Our Stories
Kim Hofmann, Registered Dietician
I have known that I wanted to work with people, assisting them with thier issues, from the age of about 14. I realised from an early age that I was good at 'helping' people - it felt like it came naturally... Growing up in a healthy home made me very aware of food and I realised that many people struggle with food issues. At the same time I also went through my own issues with food and weight.
After taking a year off to au-pair in Germany, I came back to South Africa ready to study. I started with a BSc at Wits, majoring in Psychology and Physiology. I then went on to do my honours in Psychology before moving to Cape Town to study dietetics at UCT.
Thereafter I was able to start on my mission of helping people eat and live healthy! My interest has become more focussed, and I particularly love working with people who want to lose weight but can't seem to keep it off because of the psychological clutter that they live in. To be well balanced we need to look at nutrition, exercise, stress (or quietness), as well as our emotions and thoughts. Finding the reasons behind why the binging and other unhealthy habits are around and how to and how to change them is the key.
I started my private practice in 2006, and now have a successful private practice in Claremont where I attend to clients from all over Cape Town. I work with a wide range of people, from those seeking to lose weight to those with special medical needs.
I also lecutre nutrition at various institutes; give talks at and for wellness days; write articles/snippets for papers, magazines and various companies; am an advisory dietician for several exercise and food based initiatives; consult for various compnaies; and served on the ADSA WC committee as chariperson for 4 years.
Catherine Day, Registered Dietician & Lactation Consultant
Growing up on a farm in the rural Easten Cape made me aware of where our food comes from, how it is grown and then how it ends up on our plates. Growing up in this enviroment made me very aware of how food can affect your health but I always wanted to learn more the acutual science behind that food. And so, I decided to do a degree in Human Life Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch which majored in Physiology, Genetics, Psychology and Nutrition. To me, this was a perfect combination of all the areas of science which can play a role in how food can affect your health.
After my undergraduate studies I decided to further my knowledge by enrolling in an Honours degree in cardiovascular research at the University of Stellenbosch and graduated with Cum Laude. It is then when I realised that what I really wanted to do was work with people to help them make a difference in their lives by choosing nutrients that are most optimal for health, which is why I became a dietitian.
After finishing the postgraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at UCT, I was "shipped" off to Johannesburg to complete my community service year at Natalspruit Hospital. Here I gained valuable experience in hospital-based dietetics by managing a neontal ICU and paediatric ward as well an adult high care ward and various clinics focusing on high blood pressure & cardiovascular health.
I then returned to Cape Town to lecture on a part-time basis at UCT and opened a private practice where I have a special interest in weight management, cardiovascular health, IBS and gout. Subsequently, I have graduated with post-graduate dipolma in lactation consultancy from Wits therefore I also have a BIG passion for breastfeeding and infant nutrition. I also really enjoy professional speaking and wellness days presentations and demo's.
Currently I serve as the Association of Dietetics South Africa as the WC chairperson and on the Execuative ADSA committee within the communications portfolio.
My motto: Love Food. Eat Smart. Love life.