Lifestyle coach, dietitian and author Zikhona Spelman is set to launch the Digi-dietitians App, a virtual nutrition consultation platform designed to make professional dietary care more accessible to people across Africa.
The platform, founded by Spelman, who is also the founder of the Wellbeing Academy and author of Nutrition Demystified, connects users with Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)-registered dietitians who are clinically trained in Medical Nutrition Therapy.
The platform is being introduced at a time when non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes and heart disease, account for nearly 58 per cent of deaths in South Africa, highlighting the growing need for accessible and professional nutrition care.
Through the Digi-dietitians App, users will be able to access personalised dietary guidance from qualified dietitians based on their individual clinical and nutritional needs.
The platform also seeks to improve access to culturally appropriate nutrition care by allowing users to choose from dietitians with different cultural and professional backgrounds.
“I’m passionate about nutrition, that’s why I started all of this. This is an initiative to put trained and certified dietitians on the frontline. A lot of people, when they are referred to look for a dietitian, don’t know where to start,” Spelman said.
“The app connects dietitians to the community. The app consists of ten dietitians from different cultures and backgrounds so people are able to choose a dietitian that meets their needs.”
Beyond improving access to nutrition services, the platform aims to create employment opportunities for qualified dietitians in South Africa, many of whom are currently unemployed.
Spelman said the platform would initially launch with 10 dietitians, with plans to expand the network as the app grows in South Africa and other African markets.
“We are launching with 10 dietitians now, and will be increasing the number of dietitians as the App grows beyond South Africa. There have been a lot of unemployed dietitians in South Africa, even though there is a rising need for their intervention because they are at the centre of managing and preventing all these lifestyle diseases that we see,” she said.
She added that the initiative was also driven by concerns over the growing amount of misinformation surrounding nutrition and healthy living.
“I’m no longer consulting, but I’m passionate about the profession, especially for the young ones qualified in the space but sitting at home. It saddens me, but it drives me. Especially with the misinformation that is out there about nutrition, people are confused and need direction,” Spelman said.
The Digi-dietitians App aims to address several challenges within the nutrition and healthcare space by improving access to qualified professionals, combating nutrition misinformation and creating new opportunities for dietitians to provide services remotely.
The platform will initially serve clients in South Africa, with ambitions to expand across the continent as demand grows.
Spelman has invited members of the media, healthcare stakeholders and the public to an exclusive launch event, where attendees will have the opportunity to experience the application before its official public launch.
Launch Details
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Platform: Digi-dietitians App
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