I have always thought that mothers are a special breed of human. A mom is usually that one person in your life who will always and unconditionally love you, comfort you, provide for you, and put up with all your bullshit.
Though we should honor our moms every single day for all they do, Mother’s Day is the day to pull out all the stops. This is the day the roles are reversed: you can make her breakfast in bed, pamper her, and put up with her complaining and bullshit… not that moms ever do that.
Many opt to buy presents for their mothers on this day. She only gave you the gift of life, so a material manifestation of your appreciation will surely do the trick. Should you choose to forego the ever so timeless homemade card or craft, consider gifting your mom a food magazine subscription this Mother’s Day.
I’m not telling you to buy this so she has dinner inspiration for the other 364 days of the year. Food magazines are a wonderful resource for home cooks of all levels.
If your mom isn’t exactly the cook of the family, this could be a great tool for her to develop a new hobby. Magazines like Eating Well and Food Network Magazine provide some quick, simple, and healthy recipes for those just starting out in the kitchen.
For those who are like me (aka #blessed) and have a mom who could win any home cook competition on Food Network, a food magazine can be seen as a pretty sentimental gift.
GIF courtesy of bustle.com
Magazines such a Bon Appétit, Food and Wine, and Saveur feature slightly more advanced recipes with some exotic ingredients. These recipes can get those creative juices flowing and provide inspiration.
Just make sure you’re around to reap the benefits of this creative expression.
Food magazines are sooo much more than food porn and recipes, though. Most issues have some theme, and with it come fun stories about writers’ experiences in exotic places, top-notch restaurants, or a gray school bus-turned-restraurant in Turlock, California that’s serving up the best carnitas you’ll ever eat (check out May’s issue of Saveur for the full story).
Lastly, these magazines have gone beyond the realm of cooking and travel. Publications like Food and Wine feature a monthly edition of “10 Objects of Our Obsession.” These funky gadgets and kitchen appliances are the next big thing, and make for thoughtful gifts in the future. Case in point: this subscription will be the gift that keeps on giving.
Photo by Emily Hu
One final pro about gifting a subscription: they are college-student friendly. Typically an issue of one of these magazines runs about $5. A one-year subscription to these very magazines costs roughly $12. With that money saved you can buy some booze two different subscriptions for your loving mother.
There are honestly so many benefits to buying and reading food magazines. Information on the internet may be free and plentiful (and awesome, obviously, thanks to Spoon), but there’s a simplistic joy in reading a good ol’ hard copy of a publication that will most definitely resonate with your mom.
So don’t forget: wish your mom a Happy Mother’s Day, say “I love you,” and mark off your fav recipes in the magazine for her.
Photo by Emily Hu
Here’s some more Mother’s Day gift inspiration: