Registered dietitian, business owner, amateur baker, avid reader, keen traveller and foodie

Chantel started her dietetics career at the University of Stellenbosch in 2010. After graduating in 2013 she decided to choose a town far away from home to start her community service year at, and was placed at Sabie Hospital in Mpumalanga. She gained valuable knowledge in this year as she worked in the male and female general wards, clinics, paediatric and maternity wards. After her community service year she packed her bags and moved back to the Western Cape, where she started at an established private practice in Worcester. She eventually decided to start a private practice of her own – Imagine Dietitians and officially opened the doors in Stellenbosch, January 2016.

Chantel is passionate about assisting her clients with making sustainable lifestyle choices by following an individualized approach with each person that walks into her office. She is a firm believer of intuitive eating and practices these guidelines at each session. Her areas of interest include critical care (ICU), chronic diseases of the lifestyle (diabetes – type 1 and type 2, hypercholesterolaemia), disordered eating, emotional eaters and eating disorders, palliative care, women’s health (PCOS, hypothyroidism) and gastro-intestinal diseases, as well as peri-operative nutrition.

Qualifications / Courses:

• BSc Dietetics Honours (US) 2010 – 2013

• Infant Feeding course, BFHI (20 hour, Western Cape, Department of Health)
• CDE – 5 day Advanced course in Diabetes Care (CDE, Johannesburg)
• Bariatric Accredited Dietitian (CEMMSSA)
• Optifast accredited Dietitian (CDE and Nestle)
• Mind the Food Space (Disordered Eating Course), Module 1 – 6
• Role of Nutrition in Optimal Growth and Immunity (Post Graduate Programme in Pediatric Nutrition, through Boston University)
• ED’s for RDs (Canadian Eating Disorder course, presented by Shawna Melbourne)
• The Mindful Dietitian (Australian Eating Disorder course presented by Fiona Sutherland – currently enrolled)

Chantel’s activities when she is not at the office:

Chantel loves to bake and decorate cakes for friends and family’s special occasions, like birthday parties, baby showers and kitchen teas. She will gladly entertain and cook for loved ones at home as often as she can. When she is not cooking regular, everyday meals, she is experimenting with new recipes and flavours – often leaving her friends and family having to be the guinea pigs. She loves to read and has a variety of books on her bookshelf at home: ranging from economic topics, autobiographies, short stories and classics. She enjoys the vineyards and mountains in her backyard and regularly explores new areas in the Western Cape with the love of her life. She loves to travel and is already planning her next trip, where she will be exploring the variety of food, traditional ingredients and recipes they have to offer.

She is registered with the HPCSA (DT0042412) and is a member of Golden Key, Allergy SA and ADSA.

Registered dietitian, nature lover, world traveler, absolute foodie

After graduating from Stellenbosch in 2017 with a degree in dietetics, Maya went on to do her community service year at Kimberley Hospital in the Northern Cape. There she gained considerable experience by working in the various intensive care units, neonatal unit, the pediatric wards and various medical and surgical wards. After completion of her community service year she headed back to Stellenbosch and joined Imagine Dietitians in 2019. Maya is also busy with her Master’s degree in Therapeutic Nutrition at Stellenbosch University.

Maya is a firm believer that lifestyle changes can start at any age and loves being part of her patients’ journeys to optimal health. As an avid foodie she is passionate about promoting healthy cooking without compromising on taste and appearance.

Her areas of interest include pediatric nutrition, allergies and intolerances, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, nutrition in pregnancy and lactation, sports nutrition, critical care nutrition, nutrition in kidney failure and gastro-intestinal disorders.

Qualifications / Courses:

• BSc Dietetics Honours (US): 2014-2017
• Masters in therapeutic nutrition: in progress
  
• Infant feeding course, BFHI (Northern Cape Department of Health)
• Role of Nutrition in Optimal Growth and Immunity (Post Graduate Programme in Pediatric Nutrition, through Boston University)

Maya’s activities when she’s not in the office:

Maya loves cooking food and regularly hosts dinner parties for friends and family. She is also fond of checking out new restaurants and cafes over weekends. Maya enjoys nature and hiking in the beautiful mountains in the Western Cape and often goes camping with friends. Maya’s parents live overseas so during her holidays she normally travels to new countries and explores the nature, meets new people and always does a cooking class or two.