I was moved to sign on for nourishment coaching with Chef Maria following advice from my healthcare practitioner that I eat a more nutrient-dense diet. This advice happened to coincide with Maria's launch of Heartful Kitchen: a cookbook for every body. Overwhelmed by the prospect of eating differently (combined with continued responsibilities to cook for family members), I took this as a sign and contacted my new navigator for a complimentary initial session.

Maria has been the ideal sherpa in my journey to steer away from excess carbs and sugars — longtime dietary staples of mine. She has given me tools for preparing tasty vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats, while also equipping me with a number of resources to make food preparation healthier while keeping it relatively stress-free.

She is everything you'd want in an experienced guide — knowledgeable, flexible, and an exceedingly careful listener who provides detailed notes after each consultation and is available between sessions via texting and email.

I particularly appreciate her ability to adjust ingredients for my particular digestive needs. In fact, every recipe in the cookbook includes recommended adjustments for individuals following particular food plans, including my own low FODMAPS requirement. She has helped me work through my inclinations to give up when I don't eat "perfectly" and through her kind support and guidance, I am more aware of choosing what I want to eat and the steps I need to prepare delicious and healthy foods.

It's easier than I anticipated and sometimes I hear Maria's gentle instruction in my head when I plan my snacks for the day ahead. I've observed feeling more satisfied after eating and less tired through the day, with an easier time maintaining my weight (versus gaining). I strongly recommend this investment in your health and nutrition.

— Holly C. (long-distance coaching client)

Heartful eating with Maria has been the magic bullet to help me regain my digestive health, vitality, mental focus and reduce inflammation I had been experiencing for over a year.

I had been spending much focus on trying to determine why I had many food sensitivities that were causing acid reflux, sleepless nights, irregular energies, cravings and sinus issues. I signed up for Chef Maria’s cooking classes and she came to my home for a kickstart program. Besides being fun, her wisdom and concern about the wellbeing of her clients, her follow-up and referrals are stellar.

Within 4 days of preparing my meals from Chef Maria’s Heartful Kitchen cookbook, my digestive issues and sugar cravings disappeared. I had less perceived hunger and I was sleeping well again. Weeks later, my level of hunger diminished, and I am being sustained by far less quantity than I had been eating in the past. The balance of quality rich foods are satisfying and sustain me through the day.

Within a few weeks, I noticed my sinus issues virtually disappeared. I am enjoying preparing delicious meals that I can eat for several days and be creative with the well-stocked refrigerator to make supplemental dishes. I look forward to planning my meals, love being in my kitchen (which is a first for me) as well as being creative by adding special touches to my meals. My friends are also reaping the benefits from my new culinary explorations too! I’m beginning to feel like the me I thought I should always be.

— Leslie V. G. (in-home one-on-one class)

Who doesn't like a kind, non-judgmental, and encouraging soul?

Chef Maria has a warm easy-going way of discovering your needs and how to best address them. Her consultation is packed with sound advice on how to manage one's health, specifically geared toward individual issues.

She covers not only creative and nourishing food recommendations, but also overall care of self, including fresh air and exercise, meditation/prayer, journaling, sleeping, supplements, socializing, and just slowing down and appreciating life.

Her motivating demeanor backed by sound knowledge inspires me to be aware of and implement her creative, healthy self-care practices.

Being held accountable helps with achieving these goals. I receive follow-up emails with detailed how-to suggestions and links pertaining expressly for my autoimmune needs. I'm grateful to have met her!

— Melissa S. (coaching client)

Chef Maria Cooper made the effort to get to know me. That is the first thing she did that impressed me and it still does.

In so doing I knew immediately how she would be able to help me. I am almost 70 years of age but I am also an Ironman. My life is a time-crunched blitz of coaching others and training myself. Yet this is the exact challenge I want to maintain as long as possible. My nutrition absolutely has to fuel this crazy life.

Could I get a bit more organized and better nourished? Maria and I chatted on FaceTime. Me, waving my iPad through my kitchen, Chef Maria observed, asked questions, and took notes. She had to know where we were starting.

We’ve laughed a lot on our consult calls. We are working together like teammates to create small transformations, targeting more wholesome living habits.

Just when I am about to forget what we talked about, the review and guidelines religiously arrive in my email box. She doesn’t forget. And like all good coaches, she follows up and checks in. She assures you — “you got this”.

I simply don’t know how you could do better than a coaching commitment with Chef Maria Cooper. She comes with generations of cooking savvy, but she moves at a pace where I live, her client…

It is a lovely dance of coaching wisdom combined with a true appreciation of what nature’s bounty has to offer. I consider myself smart and a darn good cook. Nevertheless, Maria’s mentorship has upgraded my whole system of buying, prepping, and nourishing myself. And the best news, it’s painless and simple. It’s always hopeful.

— Susan K. (long-distance coaching client)