Nikoline Calcaterra is a Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner, holistic nutrition coach, and private chef whose work sits at the crossroads of nourishment, education, and holistic wellbeing. She is widely known for her ability to translate gut-brain science into practical, delicious, everyday cooking that empowers people to take charge of their health, one meal at a time.

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Nikoline’s roots run deep in Northern Ontario. Raised on her family’s 160-acre homestead, she spent her childhood surrounded by fresh food, clean air, and the rhythms of nature. Her earliest teachers were the garden rows her mother tended, and the meals that came straight from the earth to the table. Those formative years sparked not only a love of feeding people, but an intuitive understanding of how whole, unprocessed food supports vitality.

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Like many, adulthood pulled her away from those foundations. Long workdays, constant stress, and convenience-driven eating slowly became a way of life. Everything changed eighteen years ago when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. That moment became a catalyst that reconnected her to her roots and the healing potential of real food, slow living, and the microbiome.

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You may remember Nikoline from back in 2008-2012, as the Owner of Soul Sister Creations on Oak Street in North Bay, and the Chair of the Beautification Committee of the Downtown Improvement Association. You may also have frequented her booth to purchase her much coveted antipasto or banana bread during her 5 year stint as a regular vendor and board member at the North Bay Farmers’ Market. 

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In 2012, after a particularly stressful year, she made a bold decision: sell the house, close the business, give away the excess, and follow a calling she could no longer ignore. She spent the next year working and cooking across Italy and Scotland, living on farms, cooking beside Italian grandmothers, learning from farmers, studying seasonal ingredients, and rediscovering what it meant to cook slowly, intuitively, and with heart.

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That year changed her life. She returned home to Canada stronger, healthier, and, remarkably…in full remission. It was a turning point that confirmed what she had long felt: nutrition and lifestyle are powerful drivers of health, and the gut plays an essential role in immunity, energy, mood, and resilience.

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Since then, Nikoline has dedicated her career to understanding the gut-brain connection through the lens of Orthomolecular Nutrition and the heart of Tuscan cuisine. Her work blends science, tradition, and culinary artistry into an approach that is both accessible and deeply nourishing. She has coached hundreds of individuals through holistic transformations, from rebuilding energy and improving digestion to supporting mood, reducing inflammation, and creating sustainable wellness foundations.

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As a chef and educator, Nikoline believes food should be simple, joyful, and deeply satisfying. She teaches that you don’t need complicated recipes or expensive ingredients to support your microbiome, you just need real food, balanced meals, and a willingness to explore.

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Her 3-part “Cook For Your Life” series at Ohana Wellness is an invitation into that philosophy. Over three monthly winter classes, participants learn how to cook flavourful, balanced meals that support gut health and overall wellbeing, while also connecting with community and breaking up the long Northern winter with joy, learning, and nourishment.

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Whether she’s teaching, cooking, writing, or coaching, Nikoline’s mission is clear: to help people reconnect with the healing power of food and to make wellness feel accessible, fun and delicious.