My son Cooper is six years and he is the pickiest eater ever! I have tried making fun recipes, different shapes out of food, etc etc. He would rather go to bed on an empty stomach than eat, or, if I am lucky enough to get him to try something, and he doesn’t like it, he gags on it and practically throws it up. What can I do?

Maureen Whitehouse:  LOVE HIM! Exactly the way he is… “picky” eating habits and all. What we focus on we get more of. If you begin to obsess about Cooper’s eating habits – he’ll subconsciously reinforce your perceptions of the way he eats and begin to eat less and less. What if instead, you offer him the same great, wholesome and creative food choices that it sounds like you already are, and then consciously add just one other key ingredient that you’re leaving out – complete acceptance. You’ll see very quickly that Cooper will pick up on your new unconditional acceptance of him and he’ll begin to gravitate towards the love you are subtly offering him along with the more tangible foods you put on his plate. To make it very simple, you can look at it this way; everything is either love, or a call for love… so what do you give your son if he is giving you a “call for love” via picky eating? Why, you offer him love of course! Once you accept him – JUST AS HE IS NOW. The happiness, connection and joy you both feel will spill over naturally into other ways of sharing… even meals! Relax – have fun at mealtime with Cooper and honor his unique eating style. He’ll grow and evolve through all of this quite naturally, just as you will, if you let love and not fear lead the way. And keep in mind, what we all live for, thrive on and crave the most in life is love! Also recommended read Soul-Full Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness and visit www.eatwithsoul.com

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Maureen Whitehouse, author of “Soul-Full Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness,” launches bestseller campaign for her award-winning book on Nov. 13, 2007

Visit www.eatwithsoul.com for more information.

During the holidays, when most of us overeat, we could be growing spiritually instead of horizontally. That’s right: Instead of eating our way into the next larger size pants, we could be eating our way to enlightenment.

That’s the premise of “Soul-Full Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness,” the award-winning book by Maureen Whitehouse, author, educator, international model, actress, talk show host and world traveler based in Hollywood, FL.

“Soul-Full Eating,” winner of the 2007 Independent Publisher Book Award in the category of Health/Medicine/Nutrition, also was a finalist in the Food/Cooking/Nutrition category of the 2007 Nautilus Book Awards. The Nautilus is a unique book award, recognizing authors and titles that contribute to our society’s awareness and well-being, and that embrace spiritual and ecological values such as compassion, sustainability, simplicity, and global peace.

Now “Soul-Full Eating” is headed for bestseller status. With a launch campaign scheduled for Nov. 13, Whitehouse expects the book to place high at both Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com on that day. Buyers who purchase “Soul-Full Eating” online ($17.79 at Amazon.com) will receive nearly $4000 in bonuses, including gifts from bestselling authors such as Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (co-creators of the #1 New York Times bestselling series “Chicken Soup for the Soul”) and organizations such as The Spiritual Cinema Circle.

In “Soul-Full Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness,” Whitehouse combines her knowledge as an expert in nutrition and spirituality to guide the reader to a delicious, rejuvenating and soul-satisfying path. “‘Soul-Full Eating’ is a much-needed guide aimed at helping us reconnect to a healthy way of consuming food simply by being aware of what resonates with the deepest part of us, our soul,” says Whitehouse. “You’ll discover ways to more lovingly connect with your Spirit and the planet any time you consume food. You’ll not only find a path to your soul, but also to the renewed health and vitality you’ve been seeking.”

“Food is energy,” notes Donna Eden, author of “Energy Medicine.” “When you absolutely love what you are eating, when your food resonates with your soul’s hunger, an uplifting energy infuses you that is as important as the vitamins the food contains. This book brings soul to the ways you nourish your body.”

Anyone of any faith, religion or personal philosophy can do use “Soul-Full Eating” to grow spiritually, says Whitehouse.

“Every religious tradition describes the ’still, small voice within’ that speaks clearly but quietly,” notes Dean Ornish, M.D., founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. “When we listen to our inner wisdom, we tend to choose foods and ways of living that are more healthful, as ‘Soul-Full Eating’ describes.”

Other bestselling authors who have endorsed “Soul-Full Eating” include Mark Victor Hansen, who calls Whitehouse’s book “Outstanding! This book will fill you with Soul.”

“Soul-Full Eating” can help the reader:

• Become aware of simple but dynamic changes one can make in the way one selects, prepares and eats food that will increase vibrancy and personal energy.
• Deepen one’s spiritual connection on a daily basis.
• Explore the best approaches to diet that are available today — including Raw Foods, Macrobiotics, Ayurveda, Acid/Alkaline Balance, Food Combining and the “new” Kosher.
• Gain cutting-edge knowledge about weight loss that bring self-love along with dropped pounds.
• Use foods to stimulate the body’s ability to rejuvenate and heal.

“This is a heart-expanding book from the most powerful, authentic woman I know,” says Catherine Ann Johnston, founder of The Body Positive of Berkeley, CA.

“Anyone can become a spiritual master at mealtime,” says Whitehouse. “Here’s the key: Eat with love what’s grown with love, prepared with love, and served with love.” Visit www.eatwithsoul.com for more information.