Lee Zhi Ling grew up in a home where every meal was hearty. Her parents were strict about the family’s diet, which included steamed or boiled vegetables and meat. That is why Zhi Ling has always been the health and wellness guru that Malaysians know her as today.
Upon receiving the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Master of Nutritional Sciences from University Putra Malaysia, she found her feet as a sales coach, where she would create healthy diet programs and try to make sales via calls and online. “That was my first job back in 2020 during the pandemic. After seven months, I found it very repetitive, so I took on another job where I was a recipe developer,” Zhi Ling says.
Over the next year, Zhi Ling crafted recipes exclusively for a company that sells multi-cookers. The following year, she added marketing to her resume, juggling between roles. “That position laid a good foundation for what I’m doing right now, like content creation and marketing skills,” Zhi Ling explains.
Towards the end of her marketing career, Zhi Ling started her content creation platform on Instagram to better engage with her audience. “There was too much on my plate, so I decided to resign from my marketing job and pursue a new career in helping people with their diets,” Zhi Ling says.
Life as a nutritionist and a content creator
After drawing her last salary as a marketer, she started developing nutritional talks to advise working people who are often too busy to eat proper meals on how to put aside some time to consume healthy food. She would create specific meal plans for private clients who needed help with their diet. “It’s a challenge to plan something specific for someone based on their age, lifestyle, and goals. So, I only took in a maximum of two clients at a time,” she says.
During that time, Zhi Ling was looking for something more fulfilling. “I witnessed a lot of people eating poorly and I thought something needed to be done,” she stresses, adding, “I was giving public nutritional talks and consulting, realising that creating content on social media can better educate the mass public.” This set the wheels in motion for Zhi Ling to do something that can put a smile on her face every day. Today, she has over 200k followers on Instagram.
Creating content for social media seems fun, but there is plenty of planning involved. “I usually start my day by writing scripts for upcoming shoots and nutritional talks. Then I’ll have to fact-check all my work, making sure I’m conveying the right messages to my audience,” Zhi Ling explains. If the shoot involves recipes and cooking methods, then she will have to develop the instructions beforehand.
From scripting and fact-checking to developing recipes and shooting, Zhi Ling does everything from A to Z to make sure her purpose in educating busy working Malaysians on nutrition doesn’t get lost in translation. “It has been a one-woman show for a while, but I have plans on getting an assistant on board this year,” she says, elaborating that she has been approached with more requests for nutritional talks and collaborations.
Although her daily schedule is jam-packed, the thought of helping people in need gives Zhi Ling a sense of satisfaction when the day ends. “Knowing that I’ve helped someone achieve their nutritional goals also motivates me to keep getting better [at educating],” she explains.
Her mission to tackle obesity in Malaysia
On her new career path, Zhi Ling came across more issues that required immediate attention. As of 2024, the obesity rate in Malaysia has reached 54.4% of adults, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey. This is an increase from 2019 when the rate was at 50.1%.
“I’ve been approached very often by different companies to educate the public about eating well. Malaysia is one of the unhealthiest countries in Southeast Asia, so I make it my mission to educate them with all the nutritional knowledge that I have,” Zhi Ling exclaims.
To advise and influence the nation on good eating habits, she will have to be very conscious of getting the right information before coaching someone on their eating habits. “Add, not restrict, is my motto. I agree that telling someone to eat better is easier said than done. That’s why I’d rather we pile on more whole foods to our diets like green vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fruits on top of what we’re already eating for lunch and dinner,” Zhi Ling advises.
When she’s out and about, she can be spotted carrying her containers of green vegetables and fruits from home. It’s simple and doesn’t require a lot of prepping time. “Once you’ve made healthy eating a priority, nothing else can come in the way. Most people don’t comprehend how much time they waste, until they fully utilise the time to do something useful, like preparing healthy meals at home,” Zhi Ling points out.
Nutritious food aside, getting enough sleep is just as important. According to Zhi Ling, lack of sleep may increase ghrelin – the hunger hormone, while decreasing leptin – the hormone that helps us feel full. This makes us feel hungry throughout the day, resulting in snacking unhealthily. So, try your best to go to bed early and get a good seven to nine hours of shut-eye, as this is one of the many factors that can curb obesity.
What’s next for Zhi Ling
Now that she has successfully created a following on social media via her nutritional talks, Zhi Ling has plans to further get the attention of Malaysians by creating merchandise. “I want to do something physical this time, like putting slogans on T-shirts to remind people to add nutrients to their meals instead of restricting,” Zhi Ling claims.
Another idea she has is to print her slogan on bento boxes, believing that it would be the best way to remind her audience to eat well. All these merchandises will be available for purchase during her talks. “This project is still in discussion and nothing is solid yet. However, I hope to make it happen,” says Zhi Ling.
Zhi Ling has come a long way from being a sales coach to having a purpose in her work. “I am grateful for all the support that my audience has given me, and I hope to influence more people to live a healthier lifestyle this 2025,” she concludes.
Follow Zhi Ling on Instagram for more motivational videos and read more inspirational stories here.
Photography by Imran Sulaiman
