Food

I barely need an excuse to throw together a brunch this time of year. Mother’s Day on Sunday is a perfect reason and I’m also planning to host a baby shower for a friend.

Part elaborate breakfast and part hearty lunch, brunch is typically late in the morning. People usually skip breakfast and arrive hungry, so be prepared. This weekend I’m going to serve a spread of easy EatingWell recipes. The menu has plenty of what you might expect in a brunch, such as eggs and sweet baked goods, but we managed to lighten it all up.

Healthy Brunch Menu:

• Begin the festivities with a pretty pink drink like Campari, Grapefruit & Pomegranate Cocktail. With or without the alcohol, the juices are good for us. Grapefruit is a great source of vitamin C, and pomegranate juice—a relative newcomer in many drink arsenals—is highly touted for its antioxidants.

• The main dish is a comforting Cheesy Egg & Polenta Casserole baked with crumbled sausage on top.

• Serve a simple side dish of healthy roasted asparagus and tomatoes.

• EatingWell’s recipe for Cardamom-Crumb Coffee Cake has been tweaked to improve its nutrition profile without sacrificing flavor. Oats add crunchy texture and fiber. We substituted oil for part of the butter to keep the crumb tender without adding too much saturated fat.

By Michelle Edelbaum

Michelle is the associate editor of interactive for EatingWell Media Group. In between editing and writing, she enjoys sampling the tasty results of the easy, healthy recipes that the EatingWell Test Kitchen cooks are working on.

Related Links:

Find more delicious recipes for a Mother’s Day brunch, lunch and dinner.
For dessert, make Meringue-Topped Strawberries & Rhubarb.
Need more ideas? Check out EatingWell’s Brunch Recipes Collection.
Healthy Egg Recipes can inspire your spring brunch.