Helanie grew up in Potchefstroom, North West Province, where she studied Dietetics at the North West University, graduating in 2007. After completing her Community Service year at Witrand Hospital, where she met her husband, she moved to Canada in 2010. There, she registered as a Canadian Registered Dietitian, completed a course in Professional Photography, and enjoyed many exciting travels. She gained experience working in a clinical setting in the town where they lived.

In 2014, Helanie returned to South Africa, working in Food Service at Kimberley Hospital. During this time, she completed her Sports Nutrition Diploma through the International Olympics Committee in 2016. She later worked in Clinical Nutrition at Groote Schuur Hospital from 2017 until 2018 when she had her first baby. Helanie is also a trained CDE Optifast Dietitian and an EATFIT-trained dietitian. In 2021, she completed the Sports Dietitians of Australia Diploma in Sports Nutrition with honors.

From 2019 to 2021, she ran a private practice in Durbanville before moving back to Canada for her husband’s studies. During this time, she gained further experience in Canadian private practice with Eatuitive Nutrition, focusing on indirect calorimetry and working with athletes. Over the past year, she has been adjusting to life as a mother of twins, making her a busy mom of four. Currently, she is completing an EATFIT for IBS refresher course and keeping up with developments in sports nutrition.

As an athlete and a mother, Helanie understands the importance of practical nutrition planning. She is passionate about helping all kinds of athletes excel in their sports and life. She has a deep love for food, gut health, and their impact on the body and has personally witnessed how proper nutrition can enhance performance, fueling her passion for nutrition and sports. Her interests include clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, women’s health, and nutrition for all life stages.