POLOKWANE – The 27-year-old has dreamed of becoming a dietitian from a young age. He followed his dream after school and enrolled at Sephako Makgatho University where he obtained a Bachelor and an Honours degree in dietetics and today he is a registered dietitian.
Kulani grew up in Alexander where he lived with his grandmother. He has always had a fascination with food and the benefits of eating right and that is why he decided he wanted a career where he could learn more about food and help others with his knowledge.
“I have always been intrigued with what happens to the body when we eat certain foods and that is where my passion for health and food began,” Kulani explained.
He gave a brief explanation of what a dietitian does on a daily basis and the importance of eating healthy to benefit your body.
“Dieticians are recognised experts in food and nutrition. We advise people on the food they should eat, which to avoid and how to adopt healthy eating habits. My biggest concern regarding South Africans and their lifestyle is what we call the nutrition transition. Most people live in cities and towns and they eat takeaways on a daily basis. That is why obesity is on the rise in our country. These unhealthy eating habits lead to other chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The diet of most people in South Africa consists of processed foods. The high amounts of stress they have added on top of that is a recipe for disaster,” Kulani explained.
He gave a few simple tips on how to eat healthier:
• Eat food that has been prepared at home.
• Limit portions sizes.
• If you have a piece of land, you can plant your own vegetables to have a constant source of food.
• Avoid eating processed foods.
Kulani shared some advice with those who want to pursue a career as a dietician, like where to study and the expected income range for a professional dietitian.
“You can study dietetics at various universities in the country like the University of Limpopo, Sefako Makgatho University, University of Pretoria or the University of Cape Town. He said dietitians can work at hospitals, own their own private practices, and go into sport nutrition or even the pharmaceutical food industry.
“The salary of a dietitian can range between R20 000 at a public institution to R200 000 a month at private institutions. If you want to become a qualified dietitian after you complete your studies, you must register with the Health Profession Council of South Africa and the Association of Dietitians in South Africa. You have to be passionate about what you do and be able to work well with people, that’s very important,” Kulani concluded.
