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6 Healthyish Recipes Your Mom Is Gonna Love

Because nothing says "Thanks for raising me" like a whole roast chicken.
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Heidi's Bridge

It’s only fitting that Healthyish editor Amanda Shapiro’s mom errs on the side of Healthy. “She loves fish but she never makes it at home,” Shapiro says. “She also loves Mexican food because it reminds her of living on the West coast.” Shapiro’s menu starts with a mezcal cocktail, followed by some guacamole to eat while mom’s sipping, and culminating in a stack of grilled shrimp tostadas. “My mom’s a chocolate-loving lady,” Shapiro adds. “So I’d make these chocolate sables with date sugar, or, let’s be honest, bust out a pint of chocolate coffee toffee ice cream from Ample Hills.” If you're looking to treat mom (or at least Shapiro's mom) to a menu she won't be able to get enough of, read on.

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    Alex Lau
    1/6

    Shrimp Tostadas With Herbed Mojo de Ajo Slaw

    The shrimp is even better when it’s grilled.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser
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    No-Fail Roast Chicken With Lemon and Garlic

    This Mother’s Day, associate web editor Alyse Whitney’s going boot camp on her mom with Claire Saffitz’s genius no-fail chicken recipe. “She’s a notoriously-picky eater, but she’s a good cook who can follow a recipe,” Whitney says. “I’d love to actually teach her how to roast a chicken.” Whitney’s mom is a sans-garlic-please kind of lady, but Whitney thinks this simple lemon-garlic situation could convert her. "And if not," she says, "that’s just more roasted garlic for me!”

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Kat Boystova
    3/6

    BA's Best Linguine and Clams

    Pasta is never off-limits around here. Which is why assistant food editor Amelia Rampe’s opting for this briny linguine and clams recipe for her ma. "If my mom lived here, that’s definitely what I’d make her,” Rampe says. “It’s her favorite and I know that Claire’s [Saffitz] version would be the best version she’s ever had.”

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li
    4/6

    Arugula Gimlet

    A lot of states separate L.A.-born social media editor Rachel Karten and her mom. So when they do finally get to catch up, it’s over drinks, obviously. “Although we usually opt for a classic martini (with extra olives, please don’t judge), this year I’d definitely make her this arugula gimlet,” Karten says. “Arugula for healthy and gin for –ish.”

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  • Nicole Franzen
    5/6

    Raspberry-Ricotta Cake

    “My mom was an early adopter of health trends, what kids these days would call ‘crunchy granola,’” says contributing assistant editor Ali Francis. “But I also believe, or at least, she believes, she was meant to be born in rustic Italia.” Nothing pleases Francis’ mom more than simple pasta and fruity desserts. “So I would probably whip up this fridge-dive pesto pasta, followed by ricotta cheesecake with raspberries.”

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li
    6/6

    Simple Khichari

    Senior designer Alaina Sullivan’s kind of an overachiever, in that she’s already celebrated with her mom. They shared an anti-inflammatory quinoa and red lentil porridge with lots of turmeric, a bit like this Simple Khichari from Divya’s Kitchen. “I topped ours with shredded raw beetroot, a lemony tahini-cashew sauce, sesame seeds, jammy eggs sprinkled with sumac, and some torn toasted nori,” Sullivan says. “Then sent her on her way home with a hug and a kiss and a cup of “grateful heart tea” from Mountain Rose Herbs.”

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