Carla Gerryts - Dietitian

Carla Gerryts - Dietitian Hi there! Welcome to my official nutrition page. Here you will find some interesting information, support and advice in your journey towards health.

Apparently, LinkedIn should be banned and deleted. As someone who always swims the opposite direction from a crowd, for ...
12/06/2026

Apparently, LinkedIn should be banned and deleted. As someone who always swims the opposite direction from a crowd, for better or worse, that is my preferred platform. I find it calming, constructive and I have learned so much reading the views of others. I am getting to the point.

If you follow me there, you will find another side of Carla. Yes, I have a big heart for my patients and clients. Dare I say, I have a bigger heart for my fellow dietitians and allied health colleagues.

I offered my time to be part of the Nutrition Congress 2026 to create this. And I am thankful for each and every "yes, Carla" that I received when I asked the expert speakers to be a part of this.

Please share to those who you think can benefit. If you are new to private practice, it will start to equip you. If you are currently in private practice, it will hopefully inspire.

See you there! Be part of the conversation.

Day 1 of Dietitians Week, and we are asked an interesting question: what is a calling?And how do I answer this question ...
01/06/2026

Day 1 of Dietitians Week, and we are asked an interesting question: what is a calling?

And how do I answer this question when I was told in my fourth and final year of studies that I will never be a good dietitian?

For me, the word calling brings up the Japanese concept of Ikigai, a spot where passion, vocation, mission and profession meet. And although I still have a way to go, I do think that I am a lot closer than I was 5 years ago.

For me, my passion is understanding people. My calling is to serve those who are overlooked or need extra compassion. My mission is offering a container of peace to reflect and make change possible for patients. And the profession that I chose, dietetics, is my vehicle to achieve all of the above.

I don't think I have spoken enough about my mom's cooking yet. My mom is evidence that a 6th love language exists: giving others food. And we were the lucky recipients of this gift. Fast food was reserved for when someone was sick or something is really, really wrong. From a young age, I learned that food was a source of joy and comfort.

And I want to share that with the world.

5 believes I have: 1. Drug-nutrient interactions are underexplored, undertreated and diminished to an afterthought. It d...
13/05/2026

5 believes I have:

1. Drug-nutrient interactions are underexplored, undertreated and diminished to an afterthought. It deserves more care and attention.
2. Neurodiversity and its impact on nutritional status will be the next frontier in nutrition science.
3. Not all eating disorders are rooted in body image and mommy issues. That line of thinking diminish so much of the treatment process.
4. Insight does not lead to change if the burden of shame is not adressed. Understanding WHY you do what you do is only useful if consumed with a teaspoon of compassion.
5. Change is only sustainable, even possible if a system supports it. We are asking people to climb a hill knowing we don't have any shoes available to offer. If you are talking to a mom, you are talking to a household. Community matters.

Your dietitian's page will and should never look as glamorous as your favorite influencer's content - here's whyI was in...
05/05/2026

Your dietitian's page will and should never look as glamorous as your favorite influencer's content - here's why

I was inspired by attending the ADSA roadshow to share some perspective on this. Thank you to Maria van der Merwe, ADSA President, who helped to shape a lot of my thinking around ethical practice and conduct.

When looking for a dietitian, the first step is checking Google and social media, am I right? You have been referred to someone, and eager to do a bit of snooping beforehand, you type their name in the search bar.

Oh, great! They have an Instagram and page.
But why does it look so...plain? So boring? So general?
Next up: a model nutritionist influencer, showcasing lots of products, offerings and supplements. How more exciting!

Wrong. Here is the reality.

1. Replace the word "medicine"/"medicinal item/equipment" with the term "food" in any of the regulatory guidelines. Read them again.
2. We are not allowed to endorse specific foodstuff/brands.
3. We are not allowed to endorse specific supplements.
4. We are not allowed to provide individualized dietary advice through content or via dm's.
5. Those before and after pictures you see on other pages? Think again. Patient privacy is a thing.

Just a kind reminder: although other influencers are open about their brand deals and products they market, WE are the problem, right? (yes, this was sarcasm for all of the Sheldon Coopers of the world).

We are in a profession, not an occupation or business. I will keep repeating this until I am blue in the face. This does not mean that dietitians are less creative, less informed or less marketable. We are bound by law, regulations and guidelines to conduct ourselves in a professional manner, in YOUR best interest.

Happy to open this up for debate if you have a different view. But remember: the internet is forever.

21/04/2026

Learning by seeing

I think many of us are visual learners: if you show us one time how its done, we got it. I tend to be a combination of visual and auditory (I vividly remember reading my biology textbook onto a casette tape and listening to it over and over).

The concept of a vision board is certainly not novel, but I do want to remind you why it is so powerful. It reminds us of what is possible. It is yours to get creative with. From a food perspective, there are many ways to use this as inspiration and explore your creative side as well. I am purposefully not using a food example, because I dont want to project my own perceptions and goals onto others.

This is my vision board for how I would like my life to feel, even in the mundane of home affairs and taxes.

Would love to see yours!

Is your food journey looking slightly like... the second version of the rose in my garden after the storm? Are you feeli...
20/04/2026

Is your food journey looking slightly like... the second version of the rose in my garden after the storm?

Are you feeling deflated, ashamed and like you are never going to bloom again?

It might feel that way, but did you know that the hailstorm that led to this battering and bruising actually provides the ground with nitrogen - to come back stronger than ever!

What if I tell you that what you are experiencing as failure is actually information that teaches you how to move forward?

Even wilted, both are still the same rose. You are still you - have grace with seasons!

Lots of love. Oh, and a new Olivia Rodrigo for your Monday!

Strong positioning for lifestyle interventions as a crucial, even fundamental pillar for the treatment of MDD. Been shou...
09/04/2026

Strong positioning for lifestyle interventions as a crucial, even fundamental pillar for the treatment of MDD.

Been shouting this from the rooftop for years, but the documentation and evidence-base is getting stronger and stronger. For all my bio colleagues: movement as PRIMARY therapy - I want to see you as part of the MDT in all psychiatric MDT teams.

A river that doesn't flow, leads to the death of all things living inside and outside of it. Movement is life. And nutrition does not only support the ability to move, but also biochemical changes in the brain.

When I ask: have you moved your body lately, I am not judging or wondering about the total number on the scale. I am exploring if you are underusing one of the most effective tools in your toolbox.

Be it gardening, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, aquarobics, there is a form of movement that can work for you - and fueling appropriately for it is just as important!
It is very empowering to position myself as someone who can help others build this very important pillar for their mental wellbeing.

Women and food - complicated, isn't it? What would you add to the list? And how can we support each other to make the jo...
08/04/2026

Women and food - complicated, isn't it? What would you add to the list? And how can we support each other to make the journey easier?

Proof of lifeYes, I am still here. There were reasons why I retreated for a bit. Usually, I will apologize for my silenc...
23/03/2026

Proof of life

Yes, I am still here. There were reasons why I retreated for a bit. Usually, I will apologize for my silence, but I am first and foremost a healthcare professional and definitely not an influencer - my focus will always be channeled to the patients in front of me.

But even before I am a healthcare professional, I am a human. A human that went through the most challenging 6 months of her life. I think we all know that list of the top stressors in life - I ticked many of them, including the loss of a loved one as well as moving house.

Through all of this, I knew the storm will pass eventually. That is the nature of storms. And as humans, we would like to put quick timelines to everything. We talk the talk about the "healing journey", but when it comes to walking the walk, we would prefer to be recovered by end of business today.

That is not how life works. And when the puzzle pieces move like this, you start to really rethink how you live your life. Your priorities.

All I knew is that I didn't want my gravestone to read: she worked hard. And I still have a tug of war inside of me, finding the balance between purpose, meaningful work, rest, health and all that makes me me. Who am I trying to impress?

At the end of the day, everyone is sound asleep at 01:00 at night, and you need to be at peace with your life.

I don't have all the answers. All I know is I haven't felt this grounded in a long time.
And I am taking the advice I give to many of my patients: starting from where I am and using what I have.

It is humbling.
It is beautiful.

04/02/2026

A nutrition support group - is it for you?

Let's talk about it!

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