On Easter morning, waking up to the clinking of pots and pans in the kitchen, the sunlight peeking in through the curtains, all I could think was that the Easter bunny had come at last. Stretching my arms and rubbing my eyes, as a child, I was out of bed before you could say “chocolate eggs.” I ran out down the stairs, full of anticipation for the decorated basket to start and my mother’s home cooked meal to finish. The Easter basket arrived with its frilly ribbons, pastel colored weaving, the plastic grassy stuffing, and colored Easter eggs with candy. It is a memory that is all too familiar to children on Easter morning.
    Dressing up in a sky colored dress and white shoes for the church service was another memory reminiscent of the symbol of spring and the less secular resurrection message we received in our sermons.
    The meaning of Easter might echo childrens’ laughter as they raced for Easter eggs hidden among the folds of grass in the lawn. Easter might mean chocolate bunnies and stuffed baby chicks tucked away in our baskets.
    Finally, The Easter meal centered around the family, the clothed and decorated dining room table, and my mother’s meal set before us. I remember my hand hovering over the creamy mashed potatoes, the sweet ham, and the green bean casserole, unsure of what to pick first. My mother spent the entire day making the meal just right: delicious and healthy. The taste of our mothers’ cooking is a warm feeling that can only have been achieved through love and care, and with that came carefully picked natural ingredients.
    There are an array of memories that define the meaning of Easter day, but one we might have forgotten is the season of spring and a chance to a fresh start. The Easter season is the time for seeds to settle and flowers to bloom. It is really a time of celebrating the rebirth of our Earth.
    Why not take a fresh start and celebrate all-natural this year? The key notes to a mother’s home-cooked meal is natural food, real food, without all the preservatives and artificial flavorings. So, perhaps we should spring forward this year and take a new approach to Easter and what it really means: presenting a healthy meal for your family to appreciate and enjoy.