Chantel, Bianca and Brittany are dietitians with a passion to heal your relationship with food and body
Imagine Dietitians (practice number: 0595039) opened its doors on the 4th of January 2016 in Stellenbosch. Imagine Dietitians 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, auto-immune disease, eating disorders, and children who are picky eaters, suffer from constipation, have an iron deficiency or have inadequate dietary intake. We are three registered dietitians working at the practice: Chantel Walker, Maya du Plessis and Danielle le Riche.
10/01/2026
My go-to summer dish ☀️🥗
When it’s hot, and I don’t feel like cooking, this is always the answer.
Tuna
Red, green & yellow peppers
Rice or pasta (pre-cooked or leftovers)
Apples (and any other fruit or veggies you love)
A bit of mayo
Mix… and voilà !
A quick and easy tuna salad that you can keep in the fridge, grab on the go, or enjoy on a hot summer’s day. Light, refreshing, flexible, and so satisfying.
💡 Add-ins I love: sweetcorn, cucumber, spring onion, grapes, avo, or a squeeze of lemon
💡 Great for: work lunches, beach days, lazy dinners, meal prep wins
Simple food. Zero fuss. Summer sorted.
08/01/2026
First week back in the office and at the hospital, and our hearts are full. 🤍
Back to consult rooms, ward rounds, conversations, and supporting patients where it matters most.
From outpatient care to hospital-based nutrition support, it’s a privilege to walk alongside each person on their health journey.
Here’s to a year of evidence-based care, compassion, and showing up, one patient at a time. ✨
06/01/2026
New year, new goals… but maybe not those goals. 🤍
This year we’re choosing intentions that support real wellbeing, not pressure, restriction, or perfection.
Because health isn’t about extremes, it’s about living well, consistently.
What’s one gentle goal you’re setting for yourself this year? 🤍👇
03/01/2026
Some fruits really say, “I’m built different” 😅🍍🍒
Misshapen, knobby, lumpy, or just plain weird-looking, but still just as delicious! Proof that food doesn’t have to look perfect to be good for you 👀
Have you spotted any oddly shaped fruits lately? Drop them below - we want to see! 👇🍎
22/12/2025
Behind every smile is a human, not a perfect one, just a real one!
As dietitians, we don’t believe in quick fixes or perfection. We believe in support, compassion, and meeting you where you are.
Whether you’re navigating food, illness, or recovery, you don’t have to do it alone. 💚
20/12/2025
This time of year can bring celebration, grief, or a mix of both. Family gatherings can feel comforting for some and overwhelming for others, and all of that is valid.
Knowing yourself means noticing what helps you cope: when to engage, when to step away, what foods feel supportive, and what kind of rest you need. Nourishing yourself isn’t only about what you eat, but how you care for your emotional and mental wellbeing too.
Go gently. Do what supports you.
19/12/2025
Family meals don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. 💛
They’re about connection, shared moments, and coming together around food, whether it’s a home-cooked favourite, takeaways, or leftovers on repeat.
Eating together can support nourishment, routine, and a healthier relationship with food for all ages. It’s not about what’s on the plate every time, but about showing up, slowing down, and enjoying food in good company.
Simple meals. Real life. Shared connection. 🍽️
18/12/2025
The end of the year is here and it’s been a full one.
A time to slow down, reflect, and allow ourselves to rest and recharge. 🌿
Nourishing your body isn’t only about food, it’s also about rest and balance. As we head into the festive season, be gentle with yourself, listen to your body, and prioritise what helps you feel restored.
Here’s to finishing the year with compassion, not pressure, and stepping into the new one feeling grounded and refuelled. 💚✨
12/12/2025
✨ Food for thought ✨
Expecting a dietitian to be thin, perfectly “healthy,” or to eat a certain way 24/7 is the same as expecting a doctor to never get sick.
Health professionals are humans first - with their own bodies, challenges, preferences, and journeys. 💚
Christmas cookies just hit different this time of year!
There’s something so simple and magical about mixing dough, decorating with way too many sprinkles, and sneaking “just one more” straight off the cooling rack.
In our house, Christmas cookies are a firm favourite - a little tradition that brings joy, laughter, and the sweetest moments together. ❤️
Here’s to festive treats, full hearts, and biscuits that somehow disappear faster than we can bake them!
08/12/2025
The end of the year is here, and wow, it’s been a lot!
We’re tired, stretched thin, and counting down the days… but remember: your body and mind still deserve care. ❤️
✨ Nourish yourself with meals that make you feel good.
✨ Rest when you can.
✨ Check in with your mental health.
✨ Be gentle with yourself - you’ve made it this far.
Let’s finish the year with compassion, not pressure. 💛
07/12/2025
This Christmas season, your body needs more than discipline. It needs care, nourishment, and kindness.
Let food be part of the joy, not the stress ✨🎄
Address
Suite 110, Drive Abrie Vermeulen's Rooms, Stellenbosch Mediclinic Stellenbosch 7600
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Imagine Dietitians (practice number: 0595039) opened its doors on the 4th of January 2016 in Stellenbosch. Our motto is – Imagine Living a Healthier Life. Now it is possible - 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 regularly on our blog.
Imagine Dietitians offer various dietetic services which include (but is not limited to) nutritional assessments and counselling 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, who had weight loss or poor weight gain, 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 Walker and Maya du Plessis. All clients / patients in hospital 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. Out of hospital our tariffs are based on medical aid fees and clients / patients can claim back from their medical aid.
Chantel started her dietetics career at the University of Stellenbosch in 2010. After graduating in 2013 she decided to move far away from home for her community service year. She was placed at Sabie Hospital, in Mpumalanga and 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 where she gained valuable knowledge in the field of private practice. She eventually decided to start her private practice – Imagine Dietitians in Stellenbosch and officially opened the doors in January 2016.
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 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 with each session. Her areas of interest include critical care (ICU) chronic diseases of the lifestyle (diabetes – type 1 and type 2, hypercholesterolaemia), eating disorders, disordered eating and emotional eaters, weight loss, women’s health (PCOS, hypothyroidism) and gastro-intestinal diseases.
When Chantel 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 love stories, autobiographies, short stories, classics and economy or research based books. 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.
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, nutrition in pregnancy and lactation, critical care nutrition, nutrition in kidney failure and gastro-intestinal disorders.
Qualifications / Courses:
BSc Dietetics Honours (US): 2014-2017
Masters in therapeutic nutrition: currently busy completing
Infant feeding course, BFHI (Northern Cape Department of Health)
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.
