Heal from within.

Together, we work to find your body’s natural rhythm and restore harmony, with nutrition as a core pillar of healing.

Get in Touch

How can I help you?

I am a registered dietitian, with certification in integrative nutrition.

I take a root-cause approach to health. I want to get you back to feeling your best self again, naturally.

Areas I can assist you with

Finding your body’s healthy weight
Developing a healthy relationship with food
Gut health concerns (IBS, bloating, food sensitivities)
Hormonal imbalances (PMS, PCOS)
Transition to menopause
Fertility and preconception care
Breastfeeding support
Diabetes and insulin resistance
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Cholesterol management
Fatigue, burnout, or low energy
Skin conditions (eczema, acne, psoriasis)
Personalized nutrition through genetic testing

I am available to consult online or in-person.

Book a free 15 min introductory call with me to find out more information on how we can work together!

Free Intro Call
Available Online
Read More
15 min
Book Now

Call/ Whatsapp

+27 79 413 1980

Email

deena.nutrition@gmail.com

Follow

Get in Touch

My Approach

I take an integrative and functional approach to health — a personalised, holistic method that focuses on finding the root causes of imbalance, restoring wellness, and preventing disease. It values the importance of feeling at peace in mind, body, and spirit.

This approach doesn’t look at conditions in isolation—it sees the body as a connected, dynamic system. When one part is out of balance, it often affects the rest. Together, we work to find your body’s natural rhythm and restore harmony, with nutrition as a core pillar of healing.

It embraces a wide range of healing modalities—traditional, conventional, complementary, and alternative—based on what best supports your individual health journey.

Personalisation

Together, we’ll create a personalised plan that works for you—one that supports your unique goals and allows you to feel like your most vibrant, energised self. Because health isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Attainable

Nutrition should be realistic, enjoyable, and aligned with your life. Often, small, sustainable changes can create a powerful impact. Health doesn’t have to come from massive overhauls—it can start with simple shifts that fit into your daily routine.

Supportive Care

I will support you, counsel and guide you through the whole process. I am here to help in every step of the way!

Services

Virtual and in-person consultations available for all services.

Get in Touch

Nutrition Consultations

Every client receives a personalised plan tailored to their unique health history, lifestyle, and goals. In-person or online consultations are available. You can also choose to do these sessions together with your partner. 1) Initial Consultation (60 mins) In our first session, I’ll take a comprehensive medical and dietary history, along with any other relevant information that will help me understand your health picture. This forms the foundation for creating your personalised plan. 2) Second Consultation (40-60 mins) Here, we’ll review your customised health and meal plan together. I’ll explain the approach and answer any questions you may have so you feel confident and supported moving forward. 3) Follow-Up Consultations (20-30mins) These sessions serve as check-ins to monitor your progress, make any necessary adjustments, and provide continued support. They’re especially helpful in staying consistent and achieving lasting results.

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing can help you better understand how your unique DNA influences your health, nutrition, and lifestyle needs. This cutting-edge tool provides insights into factors like nutrient metabolism, food sensitivities, hormonal balance, and detoxification pathways. By integrating your genetic profile with a holistic nutrition plan, we can create even more targeted, effective strategies to support your long-term well-being and prevent future health issues.

Body Composition Analysis

Body composition analysis gives you a deeper understanding of what’s happening beneath the surface of your weight. Using an InBody Scale, we can measure key markers like body fat percentage, muscle mass, and hydration levels — helping us track progress more accurately than a regular scale alone. With this information, we can tailor your nutrition and lifestyle plan to support healthy changes in body composition, boost energy, and improve overall wellness.

Discovery Vitality Consultations

Vitality members earn 1000 Vitality points once off for any consultation with a dietitian that is 30 minutes or longer in duration. I will work with you to set specific and achievable goals to help you improve your health. Please note that no meal plan is provided with this consultation.

Corporate Offerings

I offer tailored corporate nutrition services designed to support employee well-being, boost energy, and improve productivity in the workplace. Services include wellness talks, group workshops, personalised nutrition consultations, and health-focused content for staff. Each offering is designed to be engaging, practical, and aligned with your company’s wellness goals. Contact me directly to organise.

Supplement Session

Feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice about supplements? You're not alone. In this focused session, I’ll take a brief health and diet history, assess whether any blood tests are needed, and provide clear, personalised recommendations on the supplements that are right for you — no guesswork, just what your body truly needs.

Payment: We are a cash-based practice and not contracted into medical aid companies. You are therefore required to settle your account via EFT with us before your appointment or pay by cash/card on the day of appointment. On payment an invoice will be emailed which can be used to claim back the consultation fee from your Medical Aid Savings account should you wish to do so. Upfront payment is requested to confirm virtual consultations. Cancellation policy: Kindly note that any cancellations should be made at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the consultation. Failure to do so will result in the client being liable for the full consultation fee. Adjustments: Please note that if you are an existing client and would like adjustments to be made to your meal plan, or if you would like an updated plan (e.g. change in exercise program, new goals, pregnancy, breastfeeding, new medical diagnoses) you may be required to cover the cost for the time spent on preparing the revised/new plan.

Health is not merely the absence of disease, but the balance of mind, body and spirit - Hippocrates

Get in Touch

+27 79 413 1980

deena.nutrition@gmail.com

29 Derry Street, Vredehoek, Cape Town, 8001

There’s been some controversy around ice baths lately and whether or not they are actually good for us.

The argument against them is that a lot of us are already chronically stressed (due to a stressful job, busy lifestyle, under-eating, overtraining etc.). Putting our body under even more, extreme stress can’t be good for it and rather just adds to our stress load, which could then backfire and result in worsening symptoms like hormonal and gut issues.

The argument for them is that the extreme cold can help you cope better in situations of extreme stress, have better muscle recovery, circulation, and can have an anti-inflammatory effect. (This is however only if you are nourished and your nervous system is regulated).

My opinion?

I think it’s very context dependent. It may not even always be the same for any one individual at different times of their life or even the month.

Questions you could ask yourself to see if you would benefit from a cold plunge right now:
1. How stressed are you currently?
2. If you are a woman- what stage of your menstrual cycle are you currently in? Probably better to do it during ovulation.
3. How does your body generally respond to cold plunges? - do you feel energised and vital after? Or you do feel drained and worse off than how you felt before?

If you are very stressed, in your luteal phase and just exhausted, you would probably benefit more from a warm bath with epsom salts rather than a cold plunge!

But I do also see the place cold plunges can have as part of a holistic wellbeing plan, and it can be helpful to expose your body to some manageable stress every once in a while.

Side note: this looks like a jacuzzi but it was in fact an ice bath! 😂

What do you think? 👇

I call this the “Eat your greens” chicken pesto pasta. It’s super easy to eat your greens when they come like this!
✅ I used wholewheat pasta as it’s higher in fibre = better for our gut and less impact on blood sugar levels. Total fibre of this meal is 8g / serving!
🫛 peas are also add a great little boost to protein - the total protein of this meal is 35g / serving!

What you need:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup frozen peas
6-8 small zucchini, sliced
Salt and pepper
500g wholewheat pasta
1 shredded roast chicken
125g pesto
150ml cream (optional)

Steps:
1. Fry the peas and baby marrow in some olive oil and salt and pepper
2. Cook the pasta
3. Mix all ingredients together! And voila🤌🏼

Makes roughly ~6 servings

Let me know if you try it! 💃

#eatyourgreens🌱 #healthyeating #healthylifestyle #healthyideas

My go-to bolognaise recipe! - I make this recipe for friends often and it really never disappoints!

I love that it’s packed with some veggies, and that it uses ostrich meat, which is a leaner meat and high in iron, zinc & b-vitamins and generally just goes so well as a bolognaise in my opinion.

The recipe:

Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 sticks celery, plus leaves, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 500g ostrich mince
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed,
- 80ml red wine
- 250ml tomato purée
- 500ml hot beef stock
- Salt, pepper, a little sugar
- Healthy handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- Grated Parmesan cheese (measure with your heart)

Steps:
- heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan
- Add vegetables and stir over a low heat until beginning to soften
- Add mince and garlic and brown well over medium heat, toss continuously to loosen the mince
- Add wine and simmer till evaporated
- Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the cheese
- Reduce the heat to very low and simmer for ~45 mins stirring every now and then and adding any more stock if necessary.
- Remove the bay leaves
- Serve with any pasta of your choice and add Parmesan cheese
- Enjoy!!!!💃 🪩

Let me know if you tried it! 🥰

As the days pass, you may not always be aware of the progress you are making.

Sometimes it’s good to look back and see how far you’ve actually come :)

My practice doors are open and I can’t wait to guide you on your health journey!

Health and wellness is my passion, and sharing it with others gives me so much joy.

For more info:
www.deenadietitian.com (link in bio)
deena.nutrition@gmail.com

Some essentials I take on my carry-on while travelling ✈️

Common themes:
- fibre (because sometimes it seems like fibre just solves all of life’s problems)
- vitamins (to support the body on little sleep and usually less nutritional food)
- minerals (to support nervous system, hydration, immunity)

What are your carry-on bag essentials? 😊

Your next dinner recipe delivered right to your feed: Easy tofu-noodles 🥳

What you need:

1 block tofu
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs sesame oil
2 tbs peanut oil
1 tsp grated ginger
1 crushed garlic clove
400g tender stem broccoli
100g Corn
100g Frozen peas
2 carrots, peeled
2 celery sticks
4 spring onions, chopped

Steps:

Pat the tofu dry. Cut into cubes, and place in a small bowl. Mix together the soy, oils, ginger and garlic. Spoon over the tofu. Bake at 190 degrees for 15-20 mins.
Meanwhile, slice the vegetables lengthwise into thin strands.
Cook the noodles.
Once all done, mix them all together. Add soy sauce and sesame oil to taste.

Enjoy!!! 🪩

Camera roll of a foodie dietitian after some travelling! ✈️ one of my favourite things about travelling is exploring some of the local cuisine of the destination- this trip did not disappoint at all!! 🥳

1. Mediterranean brunch of my dreams
2. Can never get enough of burrata salad
3. Cold pink soup! A staple cuisine in Lithuania - made with beetroot and kefir. Tasty and great for gut health, what a win 🙌
4. Some local rye breads 🤩
5. The most amazing pizza & salad while people watching in Amsterdam 🤌🏼
6. Poppy seed layered challah bread🤩 I can still taste this
7. Pastrami bagel is forever my favourite
8. Obviously had to do a stop at @wholefoodsuk
9. Chipotle! 💃

A day of nourishing eats, peaceful scenery and some quality time with my mom and sister 🤍 @brookdalehydro ✨

Slowing down isn’t falling behind - it’s coming back to yourself 🧘‍♀️

#slowdown #meditation

Date night @addis_in_cape_restaurant 💃!!!

I always wondered why I craved pomegranate and felt so full of vitality after eating it.
Turns out, it’s not just me, it’s science! ✨

Pomegranates contain polyphenols that our gut bacteria transform into Urolithin-A, a postbiotic that supports mitochondrial health, muscle function, and immunity. 🧬💪

It’s amazing how something so delicious can actually make you feel good from the inside out.

Takeaway: Eat more pomegranate for vitality!! ❤️

Cooking used to feel like just another task on the to-do list. But somewhere along the way, I realised it was something more.

It became a space to slow down, connect, nourish, and learn.

~ enjoy the process ~

#mindfulcooking #nourishyourself #healingthroughfood #joyofcooking #foodismedicine #intuitiveeating #wellbeingjourney #maturingisrealizing

Home-made tzatziki recipe🥒:
- Greek yoghurt
- Grated cucumber
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Crushed garlic
- Dried herbs
- Dill
- Mint
- Salt & pepper
I just eyeball everything and then taste and adjust accordingly! 👁️

I love making a big bowl and storing it in the fridge to use over a few days.

Why I started a physical Yoga practice vs. What a physical Yoga practice has given me. The benefits are endless, it can be truly life changing!🧘‍♀️

I’m really happy to announce that I am officially a board certified Integrative & Functional Nutrition Care Practitioner (IFNCP)!!

Since studying to be a dietitian, I knew I wanted to go down the integrative and functional path. It all just made so much sense to me.

For those of you that may not know much about integrative/functional health, it is all about treating imbalances, inflammation and disease in the body by focusing on treating the root-cause, rather than just symptom suppression where at the end of the day - your just not feeling like your health is at an optimal place. By addressing the root cause, we can get you to optimal health!

We look at how your environment, genetics and diet impact your health, what needs to be changed and how to make these changes together.

I’m extremely excited for the path ahead. Watch this space for more exciting things and content to come!😊

Check out my latest article in the new edition of the Wellness Warehouse magazine on all the necessities relating to diet and skin health, one of my favourite topics. See the link in bio :) @wellnesswarehouse

Sleep has always been something so important to me, so naturally, I have accumulated many tips over the years to get the greatest sleep of your life. Here are just a few:
1. Limit your screen time AT LEAST one hour before bed. This is so, so important. You won’t be able to get a good night’s sleep if your phone is so close to your face so soon before going to sleep. Try and get out of the habit of going on your phone before bed. Try reading or listen to relaxing music.
2. Try and go to bed and wake up the same time every day. If you establish a good sleep routine, you body will recognise it and fall asleep easier.
3. Make use of the endless amount of calming herbs/flowers available. It can be in tea form or as an essential oil, or even capsules/tinctures - find what works best for you and what your favourite mode of using herbs/flowers are. I love teas as there are so many other health benefits of consuming phytonutrients (and I’m a drinks girlie, I always have at least 2 drinks on my table😂) I really find that some herbs work as well as coffee but have the opposite effect and are so calming.
4. Get some sunlight in your eyes in the morning and at sunset - this helps to reset your cortisol and melatonin levels i.e) your circadian rhythm! Cortisol should be higher in the morning and gradually decrease during the day and melatonin is released in the evening. Watching the sunset is kind of like taking a melatonin gummy.
5. EPSOM. SALT. BATHS. (thank me later) - epsom salt is a form of magnesium, which is extremely calming and relaxing for your muscles. Pair this with some lavender essential oil and you’ll be unable to keep your eyes open.
6. Remember no caffeine in the afternoon or evening. Alcohol should also ideally be avoided in the evenings, as it will have a similar effect on your sleep as caffeine.

These are just a few tips on ways to start improving your sleep. Let me know if you would like more info on improving your sleep, or if you have any questions!

Cute little message spotted on the placemats at a restaurant I was at in Portugal 🇵🇹 I really love this message around food so wanted to share it.

Remember that healthy food can provide us with so much nourishment and it can be so healing, but also always remember that your soul needs some nourishing too, and your soul can definitely be nourished by some of your favourite foods🧘‍♀️✨(especially while on vacation 😉). I find that any form of food restriction can often lead to feelings of emptiness, at a deeper level. Sometimes you literally need to feed your soul 🤌🏼

Did you know greener bananas are higher in resistant starch, therefore functioning as a prebiotic and feeding your friendly gut bacteria 🍌🦠

Resistant starch is also a complex carbohydrate and has less of an impact on your blood glucose levels 📉

Of course riper bananas are still great and have a place in the diet, but this is just an interesting, easy and harmless hack to get in more prebiotics 🤛

The word “diet” is derived from the Greek word “diaita” which means “a way of life”.

Make healthy eating your lifestyle 🥗 not just a temporary phase you’re in ☺️

There was recently a product recall on certain peanut butter products on the market in South Africa due to them being high in “mycotoxins”

What are mycotoxins??

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that are naturally produced by certain types of moulds (fungi). They can contaminate food anywhere from prior to harvest to storage as a result of mould infection to crops.

Mycotoxins are associated with adverse health effects such as cancer, liver and kidney damage, immune system dysregulation and reproductive dysfunction.

Peanuts are one of the crops at highest risk of mycotoxin contamination, more specifically “aflatoxin” which is amongst one of the most poisonous mycotoxins. The others being corn, wheat, soybean and legumes.

How can I make sure I am eating/buying safe peanut butter?

- Always inspect for any signs of mould or discolouration.
- Always ensure peanut butter is stored in a cool, dry place and tightly closed.
- Don’t buy peanut butter from informal sources unless clearly stated it has gone through aflatoxin testing.

Always wanted to be able to do a pull up? I’ve got you covered 💪 😇 Progress takes time, always remind yourself that, don’t give up!

Follow along for more strength training tips in the future! 🏋️‍♀️

🍵 Matcha has become a trendy “superfood” and is now commonly found in coffee shops.

Here’s why :

- Rich in the polyphenol EGCG: which can have anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties.
- L-theanine: an amino acid that can help improve mental focus and cognitive function and lessens the jitteriness from caffeine. It has also been shown to ease anxiety and stress.

Are you sensitive to caffeine in coffee? Try out matcha next time and let me know how your experience went! 😊

Your daily reminder that health doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. Food doesn’t have to be exclusively about nourishment - it can also be enjoyed purely for taste and experience or as part of social events and celebrations 🍾

It’s important to have realistic food goals that take into account that a certain physical appearance is not the only health goal; its also about how we feel physically, emotionally and mentally🧘‍♀️ If excluding certain foods from our diet leaves us feeling depleted or down, then it’s best to work around that and structure our diets in a balanced way to include our favourite foods and allow for social and personal experiences that enrich our lives and promote overall well-being 🍱

Many people may think that living a healthy lifestyle is a luxury and comes with a hefty price tag💸 (think supplements, gym membership and super foods). This doesn’t have to be the case, and it’s important to come back to the basics when looking at health holistically. There are many things you can start doing that do not come at an extra cost to you, but which can significantly improve your wellbeing.

These are just a few basic things which can really make a huge difference in your life🧘‍♀️.

More than 1 in 3 people do not eat enough magnesium. It is easy to obtain magnesium through our diets, as it is found in a variety of plant and animal food sources. Foods that are high in fibre usually also provide magnesium, such as nuts 🥜, seeds and green leafy vegetables 🥬.

Health problems that can be helped by taking a magnesium supplement can include constipation, indigestion, irregular heartbeat and muscle cramping (especially period cramps!).

If you are an athlete🏃or exercise frequently🏋️‍♀️, take note that you can have a higher magnesium requirement due to losing more fluids through sweating. Make sure you are meeting your requirement!

Blessings and Kombucha🙏🍹

Kombucha can provide benefits to your microbiome and gut health as it contains bacteria which can act as probiotics.
It is so easy to start making your own Kombucha!

You will need:
- Any tea of your choice (do not use decaffeinated or flavoured teas!)
- Sugar 250g
- SCOBY and starter liquid (symbiotic culture of bacterial yeast)
- Water 3L
- A big jar
- Air tight bottles
- Any fruit/flavours of your choice (for second fermentation)

How to:
1. Make the tea in 3L of boiling water water
2. Add all of the sugar and mix well
3. Let the water cool (NB- hot water can kill your SCOBY!)
4. Once cooled, transfer the water into the jar.
5. Add your SCOBY to the tea!
6. Seal the jar tightly and put it aside in a cool dark place
7. Now we wait…. 7-10 days (go and enjoy yourself and be excited for all the kombucha you’re about to drink 😉🍹)
8. Start tasting it at 7 days, and continue till day 10 or until you think it has fermented enough.
9. Once you feel it is ready, remove the SCOBY as well as some starter fluid for your next brew!
10. Pour your buch into air-tight bottles with your toppings of choice! I used mint and peaches!
11. Put the bottles aside for 3 more days for a second brew
12. After 3 days you buch is ready!!😁 enjoy!!

As a chronic eczema sufferer (eczema peeps will KNOW the struggle 💀), omega 3 has always been a priority for me! Swipe for more info about omega 3’s! 😊💛

Nothing better than some meal inspo to start off with!
This delicious chicken curry was a highlight on last week’s menu. So many yummy, nutritious ingredients in one meal! Here are a few highlights:

🍗Chicken = source of protein therefore excellent for the gains 💪 plus Niacin (B3) which helps give you lots of energy.

💛Turmeric = anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. This could be beneficial to absolutely anyone, but especially those with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, eczema, cancer, diabetes, asthma etc…

🍅Tomato and peppers = High in vitamin C which is an antioxidant, improves iron absorption, promotes healthy gums and boosts our immunity ⚡️🏃‍♂️they are also great sources of fibre and help diversify our gut microbiome.

🥔Potato = high in carbohydrates, giving us lots of energy! As well as Vitamin C, Vitamin Bs, potassium, manganese and magnesium (a favourite of mine🤩 especially if you get period cramps or need any support for your nerve function!)

These are just a few ingredients in my curry, but you can add whatever foods you enjoy to yours! I always try to make sure there are at least two veggies in it. Mix and match with ingredients that you enjoy, as curry is a great way to get in a nutrient-dense meal! 🍲 I prefer to think of meals in terms of how many useful nutrients you are getting out of them instead of just focusing on the calorie count!☺️

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow me on Instagram

@functionalfoodsbydee

I was so inspired by the holistic, scientific and warm consultation with Deena that I found it easy to follow the personalised, flexible diet plan that I was given .

After only two weeks I had lost weight, slept better and had so much more energy than before.

My diet plan offers so many different meal options that it is easy to integrate with family meal planning and even eating out.

Following this nutrition path also improved certain health issues I had, like bloatedness, reflux and stiff joints.

The other good news is that I am not suffering hunger pangs , neither am I deprived of all delicatessen I like, as treats are allowed!

Caron, 63

Get in Touch

Deena Shaulov

Deena Dietitian

Heal from within.

Together, we work to find your body’s natural rhythm and restore harmony, with nutrition as a core pillar of healing.

How can I help you?

Areas I can assist you with

Book a free 15 min introductory call with me to find out more information on how we can work together!

Free Intro Call

Call/ Whatsapp

Email

Follow

My Approach

Attainable

Supportive Care

Services

Virtual and in-person consultations available for all services.

Health is not merely the absence of disease, but the balance of mind, body and spirit - Hippocrates

Get in Touch

Follow me on Instagram

Subscribe to our newsletter

Deena Shaulov

Deena Dietitian

Heal from within.

Together, we work to find your body’s natural rhythm and restore harmony, with nutrition as a core pillar of healing.

How can I help you?

Areas I can assist you with

Book a free 15 min introductory call with me to find out more information on how we can work together!

Free Intro Call

Call/ Whatsapp

Email

Follow

My Approach

Attainable

Supportive Care

Services

Virtual and in-person consultations available for all services.

Health is not merely the absence of disease, but the balance of mind, body and spirit - Hippocrates

Get in Touch

​

Follow me on Instagram

Subscribe to our newsletter