Mother’s Day is no longer celebrated the way it was in 1870, when Julia Ward House, an abolitionist and poet, began working to establish a Mother’s Day Peace by dedicating the day to the eradication of war. While today’s commercialized celebration of candy, flowers, gift certificates and lavish meals at restaurants bear little resemblance to Howe’s idea, throughout the years, women have set the day aside for activities such as standing for a world in which every child is safe, honored and nurtured (StandingWomen.net), greening the planet by planting trees (TreeSisters.org), and helping to usher in peace by planting Peace Poles (PeacePoleProject.org).

Even today’s home-cooked Mother’s Day meals are far from traditional. For instance, actress Kerry Washington’s mother was such an enthusiastic fan of a popular Sunday night HBO Game of Thrones TV series that she prepared her a feast worthy of its name—giant turkey legs, Medieval rice pilaf, grapes and ale.

On May 14, whether honoring a birth mom, a mentor or an admired friend, step outside the traditional box and consider treating her to a healthy moveable feast of breakfast in bed and picnic lunch after a morning bike ride or afternoon kayak paddle. Top off the day with a light finger food dinner while enjoying the sunset at the beach—throw in a movie date afterwards.

Order meals ahead of time from any one of the area’s healthy dining establishments and pick it up the night before. Less meal preparation time means more precious time can be enjoyed with mom.

Healthy Dining Resources

Ada’s Natural Market & Green Leaf Café, 7070 College Pkwy., Ft. Myers. 239-939-9600. AdasMarket.com.

Body and Soul Café, 9331 Tamiami Tr. N., Ste. 12, Naples. 239-682-3663. BodyAndSoulCafe.com.

Earth Origins Market, 15121 Tamiami Tr. S., Ste. 104, Ft. Myers. 239-210-3256. EarthOriginsMarket.com.

Fit & Fuel Bicycle Café, 819 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., adjacent to Naples Cycler in the Pavilion Shopping Center, Naples. 239-514-3333. FitNFuelCafe.com.

Food & Thought 100% Organic Farm Market and Café, 2132 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. 239-213-2222. FoodAndThought.com.

Loving Hut, 975 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples. 239-254-9490. LovingHut.us/naples_01.

Pizza Fusion, 12901 McGregor Blvd., Ste. 5, Ft. Myers. 239-337-7979. PizzaFusion.com/FortMyers. 2146 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. 239-262-8111. PizzaFusion.com/Naples.

Skinny Pantry, 14261 S. Tamiami Tr., Ste. 17, Ft. Myers. 239-935-5093. TheSkinnyPantry.com.

The Bowl, 1427 Pine Ridge Rd, Ste. 3, Naples. 239-734-3867. The-Bowl.com.

True Food Kitchen, 5375 Tamiami Trail Ste. 15, Naples. 239-431-4580. TrueFoodKitchen.com.

Whole Foods Market, 9101 Strada Pl., The Mercado, Naples. 239-552-5100. WholeFoodsMarket.com.

Wynn’s Market, 141 9 St. N., Naples. 239-261-7157. WynnsOnline.com.