Five Healthy Gifts for Mom

She held your head when you were sick as a kid. She held your hand when you were nervous on the first day of school. And she continues to hold you, her child, in high esteem as you reach milestones both personally and professionally. You’ve come a long way in life, and chances are your mother helped you become the happy, healthy person you are today. This Mother’s Day, show your mom how much you appreciate her with a thoughtful gift that leaves her happy, and healthy as well. Here are a few ideas:

A Weekend Away

We can all use a short break every now and again to unplug, refocus and relax. Whether your mom would enjoy a weekend in the city for some shopping, at a spa for some much-needed pampering or in a small B&B where nature trails beckon right outside the front door, consider splurging on a weekend away. Double the fun and offer to go with her. Chances are your mom would love to spend some quality time with you.

A Health-Conscious Membership

Give your mom the gift that keeps on giving when you treat her to a membership that she can continue to use throughout the month, season or year. Is there is a yoga class she’d like to take or a running club she wants to join? Memberships in community-supported agriculture programs, which deliver fresh produce right to the front door, are increasingly popular, encourage healthy eating and support the local community. Or perhaps she’d like to support the arts scene with a season pass to the local ballet or theater.

A Cookbook or Subscription to a Cooking Magazine

People eat healthier when they cook their own meals, plus experimenting with ingredients is fun and creative. The selection of cookbooks available is practically overwhelming, but choose one that offers innovative, simple meals, and colorful photographs to entice your mom to make something new. When the two of you get together, cook and enjoy a meal together.

A Green Thumb

Help your mom plant a garden filled with flowers, herbs and produce, or sign her up for a gardening class. Growing her own fruits and vegetables is fabulous for your mom’s nutrition, and the actual act of gardening is good exercise. If she’s not interested in the manual labor that goes into having her own garden, consider getting her a plant anyway. Houseplants help keep the air clean and make people feel calmer and happier.

A National Parks Pass

There are hundreds of thousands of acres of national parks spread across the United States, and nearly everyone is within driving distance of at least a couple of them. Buying a pass to the national parks offers entrance into all 392 national parks, monuments, battlefields and other areas protected by the Department of the Interior. With a parks pass in hand, your mom has access to thousands of miles of hiking and cycling trails, scenic drives and natural wonders just waiting to be explored.