Zandile Mengwai’s journey to dietetics began with her own struggles. As a picky eater, she became curious about health content, and growing up with two women who valued healthy eating made all the difference. Their influence showed her that food is not just about nutrition but also about its impact on our health and the connections it fosters.
Today, Mengwai is a dietitian who brings her personal journey to the table, blending it with her approach to healthy living. Her work is as authentic and grounded as the experiences that shaped her, offering others a path to better choices in a way that feels genuine.
Rooted in family culture
She tells Health For Mzansi that her late mother, Elizabeth Mengwai, along with her grandmother, were household farmers in Ga Nkwana village, located in Limpopo’s Sekhukhune District. Healthy eating naturally became a central part of their family values.
Her mother, who worked as a nanny, also cared for a malnourished child who recovered through proper nutrition.
This experience further strengthened Mengwai’s interest in dietetics.
“During my matric year, I was introduced to the field of dietetics through a drama book we were studying, and I was captivated by the main character’s traits, which resonated with me.”
Mengwai recalls seeing herself in the Pedi novel Kgalagalo Tsa Setu by S.M. Machitela.
“The main character, a young girl from a disadvantaged background without her mother, mirrored my own experiences.”
Despite the challenges, Mengwai was inspired by the character’s dedication to her studies and her determination to change her life by pursuing a degree in dietetics.
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Shaping a healthier future
Growing up in a family where food choices weren’t always up to everyone, Mengwai says, gave her a deeper insight into the impact food has on our health.
“I hated the healthy food my mom used to cook. I was kinda forced to eat what was available.”
Zandile Mengwai
She explains that studying dietetics made her realise how much her mother’s choices protected her from developing chronic illnesses.
From 2018 to 2021, she pursued an honours degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, previously known as Medunsa. Currently, Mengwai is working on her master’s degree in the same field.
“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have developed an interest in nutrition or a desire to help others become healthier versions of themselves.
“Empowering people to adopt healthy eating habits has been incredibly rewarding,” she adds.
“It fills me with pride to contribute to building a healthier nation.”
However, she highlights that in Mzansi, challenges persist. Widespread misconceptions about healthy eating continue to thrive, often fueled by unqualified nutritional advisors giving misleading advice.
She also notes that the lack of dietitians and nutritionists at the primary care level is another contributing factor, severely hindering efforts to effectively prevent obesity.
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Decoding food choices
In a country grappling with lifestyle diseases, Mengwai believes dietitians and nutritionists need a more prominent platform to educate and engage with the public across various channels.
“By promoting healthy lifestyles and targeting interventions early on, we can prevent the escalation of diet-related diseases.”
She adds that prevention is not only more effective but also more cost-efficient than treatment.
Mengwai says many young people believe they’re immune to diet-related diseases. She believes it’s important to understand the difference between what the body truly needs and what you’re craving, as they impact your health in different ways.
She further explains that what your body truly needs are essential nutrients: proteins, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, that support energy levels, growth, and proper bodily functions.
“These are the building blocks for maintaining good health.”
Cravings, on the other hand, are often triggered by emotional or environmental factors rather than nutritional needs.
They tend to focus on high-sugar, high-fat, or processed foods that might provide a quick energy boost or comfort but can lead to negative long-term health effects, like weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased risk of chronic diseases if consumed too frequently. Now serving as a registered dietitian at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, Gauteng Mengwai says she is exactly where she envisioned herself – serving the community.
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