, worked hard to raise you and teach you all the life lessons that you need to know.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

*photos courtesy of HGTV and CookingLight

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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When I was around nine or ten years old I witnessed a cruel injustice to a stray dog close to my home. I saved him from a heartless dog catcher, took the dog home to give him some water and food, and helped him find a new home. But it was staring into those dark, murky depths of his big, black eyes that a turning point happened for me. Watching the cruelty of the animal being beaten and dragged to the dog truck had somehow given me a distaste for animal meat from then on. When I went back inside the house to tell my mom what had happened, she looked at me with a strange smile and then aptly dumped the hot dog she was going to serve me for lunch.

I have to be grateful for such an understanding mom. She has always been a kindhearted and sweet person and when she saw unabashed tears streaming down my face that day, she knew she had to make a decision – allow a young girl to make a compassionate decision that could forever change her life, or laugh it off as some silly girlhood whim.

There are many reasons why someone would become a vegetarian or a vegan. But for a child to become one, the choice can be magnanimous. Children do not inherently know if they should or should not eat meat. They eat whatever their parents give them; meat eaters will feed their children meat, vegetarians will feed their children non-meat. It’s pretty simple, but choosing to become a vegetarian is not an easy path and there can be many obstacles in the way once you decide to become one.

But do you think kids should automatically become vegetarians? That’s a tricky question and it depends solely on the household and how they view food as a whole and whether being a vegetarian is a health choice or a humanitarian one. My nephew chose to become a vegetarian when he was around seven years old. Yes, that’s pretty young but he always had a compassionate nature and he had told his parents that he didn’t want to harm animals so the natural path he took would evidently involve becoming a vegetarian. His parents suffice to say also became vegetarians soon after, wanting to follow the benevolent endeavors of their son.

I became a vegetarian when it wasn’t a “trend”, when people looked at me like I was crazy or from another planet. Eating an all plant-based diet wasn’t very hip or cool but little did people know that revolutionary changes in how Americans eat would later become the new standard. There are more and more vegetarian and vegan restaurants popping up, food companies solely devote their entire line to vegetarians, and even magazines are written for those who are non-meat eaters. Vegetarians were no longer looked at funny and mainstream restaurants even dedicated a section on their menus for “vegetarians”.

There are no right or wrong reasons on whether you should become a vegetarian. It’s a personal choice and no one should bully you into it or laugh at you should you choose to become one. It may be a health choice, a reason to try something new, or simply the thought of eating animals is gruesome. Whatever the reasons, it never hurts to try it. There are many companies out there dedicated in helping you become a vegetarian and in staying one. And if you need one simple reason – consider that it’s a lot less expensive to become a vegetarian than it is to put meat on your table every day. You can even grow your own organic garden so you know what you’re eating. And in the long run, it’ll make you a bit healthier too.

If you’re looking for ways to live a greener life, then try the NBC Green is Universal Eco Eats Challenge which runs from September 29 through October 17. There are many actions to try whether you’re just starting out or have been doing this for a long time. Actions include: Eat a vegetarian meal – http://bit.ly/ZYqpTg, Buy organic eggs – http://bit.ly/1rqiU1F, Fill up your reusable water bottle – http://bit.ly/1CtLGSI, an many many more actions that are fun and educational. NBC Green is Universal’s One Small Act website is also hosting a sweepstakes. Read below for more info:

From September 2- October 17, NBC’s Green is Universal One Small Act is also hosting a sweepstakes when you join the “Eco Eats” challenge . To join, visit their free green-living tool, One Small Act. Everyone who signs-up and tackles at least one action by October 17th will be entered to win one of five 6-month subscriptions to NatureBox. No Purchase Necessary. Must be US resident and 18+. Read official rules here.

Disclaimer: In exchange for participating in the challenge and writing this post, I was given a gift package from Green is Universal. All opinions here are still my own.

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