
- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
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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.
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Nutrition-wise blog
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April 19, 2011
Kitchen organization: Control the clutter in your kitchen
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Besides food safety, what does kitchen organization have to do with nutrition? An organized kitchen is a more inviting space. If you like being in your kitchen, you're more likely to use it! And eating at home usually means healthier meals. Just consider that the average person eats about 134 calories more a meal when eating out.
Ready to get your kitchen whipped into shape? Try these tips:
- De-clutter. Get rid of old or expired food items. Throw out or recycle kitchen utensils that are broken, never used or duplicates.
- Organize by function. Group like items together. For example, put breakfast items all on one shelf, and baking items on another.
- Set the stage. Put pots and pans near the stove, dishes near the sink or dishwasher, and herbs and spices near the food prep area.
- Go vertical. All out of cupboard, drawer or countertop space? Invest in hooks or other hardware to hang up your pots, pans, utensils and aprons.
- Beautify. Kitchen organization can be attractive as well as functional. Use ceramic bowls or decorative baskets to hold fruits and vegetables or napkins and dish towels.
Don't overwhelm yourself by taking on the whole kitchen. Give yourself 30 minutes and see what happens. That 30 minutes might inspire you to tackle another cupboard or even your freezer next. Rediscover the joys of being in the kitchen. Make a meal and savor it — and your space.
- Katherine
1 comment posted
April 26, 2011 1:23 p.m.
Hi I read your hints on Kitchen Clutter, I found it inspiring, I will use some of these ideas, thanks. J.
- June
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