- 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 Food & Nutrition Center, 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 is certified by the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification, 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 50 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees staffing, strategic and financial planning, and quality improvement. Nelson was co-editor of the James Beard Foundation Award-winning "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook." She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many 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 answering nutrition questions posed to Ask a Specialist.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor for the Food & Nutrition Center, 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 is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in pediatrics at Mayo Clinic Rochester and nutrition education related to the physiology and recommended intakes for premature infants.
Other areas of interest include breast milk and formula safety, neonatal feeding, and nutrition for breast-feeding mothers.
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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March 1, 2008
Shopping for health
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
"You are a dietitian; it is easy for you to eat right."
A common assumption and comment I've received more than once. Really, I don't mind as it is an invitation to remind my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances that I am human — not free from temptations of rich and delicious desserts, sweet treats, and any of the other sugar, salt, or fat laden foods that dominate our food supply.
So how do we make a healthy diet part of our lifestyle, and not feel guilty about the occasional treat? Start with the grocery list:
- At the top of the list write down fruit and veggies. Buy those that will be your staples to grab and go. Then add those that you will put on the table or include in a recipe.
- Keep healthy foods in your refrigerator and cupboards: whole grain bread/cereals/starches, lean meat(s)/fish/vegetarian protein source such as beans, low fat yogurt, low fat milk, etc. These are your breakfast and quick meal or snack foods.
- Think of a few meals for the week — check out a Web site such as ours or others for recipe ideas. Add ingredients to the shopping list.
And importantly, keep a balance — I exercise regularly, not only for general well being but as a balance to my love for food. No guilt when I enjoy a sweet treat!
Please share your shopping tips with the rest of our community.
Wishing you good health,
Katherine
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