My name is Maria Anderson, I’m a Holistic Health Counselor and have a BA in Contemplative Psychology and have had a lifelong interest in cooking, food and nutrition. I want to share what I’ve learned through my experience as a home cook, as well as my education in psychology, nutrition and health coaching. I’ve been in search of the diet that best sustains me for energy, mental clarity and maintaining a healthy weight. In my search I’ve found things that work for me and I am passionate about sharing what I’ve learned. I want to empower you to make food choices that make you feel healthier, happier and leave you with a sense of accomplishment.
Good health isn’t just about counting calories, being at your goal weight or spending hours at the gym. It also includes all of our other roles and relationships. Taking the larger context of one’s life into consideration is a big part of your overall health and in meeting your goals. I’m interested in helping you discover what positive lifestyle habits works best for you in a way that can serve you for the rest of your life.
I want to empower you with the tools for making good choices for yourself, to the point that you will no longer need my help. I want to help you make the first step towards better health.
I received my Holistic Health Coach training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I was trained in more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.
I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that I look at how all areas of your life are connected. Does stress at your job or in your relationship cause you to overeat? Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising? As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.
My approach is not to dwell on calories, carbs, fats, and proteins. It is not to create lists of restrictions or good and bad foods. Instead, I work with my clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible, fun and rewarding.
Together we’ll work to reach your health goals in areas such as achieving optimal weight, reducing food cravings, increasing sleep, and maximizing energy. As we work together, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the food and lifestyle choices that work best for you and implement lasting changes that will improve your energy, balance and health.
Here are some concepts that we will explore during our work together:
Bio-individuality™: The concept of bio-individuality is that each person has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and that’s why fad diets tend to fail in the long run. Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I’ll support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and ancestral background. I use a personalized, holistic approach to ensure that you will have great success!
Primary Food™: It’s easy to overlook all of the things that contribute to our sense of nourishment and fulfillment. It’s not just the food we eat, but all of the other factors present in our daily lives. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment. When these “primary foods” are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary. I will support you in achieving all of your goals, from eating the right foods for your body to living an inspired, fulfilling life.
Integrative Nutrition™ Plate: The Integrative Nutrition Plate emphasizes the importance of local and organic produce, whole grains, high-quality proteins, plant-based fats, and water. It shows you how a plate should appear at mealtime and emphasizes the importance of proportions and portion size. To complete the picture, the plate is surrounded with lifestyle factors that create optimal health: relationship, career, physical activity and spirituality. I’ll introduce you to some of the healthiest foods on the planet and teach you how to find what’s healthiest for your unique body!
Maria's Clean Plate 