1. Please tell us more about Chanelle Retief.  Where are you from and where did you study ?

Born and raised in Kempton Park, but my real passion for dietetics started in a small town Potchefstroom where I studied and received my Bsc. Dietetics degree. 

I grew up in Kempton Park and decided I wanted to be different - all my friends went to study at Tukkie (now UP) but I decided to go to Pukke... Best decision of my life!

After completing my 4 year dietetics degree, I did my community service year at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg. During this year I was offered a permanent post at the same hospital. I worked at Tambo from 2012 until 2020. 

During my time at Tambo I did my masters degree in dietetics at the University of Pretoria and also started my own practice (NutriFundi) after hours. 

At the end of 2019 I decided it is time to fully move into the private practice world.... I resigned, started working in (and at) NutriFundi full time and like they say.... the rest is history!

2. You are passionate about running. Why would you run 5 comrades marathons ?

Wow - there is a fine line between passionate and crazy... haha! I love the feeling of accomplishment that running (and especially running Comrades) gives you. 

I believe - if you can finish a Comrades.... you can do anything! And I like to remind myself of that every year... and that's why I run every year (If COVID doesn't get in the way... haha)

3. Dietetics is a very specialised profession. What made to choose the profession ?

Nutrition plays such an important part in our daily lives and especially in South Africans... we incorporate food in everything. When someone is born, we eat... at a funeral, we eat! At a birthday party, we eat!

I love how nutrition can prevent certain diseases and also how nutrition can help an athlete to reach his or her goals. 

I think nutrition therapy is very underrated!

4. What is to come for you in the next 5 years ?

I would like to take NutriFundi to the next level, but apart from that.... I want to take dietetics to the next level!! Exactly how I am going to do that, I still need to figure out!

On a personal note - I would like to do 10 Comrades marathons and I would LOVE if one of those could be a sub 10 finish time. I am also in the process of buying a Crossfit box and I would love to build this box and grow so much that I need to get a bigger venue... #LifeGoals

5. 2020 and 2021 has been a few years to remember regarding COVID_19. How has the pandemic affected you positively ?

I love this question - I don't think people are seeing the positive side of COVID, But rather all the negativity. I think it is really important to note that COVID has shown many people that they have to start looking after themselves by eating healthy, being physically active etc. 

On a personal note - COVID was great for me and my husband. As both of us are self-employed and work funny hours, the initial hard lock down was great for us as we could spend some quality time together. Apart from that, I had some time to finish some of the online courses I have been putting off.