For moms everywhere, Mother’s Day is a special day. Sure, it’s always nice to receive a card or a gift, but Mother’s Day is an opportunity for kids to tell their moms how important they are and to thank them for everything they do.

One of the best ways kids can show this appreciation is to help cook a special meal, just for mom. A thoughtful and genuine gesture like this will show her just how much the kids care — while also giving her the chance to sleep in for once as the rest of the family mans the kitchen!

Breakfast: Tilapia Eggs Benedict

Everybody loves eggs benedict, and if your kids are a little older and love cooking, then this slightly more advanced recipe is a perfect treat. Made with eggs, a rich hollandaise or bearnaise sauce, and your mom’s protein of choice, eggs benedict is a universal breakfast favorite. In this version, sub in some lean Tilapia fillets to give the dish a nutrient boost. Eggs are a great source of protein and contain servings of selenium, vitamin D, zinc and iron, making them the optimal way to start the day. Serve the dish with a side of roasted baby potatoes, and mom is guaranteed to be impressed.

Try the recipe: Tilapia Eggs Benedict from Regal Springs.

Brunch: Hash Brown, Tomato and Mozzarella Quiche

For a quirky brunch dish, bake a hash brown, tomato and mozzarella quiche. The egg dish utilizes hash browns as the crust, meaning it’s sure to be a winner with the kids (and really, who doesn’t love hash browns?). This dish will require a bit of patience as it needs to cook and rest in stages, but the preparation itself only takes 15 minutes. As an added bonus, the baked quiche will have the whole house smelling heavenly!

Try the recipe: Hash Brown, Tomato and Mozzarella Quiche from The Food Network.

Lunch: Grilled Tilapia

Spicy and delicate, this grilled Tilapia is easy to prepare and a guaranteed mom-pleaser. Simply coat the Tilapia fillets in seasoning and throw then on the grill, then mix the aioli ingredients together to create a dressing that looks and tastes gourmet — the kids should have no issues preparing this. This dish can be served with any number of sides, include mashed potatoes (always fun for kids) or any spring vegetable side dish. Best of all, the Tilapia fillets will be on the table in 15 minutes flat, so kids won’t even have time to get distracted!

Try the recipe: Grilled Tilapia from Gourmet Kitchen.

Dinner: Mexican Sheet Pan Tilapia

Simple, tasty and nutritious, this one-pan, protein-packed dish is sure to be a winner. Made with fresh veggies and ready in just 30 minutes, Mexican sheet pan Tilapia is incredibly easy for kids to make. Perfect to serve up to mom for either lunch or dinner, this meal offers a hefty dose of protein and a wonderful selection of Mexican spices. If the kids are feeling particularly inventive, plate the Tilapia on some tortillas and turn it into a burrito, making it a great breakfast choice too!

Try the recipe: Mexican Sheet Pan Tilapia from The Healthy Fish.

Dinner: Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia

Lemon butter Tilapia requires few ingredients, minimal effort and bakes in 10 – 12 minutes. Kids can easily get the Tilapia and any desired side dishes prepped and cooked in no time, so have them focus on perfecting the presentation of the dish to give it a little extra oomph. Try adding lemon wedges and a sprinkling of parsley leaves over the baked fillets to take this dish from tasty to gourmet.

Try the recipe: Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia from Damn Delicious.

The importance of Mother’s Day can sometimes get lost in the commercialization of such holidays. So, rather than splurging on an expensive gift, help your kids give mom something truly thoughtful. A homemade breakfast in bed or a delicious home-cooked dinner is a very special way for kids to show their mom how important she is.

For more Mother’s Day meal ideas, check out Easy, Healthy Meals Everyone Should Know How to Cook.

Photo Credits: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock Inc., Haley Davis / Brewing Happiness, The Food Network