- 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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June 20, 2012
Marketing and Mickey — A change in food marketing to children
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
I remember learning that food companies spend billions of dollars in food marketing to children under that age of 4. So, it was an amusing moment when I got to experience it for the first time as a mother.
It was a juice drink so cleverly marketed that my son not only asked me to buy it at the grocery store but also insisted that I watch the commercial when it came on. I could see the wheels turning in my son's head: "See mom, it really is healthy for me — just look at those kids frolicking around as they drink it!"
Do you have a similar story? What was the food and the "evidence" that made it a must buy?
Change is coming in 2015. The Walt Disney Company will enact a new set of nutritional standards for its theme park meals and any foods marketed on Disney television channels, radio stations and websites. The standards are based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Federal Trade Commission's proposed guidelines for marketing to children. The guidelines stress eating more nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and cutting back on saturated fats, sugar and sodium.
This is good news. Could it get even better? Will other large companies with a stake in children's entertainment follow suit?
You may be seeing fewer junk food ads, but you'll be seeing more Disney characters. Disney-licensed characters are already on fruit and vegetable packages. This will expand to a logo on the front of packages with Mickey Mouse and the slogan "Good For You — Fun Too!"
The chairman of Disney was quoted as saying: "This is not altruistic. This is smart business." How do you see it? Is Mickey promoting health? And are you buying? Please share your thoughts.
To our children's health,
Katherine
12 comments posted
January 9, 2013 11:01 a.m.
I just took a family vacation with our 2 1/2 year old and another family with a 2 year old, both girls. Disney has put the good for you fun too into action at Walt Disney world and they have a ton of really good options for kids and adults alike. Saying that they are taking it mainstream is awesome because no matter what you say about "just tell them No" about unhealthy foods, obesity in young children is scary and probably not even 1/2 of parents will areas this acticle and its comments. 100% of parents Do have children that while watching TV, going to the store, playing at a friends house, picking out a snack somewhere have the opportunity to see foods with characters on them and its nice to think that someone in charge of licensing is going to make Smart decisions on what the characters are allowed to go on.
- steph
October 8, 2012 9:23 a.m.
Yeah... just not so sure I believe Disney 100%. I think they are mostly doing this for exposure (we are in a recession therefore amusement parks are hurting because people don't have money to go to them) and mainly for MONEY! They probably said hey this is a good idea, we are for it, and lets do it... it will expose us and generate money for our corporation. Trust me, it's really about the money!
- Nancy
October 8, 2012 9:16 a.m.
I can't believe this article was written by a doc and she is concerned about the promotion of unhealthy foods. That's what parents are for to teach their children good from bad. Simple answer to above article- "no honey, most juices are not good for you they are full of sugar - what is good to drink is WATER! IT HAS NO SUGAR IT IS VERY HEALTHY!" Good grief people - get a grip on life it is not that hard just go that extra step and explain.
- Marty!
October 8, 2012 9:09 a.m.
Here's an idea - don't buy the unhealthy foods treats for our children. It is that simple you know - don't buy it. If enough parents don't buy it then food companies making the stuff will go out of business. It is up to the parents! Be strong and yes say NO to your children (comment below) when it comes to sweets - WE CAN DO IT!
- Benjamin's mommy
October 8, 2012 8:55 a.m.
have you ever just told your child "NO" to juices (and plain old NO to other things for that matter).children who start drinking juices on a regular basis at an early age is a bad habit - but water is not. they could get hooked on juices and then.... it turns into something sweeter.... yes... soda. then.... when you are out with your child and you WANT to buy him a juice instead of water ... kinda of like a treat.... then it WON'T HURT HIM.
- .....janene
October 3, 2012 5:29 a.m.
Congratulations, the word "Kid" was used only once in this article. Thanks, for respecting the human offspring.
- Jerry
August 28, 2012 9:32 p.m.
I think no matter what Disney does,it's our responsibility to teach our kids what is healthy or not ..If we are choosing Disney characters as a role model for them I think its wrong ,...
- Susan
July 12, 2012 2:56 p.m.
As we hoped, it is getting better... To keep pace with Disney, Nickelodeon is partnering with Birds Eye Vegetables to host a vegetable recipe contest. They will air commericials of fun veggie recipes to encourage participation.
- Katherine, your blog host
July 3, 2012 4:03 p.m.
This is great news. Last month there was outrage when Claitin carried "Madagascar3" characters. These characters were also on Airheads candy and created no such response. In reality, I have no idea how to enforce the proposed Disney policy...lack of salt, low sugar, high fiber, organic, high in vitamins, non-GMO? Must commend Disney all the same. But, I keep thinking about General Mills promoting whole grain in Luck Charms and Trix.
- Jeff
June 27, 2012 3:16 p.m.
I consider Disney's new standards to be a good thing. While I do not doubt for a minute that Disney executives are making a calculated business decision--just as executives at every other large corporation do every day--this decision might be in the best interest of the children. After all, I would rather see small children reaching for juice boxes adorned by Disney characters rather than reaching for cigarettes with Joe Camel's likeness on the carton.
- Beth
June 21, 2012 7:19 p.m.
I think this demonstrates just how uninformed the buying public really is. Disney is supposed to be for kids, and yet it has to change it's nutritional standards to make it healthy. Am I the only one that sees they were actually serving unhealthy food before?
- Allen
June 21, 2012 4:14 p.m.
Oh yes, my 3 year old daughter stops at the character fruit snacks every time we go to the grocery store. The thing is that she hates them and spits them out, but that doesn't deter her from begging for the "dora box." She loves when we get bananas and grapes with the Disney princess sticker on them. She said one day "I'm eating a banana just like Cinderella." So the CEO is right. It's smart business. I'm going to buy the bananas whether or not they have a princess, but she now associates bananas with princesses. Now do I want her to grow up with Disney princesses as her idols? That's probably a topic for another post.
- Laura
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