I am a registered dietician and nutritionist from South Africa. I currently live in Singapore with my family. I have worked for almost 20 years in sports and exercise nutrition, gut health, disordered eating, and family wellness. I also have a Master's degree in Psychology from the University of Roehampton (London).
Hi, I'm Karlien Duvenage
Over the years, I have worked with Olympic-level, national, and provincial sporting teams, active individuals of all levels and ages, and various educational, community, and corporate organisations. I have extensive experience consulting with athletes, people recovering from eating disorders, and families with specific challenges, such as picky eating, food allergies and intolerance, gastrointestinal discomfort and neurodivergent development.
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I have done extensive accredited professional training and supervision in infant and childhood nutrition, gastrointestinal health, sports nutrition and eating disorders.
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​Recently, I have completed specialised training in:​
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Inclusive Approaches to Supporting Neurodivergent Children with Feeding Challenges (RDs for Neurodiversity);
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Working with Adolescents and their Families in Eating Disorder Treatment: FBT-Informed Nutrition Counselling for Dietitians (EDRD Pro)
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Trauma-Informed Care (The Mindful Dietitian).
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Treating the Emotional Eater: Disordered eating and eating disorder course. (Minding the Food Space)
My experiences as a parent, living in South Africa, China and now Singapore, as well as navigating our family's own health challenges have further broadened my approach to nutrition care and led me to create Karlien Dietitian, a practice focusing on supporting families in Singapore and abroad to raise intuitive eaters.
BSc Dietetics (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
MSc Psychology (Roehampton University, London, UK)
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Full membership (Nutritionist) at the Singapore Nutrition and Dietetic Association (SNDA)
Registered Dietician with Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
Full membership (Dietitian) at the Association of Dietetics of South Africa (ADSA)
Co-Chair of the SNDA Eating Disorder Interest Group (EDIG)
Professional registrations and memberships
Dietitian, Nutritionist, or Health Coach?
What’s the Difference?
Although these roles can sometimes overlap, they’re not the same.
Dietitians are university-qualified and regulated allied health professionals. We’re trained in medical nutrition therapy, psychology, biochemistry, food systems, and public health. We also complete a required number of supervised clinical hours before we’re eligible to register and practise independently.
Our training enables us to assess, diagnose, and treat nutrition-related concerns, and we adhere to professional codes of conduct and ongoing education. In many countries, dietetic services are also covered by health insurance.
Nutritionists, in some regions, may hold formal qualifications and can play essential roles in public health, education, or wellness. Many dietitians also work as nutritionists (like I do). However, in many countries, the title isn't protected, meaning anyone can use it, regardless of training. This can make it difficult for the public to know who is truly qualified.
Health coaches (Functional or otherwise) often offer motivational or lifestyle support. Some have extra specialist training, but generally, a health coach is not medically or clinically qualified to assess or manage medical, mental health, or feeding issues, especially in children.
If you’re working with someone for nutritional support, particularly a child or teen with specific health needs, it’s worth verifying their qualifications and scope of practice.