Local dietician Stefan van der Merwe has developed an app to help South Africans make healthier choices when eating out.
Called Chow, the free app lists healthy meals in specific restaurants, lets users see on a map where they are and then rewards them for making healthy choices.
The app makes use of GPS tracking and gives users full nutritional information on the healthy meals.
Van der Merwe says the most recent national population health survey shows almost half of adult South Africans reported they eat outside of the home, with almost a third doing so on a weekly basis. It also shows increasing intakes of fat, sugar and salt, accompanied by a decline in fruit, vegetables and fibre-rich foods, have played a part in the rising obesity, diabetes and hypertension rates in the country.
However, "we have to be realistic," says Van der Merwe, "In today's fast-paced world, people want convenience and eating out is here to stay. Through Chow, we aim to take the guesswork out of choosing a healthy meal and aim to make eating out a possibility that can fit within everyday healthy habits."
The programme accredits healthy meals in restaurants, based on a range of guidelines and criteria developed and administered by a team of registered dietitians.
Once a meal has been accredited, it is allowed to showcase the Chow mark, an official endorsement approved by the national Department of Health. These meals have to include beneficial food groups such as vegetables, wholegrain carbohydrates, healthy fats, lean or plant protein or dairy.
The meals are also limited to a certain number of kilojoules, saturated fat and sugar.
When users order a Chow-accredited meal they will earn 'Chow bucks' which can be used in exchange for vouchers from participating partners.
Van der Merwe hopes the app will play a part in driving restaurants and fast food establishments to provide healthier meal options. To achieve this, a Chow dietitian is appointed to each restaurant in the programme to support with meal analysis and accreditation, menu development and auditing, as well as general nutrition and health support.
Restaurants already on board include Spur, Jimmy's, and Caf'e Frank.
The app is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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