Mariza Ebersohn is a food photographer, videographer, and recipe creator whose lens and kitchen tell the same story: that healthy eating doesn’t have to be an uphill climb. A student of our online Nutrition course at The Nutrition Institute (NI), Mariza is a French-speaking South African and mom of two who found herself while living abroad—and found a deeper love for nutrition along the way. Through her plant-based lifestyle, her work behind the camera, and her online home lifeinthesouth.co, she’s on a mission to help people tune out the noise and focus on what food can really do for them.
In this post, we’ll explore Mariza’s journey from a creative small-town childhood to becoming a trusted voice in plant-based recipe creation, and how her studies with NI have deepened her understanding of nutrition. Join us as we discover her “North Star,” her favourite recipes, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Image Source: Mariza Ebersohn from @lifeinthesouth.co.
I’m a food photographer, videographer, and recipe creator. Mom of two. A French-speaking South African who found herself whilst living abroad.
I was a very creative kid. I grew up in a very small town with not a lot to keep me busy, so I looked for and curated so many creative outlets to keep me busy. I wanted to be a dress designer, cutting out magazines with magnificent dresses and making my own scrapbooks. I also made jewellery and sold it for a while—I wanted to be a jewellery designer, studying somewhere fabulous.
Over the years, I grew more and more interested in nutrition because my work, and eating plant-based, led me to a place where this love of understanding nutrition made me want to pursue it alongside my current job.
My health has been very good, but I get distracted sometimes by the new nuances of what we hear online, and that can be super confusing. I just want to know it all—not just for myself, but for others—so we can tune out the noise and focus on what food can really do, instead of it feeling like this uphill climb with no end in sight.
I have been plant-based for several years now, and I’ve done a lot of research so I know I’m getting what I need, especially during pregnancy and afterwards.
Image Source: Mariza Ebersohn from @lifeinthesouth.co.
I wake up at 5 a.m., read my daily scripture, and have some much-needed coffee or do a pilates workout. Then it’s school drop-off, followed by a run or a walk and a nourishing oat bowl for breakfast, before I start working. I make the recipes, shoot them, clean up, and get dressed before fetching my kids. Then we have a late lunch, and I start preparing dinner—or heat up what I’ve already made—adding more as needed, according to my family’s needs.
For breakfast, I love a yogurt-baked “cheesecake” with lemon and stewed blueberries and an oat crust. Stuffed sweet potatoes are such a fave of mine, with cottage cheese, chilli oil, avocado, and toasted peanuts. I also love a roasted veggie bowl with butternut, crispy chickpeas, broccoli, avocado, lemon hummus, and kimchi. At the moment I’m baking my own sourdough too, topped with peanut butter, low-sugar jam, or whipped cottage cheese—or, for savoury, hummus, avocado, and tomato chilli jam.
I’ve been doing less running and more weighted pilates, walking, and stretching, and I’ve really gotten stronger and less inflamed and fatigued. Apart from protein being the forefront macro—I can’t do life without my fibre!
Image Source: Mariza Ebersohn from @lifeinthesouth.co.
Definitely homemade pasta, other vegan French pastries, and creating traditional South African recipes with more vegan and healthier options.
Definitely learning a lot more about what’s going on inside the body, instead of just what you think is labelled as healthy—and why we need certain foods, and how they’re interlinked.
Balance is key. Hyper-focusing on or overthinking a single macro isn’t necessary. Find what works for you—we’re all unique, and the newest trend or diet might not be the best fit. A “diet” shouldn’t be something you stick to for a while; it should be a lifestyle you can sustain forever.
That eating healthy is labelled a certain way, even though we’re all pretty sick of being sick. In South Africa particularly, eating a certain healthy way is seen as a fad or a niche way of eating.
Image Source: Mariza Ebersohn from @lifeinthesouth.co.
Loyal, hardworking, and determined.
I love to sing.
Via my website lifeinthesouth.co.
Image Source: Mariza Ebersohn from @lifeinthesouth.co.
Mariza’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and finding balance. Her plant-based, story-driven approach to food, blending photography with a deep understanding of nutrition, has helped her tune out the noise and focus on what truly nourishes her family—and now, her community.
If Mariza’s story resonates with you, and you’re passionate about making a meaningful difference through food and nutrition, it’s never too late to start your own journey. With the right education, dedication, and a clear vision, you too can transform your love for food into a successful and fulfilling career. Let Mariza’s path inspire you to find your own balance—and help others find theirs.
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