It's finally May! The weather is beautiful and everything is starting to bloom. This month, whether you are celebrating your mom, being a mom, or paying tribute to someone who has been like a mother figure to you, the Dr. Joey team has come up with a list of the best healthy gift ideas for Mother's day. From vegan bags, to natural beauty products, clothing that supports maternal health and amazing breakfast in bed ideas – you simply cannot go wrong with our list.

And... a little personal shout out to my mom. Thank you to her for being her, and thank you to her for being mine.

Wishing you and yours best health,

Dr. Joey Shulman DC, RNCP

Did you hear the news? Shulman Weight Loss is offering 10% off all new programs this month –that is over $100 in savings! So what are you waiting for? If you want to lose weight, burn belly fat (yes…at any age) and achieve long lasting results – call the #1 weight loss clinics in Ontario! Book in for a free weight loss assessment and learn how you can start looking and feeling your best in no time! 

If you are looking to lose weight and feel like your best self, simply call us! Shulman Weight Loss clinics offer hormonal and natural weight loss programs that help clients lose weight in a private and personalized manner. Burn belly fat, hit your goal weight and enjoy the fall and winter looking your best! Call one of our clinics today for a FREE weight loss assessment. 

Natural Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

This lash and brow enhancing serum by Plume Science is specially formulated to promote the longevity and fullness of lash and brow follicles. It is made with 100% natural ingredients including aloe vera, castor oil, Vitamin E and honey extract. It is free from parabens, sulfates, hormones and artificial fragrances and dyes and after just 5-6 weeks, your mom will notice longer, thicker and fuller lashes! Be sure to check out some of the amazing before and after pictures at

www.plumescience.com

Photographer Helen Tansy has launched a Sundari series of photos. The word Sundari (in Sanskrit) means beautiful, and her photos are intended to celebrate women who are 40 and older. It is a celebration of women's inner and outer beauty, their spirit, wrinkles and lines.  It was an honor to sit as one of her Sundari women and I loved the images she was able to capture. So... if you are looking for a unique present for an amazing woman in your life – I highly recommend the Sundari experience. Capturing a woman’s inner and outer beauty at any age or any stage – well let’s celebrate that!

For more information, please visit  www.sundariphotography.com

Wow your mom this Mother's Day with a stylish spring colored backpack by Matt and Nat! This sustainable and eco-friendly bag is made with soft vegan leather that has a nylon lining made with 100% recycled plastic bottle. Each bag has a top zipper closure with adjustable straps, and a side and front zippered pocket to help keep you organized. Available in a variety of beautiful spring colors – I already own two of them and they are my "go to" lap top bag at the office.

Find your mom the perfect color at www.mattandnat.com

Your mom is sure to love this eco-conscious, super soft, relaxed fit tee shirt by Frannie + Lilo! Each tee shirt is handmade with love from start to finish in Canada. The shirts are made with sustainable bamboo and organic cotton materials with a portion of every tee shirt sold supporting postpartum mental health services for new moms.

Spring is all about cleaning and detoxifying and what better way to do so than than with the well know super food – matcha! This clean aDoes you mom love chocolate and sweets? If so, she is sure to love this delicious and creamy coconut milk chocolate bar that is packed with flavor from pomegranate and hazelnuts and is sweetened with coconut sugar. Each bar is natural, fair trade, organic, vegan and free from dairy and gluten.

www.zazubean.com

This all natural lotion by Love Fresh is the perfect way to hydrate your skin with a fresh, spring scent that your mom will love. The avocado base provides a rich, non-greasy formula, and kimchi is used as a natural preservative. This Toronto based company offers a whole line of fresh, natural products (including natural deodorant, cleaning products, baby products, and sugar scrubs) that your mom will absolutely love! Put together a natural gift basket with Love Fresh goodies that your mom will enjoy all spring and summer.

You can find all their products at www.lovefresh.com

Barre3 has partnered with Every Mother Counts for the month of May 1 on their Orange Rose Mother's day collection. Why the orange rose? The orange rose is a reminder that safer motherhood is possible – it represents a beautiful and vibrant life like that of a mother who has been properly supported through pregnancy and childbirth. To order, visit www.shop.barre3.com - to learn more about worldwide safe and accessible maternal healthcare – visit www.everymothercounts.org.

Breakfast in Bed Recipes... For Mom!

Healthy French toast

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon butter
• ½ cup sliced strawberries
• 2 slices of sprouted grain bread

Directions:

• Beat eggs and add cinnamon. Mix until combined.
• Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Dip bread into egg mixture and add into warmed pan.
• Cook until browned and flip. When other side is browned put 2 slices on a plate and top with strawberry slices. Enjoy warm!

Serves 1
Nutritional analysis: calories 315, fat 15g, carbohydrates 30g, fiber 6g, protein 19g

Strawberry shortcake smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• ½ cup frozen strawberries
• ½ banana, frozen or fresh
• 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

• Add all ingredients into blender and blend on high until smooth – about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add some sliced strawberries on top before drinking!

Serves 1

Nutritional analysis: calories 370, fat 22g, carbohydrates 28g, fiber 8g, protein 27g

Avocado toast

Ingredients:

• 1/4 avocado
• 1 slice of sprouted grain bread
• 1 large egg (optional but great way to increase protein)
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

• Mash your avocado and spread onto your toast. Set aside.
• Cook your egg any way you like – over easy, poached, well done.
• Place cooked egg over top avocado toast and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.

Serves 1

Nutritional analysis: calories 245, fat 15g, carbohydrates 20g, fiber 6g, protein 11g

Easy banana oatmeal muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups of oats
• 2 large eggs
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (or dark chocolate chips for the kids)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 F
• Add all ingredients into a large bowl and mix until well combined.
• Coat muffin tins with butter or coconut oil and evenly distribute batter into muffin cups.
• Bake for 18-20 minutes, until muffins are cooked though and a fork comes out clean.
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

Serves 12

Nutritional analysis: calories 110, fat 2g, carbohydrates 20g, fiber 3g, protein 4g

Top 5 DIY Natural Gift Ideas for Mom!

1. A picnic in the park –Take the time and pick out some of mom’s favorite foods and spend the afternoon in the park with some delicious whole grain sandwiches, cut up vegetables, fruits and healthy baked goods.
2. A little coupon booklet that mom can redeem – Coupons can include helpful tips for mom such as cooking dinner, cleaning the house, taking out the garbage and de-cluttering a specific closet.
3. A personalized collage – Photocopy a few meaningful pictures and quotes for mom and create a collage of what she means to you.
4. A healthy cake or desserts – Treat your mom by baking some healthy treats that she can enjoy on her big day. Click here for a link to my healthy energy balls that every woman loves.
5. An inspiration jar – Go online and print of 40-50 quotes and cut them up into small little cards. Put all cards in a box and/or jar and tell mom she can pull 1 per day as a “feel good” way to start off her morning.