4 Simple Ways to Make Mother's Day More Meaningful Through Food

Bestselling author shares tips for celebrating with family through cooking and meals.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:51am

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A grid of brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen images of a single iconic Mother's Day object, conceptually representing the joy and creativity of shared family meals and cooking traditions.Vibrant, artistic interpretations of classic Mother's Day items capture the holiday's spirit of celebration and togetherness.NYC Today

New York Times bestselling cookbook author and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef Pati Jinich offers simple, thoughtful ways for families to come together on Mother's Day through shared recipes and meals.

Why it matters

Mother's Day is a special occasion to honor and appreciate mothers, and creating meaningful experiences through food and cooking can strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.

The details

Jinich suggests several easy ideas to make Mother's Day more meaningful, including cooking a favorite family recipe together, trying a new recipe as a group, having each family member contribute a dish to a shared meal, and creating a personalized menu or cookbook as a gift.

  • Mother's Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May.

The players

Pati Jinich

A New York Times bestselling cookbook author and four-time James Beard Award-winning chef who offers tips for celebrating Mother's Day through food and cooking.

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What they’re saying

“Nothing makes me happier than sharing recipes with my kids,”

— Pati Jinich, Cookbook Author and Chef

The takeaway

Celebrating Mother's Day through shared meals, cooking, and food traditions can create meaningful, lasting memories and strengthen family bonds.