About Us
Welcome to Imagine Dietitians™
We specialize in diet, nutrition, health promotion, wellness and vitality nutrition assessments. We also offer Online Consultations and Home Visits in the Stellenbosch, Paarl & Somerset West area. For more information click on the Contact Us tab or reach us at:
Chantel: chantel@imaginediet.co.za
Valpre: info@imaginediet.co.za
C: +27825637669
About Us
Imagine Dietitians (practice number: 0595039) opened its doors on the 4th of January 2016 in Stellenbosch. Our motto is – Live, Health & Life. We believe a holistic approach is the best way to a healthy lifestyle:
- Live – signifies living an active life by doing exercise most days of the week. We will be collaborating with personal trainers and biokineticists to ensure that the client receives appropriate advice on exercise.
- Health – signifies a healthy life through health promotion. We do Vitality Nutrition Consultations and will be arranging health days or nutrition talks at local businesses and schools.
- Life – The last part of the motto is directly related to nutrition – healthy recipes, interesting topics and articles on the latest research will be published on our blog.
We currently offer various dietetic services which include (but is not limited to) nutritional assessments and counseling in-hospital for patients who need nutritional support (sip feeds, enteral- or parenteral nutrition) or patients diagnosed with insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus (or any other chronic disease of the lifestyle), cancer, renal problems, rheumatology disease, eating disorders, weight loss and children who are picky eaters, suffer from constipation, have an iron deficiency or have inadequate dietary intake.
At the moment there are two registered dietitians working at the practice: Chantel Richardson and Stacy-Leigh Strydom. All clients / patients are billed at medical aid tariffs to ensure that their medical aid allocation for allied health will be stretched and they can benefit from proper nutritional care and follow-ups where needed, without unnecessary financial limitations.
More About Us
A dietitian is not only someone to assist with weight loss (even though it is a big component of what we do), we also do consultations for chronic diseases, pediatrics, cancer or any other nutrition related disorder:
- Weight loss
- Surgery and gastrointestinal problems: IBS, Chron’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Short gut syndrome, Malabsorption, etc.
- Cancer: Weight management during therapy and palliative care, diet adaptations and specialized meal plans
- Diabetes: Insulin resistance, Type 1 on Insulin, Type 2 on Insulin or medication, Gestational Diabetes, Diabetes in children
- Cholesterol and heart conditions: hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, previous heart attack, heart failure
- Liver, pancreas or gallbladder abnormalities
- Eating disorders: Anorexia or Bulimia
- Sports Nutrition
- Pregnancy and Lactation: Nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Pediatrics: Nutrition during first months of life, Introduction to solids, Toddler diet, School lunchbox ideas, Ideas for picky eaters, etc.
Please feel free to make a booking online or contact us if you want to know more.
Chantel Richardson
Registered Dietitian
Chantel Richardson
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 at, and was placed at Sabie Hospital in Mpumalanga in 2014. 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 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 dietary changes and 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 and emotional eaters, palliative care, weight loss, women’s health (PCOS, hypothyroidism) and gastro-intestinal diseases and 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)
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 just 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 love stories, 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 that they have.
Valpre van Schalkwyk
Registered Dietitian
Valpre van Schalkwyk
Registered dietitian, exercise enthusiast, adventurer, traveler and amateur diver
After qualifying from the University of Pretoria in 2016, Valpre started her career as a dietitian in Nelspruit Mpumalanga working at Rob Ferreira hospital. There she gained clinical experience working in the surgical wards, Internal medicine wards, paediatric ward, ICU as well as the neonatal ward. After completing her community service year she decided to embark on a new adventure in the Western Cape as it has always been a dream of hers.
She joined the Imagine Dietitian team in January 2018 and is enjoying the experiences from working both at the Mediclinic in stellenbosch as well as counselling at the office. Valpre has a keen interest in paediatric nutrition, critical care (ICU), peri-operative nutrition, nutrition and oncology, nutrition during palliative care , nutrition for chronic lifestyle diseases (diabetes – type 1 and type 2, hypercholesterolaemia, Hypertension), and weightloss
Valpre is passionate about helping her clients reach their goals and believes that a holistic approach to health is the only way to achieve lifestyle goals. She believes that focus should be placed on intuitive eating in order to achieve sustainable and long-term results.
Qualifications / Courses:
- B. Dietetics (UP) 2013 – 2016
- Infant Feeding course (20 hour, Gauteng, Department of Health)
- CDE – 5 day Advanced course in Diabetes Care (CDE, Johannesburg)
When Valpre isn’t working:
Valpre is an avid nature lover and enjoys most outdoor activities. She is at her happiest surrounded by friends and family hiking, having a picnic or even hosting one of her famous game nights. She is also fond of cooking and trying out new recipes. She absolutely loves her new hometown of Somerset west and spends a lot of time exploring all of the wonderful things the cape has to offer. She feels extremely passionate about traveling and ticking of her bucket list with her fiancé.
She is registered with the HPCSA: DT0049620 and is a member of ADSA.
Our Blog
HEALTH FOR EVERYONE
It is world health day and the theme of this year is Health for everyone. Health can be defined as being free from illness or injury. Nutrition plays a big role in the contribution towards health. Yet nutritional needs are different for each individual. Our nutritional needs are based upon our gender, age, weight, height, ethnicity and health status. In South Africa we have general guidelines to lead us towards meeting our nutritional needs and have optimal health. This article will explore the South African Food-based Dietary Guidelines.
CREAMY BUTTERNUT SOUP
Serves 2 - 4 Ingredients: 1kg Butternut, peeled and diced 2 medium Carrots, roughly chopped 3 Gem squash, halved, seeds removed 2 Tbsp Canola oil 1/2 tsp. Garlic, crushed 2l Water, boiling 3 tsp. Stock, powder, chicken 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon 1/4 tsp. Cumin 2 - 4 Tbsp....
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CREAMY ROASTED TOMATO AND BASIL SOUP
Serves 4 – 6 Ingredients: 600g Tomatoes, Rosa, small, halved 1 tsp. Garlic, chopped 2 Tbsp. Olive oil 2 Tins Tomato, diced 6 – 8 Basil leaves, chopped 250ml Stock, vegetable or chicken 1 – 2 tsp. Sugar 1 tsp. Vinegar Salt and pepper to taste 4 – 6 Tbsp. Cream...
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BOBOTIE WITH FLAVOURED RICE
BOBOTIE WITH FLAVOURED RICE Yields 6 portions INGREDIENTS: 1 slice white bread, thick 125ml milk 25ml oil 2 onions, in slices 2 garlic cloves, chopped fine 15ml ginger, fresh, grated 30ml curry powder 5ml tumeric 3ml cumin, fine 3ml coriander, fine 1kg mince,...
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MARINATED CHICKEN WITH HERBS
Yields 4 portions INGREDIENTS: 4 chicken fillets, deboned 45ml fresh lemon juice 15ml olive oil 30ml sherry, muscadel or port 60ml fresh basil, chopped OR 5ml dry basil 15ml fresh origanum OR 2.5ml dry origanum 5ml fresh thyme OR a pinch of...
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CAJUN TURKEY SALAD
This is an easy to make, fresh summer salad that includes a variety of different foods that covers all food groups. Sounds fantastic right? Ingredients (Serves 6) Cajun Salad Dressing 200ml ,Plain Yoghurt. 100ml, Mayonnaise. 3-5ml, (or to taste)Cajun...
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ROCKET AND PARMESAN SALAD
This is a delicious and fresh salad that is easy to make and it looks beautiful plated. You only need a few basic ingredients. Bonus - the lemon juice keeps the avocado nice and fresh - no more brown avo in leftover salad! Ingredients: 3 - 4 cups Rocket,...
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