- 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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Jan. 4, 2012
Taking off the holiday pounds
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Holiday weight gain is reported to be anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds (about 2 to 5 kilograms), but studies show that the actual numbers are lower. The typical holiday weight gain is only about 2 pounds (1 kilogram). But those holiday pounds stick around.
Most adults gain weight over time, with the average gain for young adults ranging from half a pound to nearly 2 pounds a year. Doesn't sound like much, does it? Unfortunately, this slow but steady increase adds up over time. Before you know it, you're looking back and asking, "Where did all this weight come from?" The holiday pounds play into this picture.
Now is the time to do something about it. Your motivation is high. Commit to losing that holiday weight and take your first steps on a path to better health. Start by setting a daily goal. It should be specific and realistic — something that at the end of the day you can feel good about accomplishing.
Here's an example to get you started: Slow down your pace of eating. Put down your fork between bites, and spend at least 20 minutes enjoying your meal.
Let us know how this works for you. We'd love to hear about your goals and inspirations.
To your health,
Katherine and Jennifer
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