- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Katherine Zeratsky and Jennifer Nelson
Jennifer K. Nelson, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.D.
Jennifer Nelson is your link to a better diet. As specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, she plays a vital role in bringing you healthy recipes and meal planning."Nutrition is one way people have direct control over the quality of their lives," she says. "I hope to translate the science of nutrition into ways that people can select and prepare great-tasting foods that help maintain health and treat disease."
A St. Paul, Minn., native, she has been with Mayo Clinic since 1978, and is director of clinical dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
She leads clinical nutrition efforts for a staff of more than 60 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees nutrition services, staffing, strategic and financial planning, and quality improvement. Nelson was co-editor of the "Mayo Clinic Diet" and the James Beard Foundation Award-winning "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook." She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many other Mayo Clinic books, including "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody," "The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and "The Mayo Clinic/Williams Sonoma Cookbook." She contributes to the strategic direction of the Food & Nutrition Center, which includes creating recipes and menus, reviewing nutrition content of various articles, and providing expert answers to nutrition questions.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She's active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes.
Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
Latest entries
- Juicing and blending with a focus on flavor
May 22, 2013
- Safe juicing and blending
May 14, 2013
- Is NEAT part of your weight-control plan?
May 1, 2013
- Exercise, hunger and weight loss
April 25, 2013
- Another look at meat consumption and mortality
April 17, 2013
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Nutrition-wise blog
-
March 25, 2010
Nutrition month: Healthy eating from the ground up
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Hardly a day, a week or a month goes by without some sort of local or national health campaign. March is National Nutrition Month. Created and sponsored by the American Dietetic Association, it's been an annual event since 1980. I've been in practice for as long and I've seen themes come and go. This one is an absolute winner!
The theme for 2010 is "Nutrition From the Ground Up." Going green — in all its meanings — is really important. Think of all the good things that we get from the ground:
- Whole grains (wheat, barley, oats, rice, maize, quinoa, and millet) have sustained civilizations throughout history.
- Vegetables of every size, color, shape, texture, and flavor. Each has a unique nutrient fingerprint. Do they add variety to our diets — you bet! Soups, salads or sides — sauteed, sliced or slapped on sandwiches.
- Fruit has been described as the ovary or womb of plants. Gross? No, lovely. That fleshy pulp surrounding the seed provides the seed — and us — with life-sustaining vitamins, minerals and phyto-compounds that are crucial for health. There's something to the saying about an apple a day.
- Legumes, beans, nuts and seeds are the plant version of protein foods. They grow on bushes or vines or even underground (peanuts). Sold dried or fresh, they can be cooked into a main meal or side dish.
What's the point? Research shows that plant foods are low in calories and sustain us in many important ways. Fresh or lightly processed they are also "earth friendly."
Throughout history humans have sought ways to fulfill our basic need for food. One could argue that worldwide agribusiness is mankind's ultimate accomplishment. However what will be our culinary legacy? What will our food supply look like in 10 years? In 50 years? I hope it will be predominantly "green" and not man-made "wonder" bread, chips, catsup and fruity flavored drinks.
Do we need a National Nutrition Month to help us be aware of what we should eat? Maybe so. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a list of monthly health observances — and many of them focus on nutrition. Take advantage of them.
What are your thoughts?
- Jennifer
9 comments posted
September 24, 2012 5:43 p.m.
When I am well rested and not seesrstd. I have a health issue I have been dealing with for nine years. On a bad day I can feel much worse than on a good day. If I am rested, calm and at peace I have the ability to deal with the daily pain of my condition. If I am tired and overwhelmed with other issues, the pain seems worse and makes the stress of other issues seem worse. I get tired easier and my pain tolerance is lower. Obviously, you cant isolate yourself from life, but you can learn coping skills to help.
- Den
September 21, 2010 4:52 p.m.
Jennifer, I need your expertise, or ability to consult with those in your peer group about a topic I'm having trouble getting data on. I have recently had gallbladder surgery, my doctor suggested I stop drinking water purified by reverse osmosis. He said it is very pure, but it is so pure all the minerals have been removed, making the water a hypo-tonic solution. Mixing this "dead water" with my body a hyper-tonic solution causes the two solutions to balance, stealing minerals from my organs, causing potential stones and osteoporosis. Can this be true? Can you direct me to some articles about drinking water that has been purified by the RO process? Our body is mostly water, I'm concerned about the water I drink. I was directed by a guy at a show to filter my water from the tap and swears by the Berkeyproducts Black element what can you recommend for home water filtration? Thanks RT
- R.T.
July 13, 2010 5:41 a.m.
I love nutrition month so much NOW AND FOREVER............................
- margaret mary d ocido
April 7, 2010 5:38 p.m.
A National Nutrition Month sounds like a great idea. Actually, I thought there already was a National Nutrition Month; there is a day or a month for just about everything else. Just kidding, I really appreciate your article. Thanks for sharing!
- Steve
April 3, 2010 3:35 p.m.
I have been a lacto ovo-vegetarian for most of my life, but still seem to struggle with my wt.. I eat nuts and beans, fruits and veggies, whole wheat bread with 6gm of fiber per serving daily. It seems though that, what ever I eat just get packed on my belly. I look like a Buddha. What can I do differently. any suggestion, please?
- sunita
March 31, 2010 5:56 p.m.
After eating the heavy meat, Fred Flintstone diet most of my life, a heart attack last year opened me up to a plant based diet, so eat more fruits and vegetables before the same thing happens to you. My cholesterol was in the normal range except I had low hdl.
- shaun
March 31, 2010 12:29 p.m.
Great article. I have been eating a mostly vegan diet for a year now, and have experienced incredible weight loss and health, as well as strength and endurance benefits!
- James Reno
March 26, 2010 3:14 p.m.
Jennifer, I think you're right, we do unfortunately need a month to remind people that eating healthy is important and we should be eating the right types of foods. What would be nice is to have an iPhone app that gives you daily healthy recipes. They may have one already, I'm not sure. I just think that everyone lives a fast paced life that they don't take the time to take proper care of their body.
- Brian
March 25, 2010 9:45 a.m.
Sure!! we need reminders!! all of us (if not why we have holidays to remember things....???) We need encouragement, just like kids, and these monthly events or topics are GREAT for that. Keep the good work. :)
- Mildred
Share on:
9 comments posted