Seasoned lifestyle coach, dietitian, and author Zikhona Spelman is gearing up to launch Africa’s first virtual nutrition consultation platform, the Digi-dietitians App, aiming to make professional healthcare accessible anytime and anywhere.

The Digi-dietitians App is the brainchild of Spelman, who is also the founder of the Wellbeing Academy and the author of the book Nutrition Demystified.

With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and heart disease accounting for nearly 58% of deaths in South Africa, access to expert nutrition care has never been more critical.

The Digi-dietitians App directly bridges this gap by connecting culturally diverse clients with HPCSA-registered dietitians clinically trained in Medical Nutrition Therapy at the click of a button.

Additionally, the platform addresses dietitian unemployment by offering qualified professionals from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to deliver vital lifestyle disease interventions remotely.

“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,” Zikhona Spelman says.

“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.”

Through the Digi-dietitians platform, users will receive personalized, empathetic, and science-driven dietary guidance tailored to each client’s specific clinical needs.

Beyond patient care, Spelman emphasizes that her goal is to actively create employment opportunities.

“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 center of managing and preventing all these lifestyle diseases that we see,” Spelman explains.

“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.”

By tackling misinformation, promoting the profession, addressing dietitian unemployment, and improving healthcare access, Spelman is pioneering a new era of digital wellness.

She invites media, stakeholders, and the public to an exclusive launch event to experience the application first-hand before it official goes live on the 1st of October.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Launch Platform: Digi-dietitians App

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