Simply Flourish

The last couple of years has been really challenging for most of us, but it once again opened my eyes to what matters most – our faith, health, relationships & finding joy in the simple things in life.

I know the idea of holistic health, self-care and preparing nutritious meals for your family might feel overwhelming – but that’s why I’m here. I started SIMPLY FLOURISH to educate, inspire and support YOU.

Here's my journey

Hi, I am Minette. Child of God, wife, mother, Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and owner of Simply Flourish.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have found something I am so passionate about. Life is just too short to not – live simply, be kind, love unconditionally, laugh lots, dream big, be grateful, be truly happy & embrace who you are.

The year things changed for me!

In 2016 we moved to Japan and it’s here where my journey towards health started. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and the Japanese way of living changed everything for me. I realised my body is an instrument for the Lord and I needed to take care of it. What an incredible journey – I didn’t get sick as much, I had more energy and I completely fell in love with smoothies, superfoods and cooking healthy hearty food!

Motherhood...

I did a ridiculous amount of reading when I was pregnant as it was my first time being a mom! I knew how to nourish my body, what exercises to do and what meals to prep (lactation muffins). I thought I knew what was coming… until MOTHERHOOD happened.

I didn’t “bounce back”, rest, or make time for myself. I put so much pressure on myself to be the “perfect” mom for Miané.

What changed for me? Holistic health!

A holistic approach to healthy living extends far beyond nourishing food and diets. It’s also about your faith, loving relationships, hydration, stress, a positive mindset, movement, rest and self-care.

This is the reason I’m so passionate about holistic health. Now, almost 7 years into motherhood and a mother of two, I feel more myself than ever. I’m so grateful for this journey and that I’m listening to my body, simplifying life, while still learning and growing every single day.

3 Important lessons I’ve learnt

Do what works for you and YOUR family – your lifestyle will change as your circumstances change.

Be kind to yourself, your body and to others.

We’re all different - our children, circumstances and bodies, so let’s not compare and just be who we were created to be.

KIND WORDS

Vir die afgelope 5 jaar probeer ek al verskillende diëte en uiteindelik het ek ń leefstyl gevind wat vir my liggaam, siel en denke werk. Minette se benadering en passie oor voedsel en menswees is aansteeklik. En die beste van als - dit laat mens "ontspan" oor ń mens se eetgewoontes. Ek voel gesond, ontspanne en opgewonde oor kos. Haar benadering is volhoubaar en opwindend. Sy stel belang in jou as mens, jou geskiedenis en jou doelwitte. En vorm saam met jou ń nuwe leefstyl- wat bereikbaar is. Dis ook gesinsvriendelik, oud en jonk, man tot vrou wat ń bonus is as jy die een is wat moet kosmaak elke aand. Sy maak jou op elke manier moontlik gesond.

Minette - 'n vrou met waardes, kalmte, passie en inspirasie! Haar kalmte laat mens veilig voel om haar te nader vir advies - klein of groot - want jy weet daar is geen oordeel nie. Haar waardes het my verseker dat sy altyd my en my kind se belange te harte neem. Jou passie is 'n ware inspirasie en motiveer my om die beste weergawe van myself te wees - met "grace".

Minette's passion, commitment and knowledge makes her the perfect health coach to work with. I will highly recommend Minette.

Ek wil net getuig dat die sessies saam met Minette vir my verskriklik baie beteken het. Ek is baie dankbaar vir die Here wat haar op die regte tyd oor my pad gestuur het. Ek het na die chemo en bestraling iemand nodig gehad om my te help en sy was daar vir my. Ek het baie gewig verloor en nie reg geëet nie en het bo alles iemand nodig gehad wat sou luister en my geestelik sal versterk. Sy was daardie persoon. Ek voel nou geestelik goed. Lyk goed en voel fisies goed. Ek het selfs 'n bietjie gewig opgetel. Sy was vir my 'n groot hulp. Ek is baie dankbaar daarvoor.

Minette is truly an impeccably thorough, educated, and knowledgeable health coach. She approaches every session with an open mind, providing advice and support in areas where I need, and she always remains non-judgemental which is something that means so much to me. Embarking on a holistic health journey has been so rewarding in all realms of my life – Minette has taught me that it is acceptable and not against the ‘rules’ to have a treat once in a while, and she has given me countless new meal ideas that I had firstly never thought of before; and, secondly, have now become staples in what I eat daily. I have learnt that the most important thing to remember with regards to holistic health, is that it must suit you and you must enjoy the journey, otherwise it will not be sustainable. Minette teaches this lesson in such a special way, and works tirelessly to make my goals attainable and enjoyable, supporting me every step of the way. Holistic health is part of who I am, and something I will forever be proud of and grateful for. I have Minette to thank for this.

The past few months with Minette have been incredible. If you ever need a health and wellness coach that not only has impeccable knowledge, but that truly listens and cares- join her for an eye opening journey of rediscovering yourself and finding what works for you in your every day life. I thought my life was pretty balanced , until I started this journey ... balance in the true sense of the word. I feel overwhelmed by the amount of growth I’ve experienced , physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I’m loving this new mind set I’ve developed regarding food and being kinder towards myself. Also realizing that I eat to nourish and not to punish myself... I’ve developed a great habit of enjoying cooking , finding time to search for new recipes and making an effort to make Whole Foods and letting go of the excuse “I have no time to cook healthy food”. Words are not enough to express how grateful I am to Simply Flourish Health.

“Minette het my soveel van myself geleer. Sy het my oë oopgemaak vir wêreld van gesondwees en vryheid. Ek het intoleransies ontdek wat ek nie eers geweet het ek het nie. Ek voel nie meer skuldig as ek ‘n dag nie gaan oefen nie. Ek het nie besef mens kan lekker eet en jou soettand voed sonder om skuldig te voel nie. Dit het alles in haar hande verander. Haar kennis is aansteeklik en sy is altyd net ń oproep/ e-pos ver weg. Sy het my in myself laat begin glo en dat ek instaat is om doelwitte te kan bereik. ń Mens stap regtig ń beter persoon van haar af weg.”

“I just want to thank Minette for the difference she made in my life. When I entered the competition I actually did not know what a Health Coaching Program is all about. But from my 1st session with her I could feel I really need to work on a lot of aspects in my life. The program gave me the opportunity to reflect and look into myself as to what I really need and want. I have really learnt a lot Minette, even if it was a simple thing as to how to manage time, and even to take a tea break. We tend to rush things in life and think that we are in control until we realize you actually have your marbles all over the show. Thank you that I could enjoy the 3 months with you it was really a LIFE CHANGING event! My wish is that your Business grows from success to success, enjoy your new journey as you are expanding your family. God bless!”

“I recently went on a 3-month health coaching journey with Minette and what a special journey it was! My main objective with coaching was to explore how a healthy lifestyle can contribute to anxiety that I have been struggling with for years. I have learnt this to name a few: 1. Eating healthy is important, but there are also other 'primary foods' such as career, relationships and exercise that contribute to the state of one's mental wellbeing. 2. Don't be so hard on yourself, you can love yourself more. 3. I've learnt to read labels and boy was I wrong about labels (anything with an E needs to go!) 4. Eating healthy can sometimes mean a 80/20% approach is also OK. 5. Sometimes it's good to be bad! 6. Lemon juice can make a green smoothie go from a normal smoothie to a super food smoothie. 7. Healthy fats are important - eat them nuts! Minette is extremely passionate about her clients' wellbeing and I could feel it in each and every session with her. She's got extensive knowledge and I appreciated how she always went over and above to share recipes, tips, meal ideas and more. I can highly recommend Minette to anyone that wants to live a healthy lifestyle, but does not know where to start. She cares and feels so deeply and has a beautiful and personal approach with her coaching. May you be blessed, Minette. Can't wait to see what you are going to do next!”

For many years, I struggled to find a lifestyle that I loved. Because of this, much care for what I put into my body lacked, I was drawn to peer pressure, and became so hard on myself about everything. I chose to do the Flourish with Purpose (six month) programme with Minette in an effort to better understand myself so that I could develop and follow a lifestyle that excites me. Looking back on the past six months I have learnt how to listen to my body, I have discovered the foods that my body responds well to, and from that have built my dream lifestyle that is both healthy and holistic. I would never have managed this, nor did I ever believe I would love my life this much, without the help of Minette. She is so passionate, thorough, knowledgeable, and remains open-minded every step of the way. Minette taught me so much, and I am so grateful. One of the lessons I will always take with me is to strive for progress over perfection in every facet of life. Thank you Minette, for everything, I will forever value what you have taught me.

Firstly, I just want to thank you for allowing yourself to be a servant of God in impacting my life and others out there! You approach life in a humble and serene way. You made my journey with you so simple and effortless. You listened to me and did not judge me in anyway. From our journey, I have accomplished the following: eating healthy, losing weight and aging gracefully. Minette was able to help me work toward my goals by embarking me on a personal quest for a common-sense approach to health and well-being. She also guided me on a simple yet highly effective spiritual program that produced unimagined levels of health and vitality. The most significant overall change I have noticed has been my eating habits that are so much healthier. I feel light, healthy and I can think clearly now. This boosted my confidence level due to weight loss and the maintenance of it. I sincerely thank you for being in my life at a time like this. May God continue using you to touch the lives of others the way you touched mine.

Minette het my op ‘n journey geneem wat ek nie eens geweet het ek op moet gaan nie. Sy is ‘n ongelooflike ondersteunende mens en luister met soveel omgee na jou bekommernisse en hoe jy doelwitte wil stel vir jou lewe. Sy het my geleer om meer holisties te dink oor die lewe en na my gesondheid, gees en vlees te kyk. Ek het geleer dat dit oor soveel meer as net wat ek eet gaan. Ek het altyd gedink dat my kos en gesondheid vervelig moet wees om gesond en voedsaam te wees, maar sy het my oë oopgemaak vir soveel meer as net dit. Ek vind myself my inkopie-mandjie volmaak met real foods waar ek altyd meer geprosesseerde kosse sou gekoop het. Sy het my soveel geleer oor wat nie net goed vir my is nie, maar ook vir my dogtertjie. Ek geniet dit nou om na my liggaam te luister en sy het my bemagtig om geen skaamte daaroor te hê nie. Ek voel só positief oor die manier wat ek my kos en gesondheid benader en ek sal enige iemand voorstel om op so journey met Minette te gaan.

It is not often that you meet a person who has so much compassion, grace, and sincerity. I started this journey with the hope of improving my eating habits, but I am leaving with so much more. After my sessions with Minette, I realized that I needed healing on a much deeper level than just knowing what to eat for breakfast each day. Every session is a journey of discovery, customized to where you are and your needs. Minette is always ready and always shows up, and that changed my life and health for the better!

Sjoe! Toe ek by Minette begin het het ek nie regtig geweet wat ek wil verander nie, maar ek het geweet iets moet verander. Voor die eerste sessie was ek senuweeagtig, maar ek kan eerlik sê na die eerste sessie het ek uit gesien na elke ander een. Minette fokus nie op jou gewig en sien dit as die enigste doelwit nie, maar sy gesels met jou en help jou om na jouself te kyk as 'n hele mens. Jy leer oor die konneksie tussen jou gut en absoluut alles anders. Sy laat jou geliefd, gehoor en geondersteun voel. Sy help jou anders kyk na kos en hoe gesonde kos 'n liefdesgeskenk is aan jouself. Hoe ongelooflik is dit nie? Minette het my gehelp om 'n meer gesonde perspektief te hê oor kos, om te dink oor hoe ek wil voel oor my gees, my liggaam en my mobiliteit in die verre toekoms. Elke liewe sent (en meer) werd! Dankie Minette!

Minette, you not only helped me figure out what to eat, but you also helped me sustain a good relationship with my diet during pregnancy and even now during my breastfeeding and after pregnancy journey. You administered nutrition advice in a manner that encourages healthy eating behaviors and lifestyle sustainability. Thank you for giving me maintenance strategies like journaling, mindful eating, assisted grocery shopping, and simply holding me accountable. Apart from helping me strengthen my knowledge on food, you also helped me improve my body image, especially during pregnancy, boosted my self-confidence, and supported my daily lifestyle. This has been (and still is) an incredible journey where I gained much more than a nutrition coach but a friend as well. Someone who has been so supportive - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually! I will forever be thankful! Jy is vir my 'n geskenk reg uit die hemel!

Realizing that it’s no longer just about me but the future of our baby, was an eye opener these past 6 months with Minette. I am ever grateful for her guidance and wisdom when it comes to food, health and pregnancy. The decisions you make now will have a ripple effect in future and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to, once again transform my way of thinking when it comes to food and health.