Testimonials
Nourishment coaching testimonials
“Maria brings her staggering knowledge and deep heart to the task of helping people to learn how to nourish themselves.
I've not only learned how to cook delicious food, but I've started to rebuild my relationship with my body and my soul. If you're looking to bring heart back into your kitchen but don't know where to start — call Maria. Also, she's incredibly funny and a joy to be around, she'll make the process fun!”
— Mark (local coaching client)
“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 (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)
“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)
“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 KITCHEN reviews
“I have the immense good fortune to be a member of The Highland City Club (in Boulder) having featured executive chef Maria for the past eight years. So many pages of this beautiful book bring back delightful memories of the soups, salads, vegetables, sauces, main dishes, and desserts that has made lunch (personal main meal) the absolute highlight of my day.
So, from the perspective of a five-meal-per-week diner, thank you, Maria, for the talent and love you put into each and every dining experience for me and for now extending the same opportunity to the world-at-large.”
— Steve
”This cookbook is absolutely gorgeous. Chef Maria has taken so much time to craft each recipe and amend them with information for specific diets. For starters, all of the recipes are paleo-based as well as gluten, dairy and sugar free. She goes the extra mile with her substitutions section, so people with special diets ranging from FODMAPS to a low-histamine diet can enjoy her recipes.
Even the most intrepid cook will find the recipes easy to navigate and create.
I am so grateful for Maria's culinary knowledge and will be recommending her book to friends and family members!”
— Amazon review
“I will tell you now that both my husband and I have been absolutely loving your recipes and have made quite a few of them.
I especially appreciate “Component Cooking in Action.” I equate it to organizing for success. For example, having all my veggies roasted ahead of time has been brilliant and making up my breakfast smoothies ahead too. I love Sundays for this. Thank you!
Also, I am not a huge fish eater but the Citrus & Herb-Seared Fish & Scallops I have tried so far made eating it a treat!! Trust me that’s HUGE!!”
— Jacqueline
“I love this cookbook I love how I feel after eating the the recipes in it!! You can tell a lot of heart went into this book.
The pictures are extremely well done and stunning. I have been looking for simple but original and flavorful, healthy, accessible, and delicious and these recipes so far have met every demand. I have made at least 6 recipes so far and they all came out SO GOOD!
The flavors are imaginative and bursting, especially the Moroccan lamb tagine. My favorite is still the Bombay Chicken salad with the Bombay vinaigrette- truly amazing. I highly recommend this cookbook!!!”
— Amazon review
“What a gift! This cookbook is very easy to follow.
Our family has recently cut sugar and we really watch our carbohydrate intake. This cookbook is spot on for that cooking style. We used the cookbook the very first day that we received it and can't wait to continue to explore the recipes.
Honestly, the ingredients used in this cookbook were as if my trainer and doctor wrote it.
The week before I received this gift my trainer was talking about the healing qualities in many spices that are used in this cookbook.”
— Tyra
“Every recipe is a winner!
One of my best and favorite cookbooks - everything I try is just fantastic! I have cookbooks that the recipes are just "ok" - it nice to have a cookbook that I can know that every recipe I try is a winner. I bought the hard copy at Alfalfa's in Boulder - I hesitated because of the price, but am glad I've had it and am really enjoying this cookbook.”
— Clair
“Great whole hearted cookbook. I got my hands on two of these books as they make the perfect present for families who have multiple different restrictions across multiple people.
This book is highly accessible and beautiful to look at. I think my favorite part about the whole book is how real it is. Maria's writing and advice is just what you are looking for whether you are a seasoned cook or someone just starting.”
— Mauro
“One of a kind!! The BEST!!"
I've been a collector of cookbooks for as long as I can remember! I have also attempted to follow every diet program on the planet! Chef Maria needs to be recognized for creating intelligent and easy to follow guidelines and recipes that don't intimidate the reader to put this somewhere on the shelf.
This is an "encyclopedia" for health and fitness and fabulous tasting food that should be visible in every kitchen.
It is one of a kind, yes, giving fabulous, mouth-watering recipes but includes something that no other book does.....EDUCATION! .......all in one place...it is obvious that this creation comes directly from Chef Maria's heart and love of healthy food! BRAVO!!!!!!!”
— EJ
“I have been fortunate to have been on the receiving end of a number of Chef Maria’s creations. It is truly a gift that she has chosen to share many of her creations.
The book itself is beautifully written and photographs superb. Instructions and ingredients explained crystal clear.
I bought a number of books for my kids and employees. Thanks Chef Maria!”
— Amazon review
“Delicious and nourishing.
These recipes uplift our bodies.. there are a variety.. from simple to more challenging.. and, my children LOVE everything we've tried. my daughter has health issues and she's been on all sorts of different diets.. this book lists what diets (paleo, gaps, AIP) correspond to each recipe. a beautiful treasure with colorful photographs... thank you. :)”
— Amy
“Recipes great for ANYone!!
This cookbook is awesome! The recipes are great, pictures are beautiful, and they are easy to make!
This is perfect for anyone with or without food sensitivities. I’d highly recommend it!”
— Amazon review
“Delicious, Healthy, Beautiful, in that order.
I've eaten Maria's delicious and healthy cooking about five days a week for the last four months for lunch, so I knew she was the real deal. Now I'm thrilled to have this lovely book so I can make the same dishes at home!”
— Jonathan
“ Take back your health with this cookbook!
Heartful Kitchen is easy to read, easy to use; it's got great pictures, and recipes that make your mouth water. Chef Maria's love of food -- and love of nourishment -- flows off every page.”