Meet the Dietitian: Leanne Katzenellenbogen

Meet Dietitian, Leanne Katzenellenbogen, that dispels the myth that “diet” food is boring.

My name is Leanne Katzenellenbogen and I am a dietitian.

I originally decided to study to become a dietitian because I love helping people and I believe that good nutrition is integral to good health. I did my undergraduate BSc degree at WITS and then went on to do my Honours in Human Nutrition at UCT and my Masters after that through Stellenbosch University.

I currently work in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg in a private practice. I see people daily for various dietary issues. These may entail clients wanting some knowledge of how to eat healthily or people wanting lose weight. I also counsel many people who have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes on how to eat appropriately for their condition and how to manage their food and insulin.

The most satisfying part of my job is being able to help people achieve their dietary goals; whether it’s to achieve a certain weight, eat healthier or get their blood sugars under control. There are several client success stories that I could tell but my favourite is of a client who lost 50kg. It was such an enormous sense of achievement for him and brought great joy to him.

The most challenging aspect of my career would have to be keeping people motivated. In theory, to set a goal and stick to it seems simple. But… then real life gets in the way
and the task is way more challenging than it initially appears. Often goals are set and then not achieved and it can be very frustrating.

Having said that, there are still many people who do achieve their goals and it is very rewarding. There is a great misconception that the diets that dietitians give out are too strict, are boring and are unachievable. People often don’t realise that we are able to make meal plans exciting, fun and delicious.

I have written two books called “simple fabulous lunchbox ideas” and “Delicious Modern healthy Recipes for Diabetes” for just this reason. To try and dispel the myth that “diet” food is boring. The books highlight how delicious, creative and modern food can be even if you have certain dietary constraints.

So I would suggest that if you have any dietary issues that need sorting out, to go and visit a dietitian to help you maximise your chances of success on your nutrition journey.