
- 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.
Latest entries
- Meet the SuperTracker
Feb. 8, 2012
- Quick start for a healthy heart
Feb. 1, 2012
- Questions about nutrition — Top 5 FAQs
Jan. 25, 2012
- Taking off the holiday pounds
Jan. 4, 2012
- Put the fruit back in fruitcake
Dec. 21, 2011
Nutrition-wise blog
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Feb. 8, 2012
Meet the SuperTracker
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
From the creators of MyPlate comes SuperTracker — an online tool for creating a personalized diet and exercise plan. continue
1 comment -
Feb. 1, 2012
Quick start for a healthy heart
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Take this two-week challenge for a quick start toward a healthier heart. continue
5 comments -
Jan. 25, 2012
Questions about nutrition — Top 5 FAQs
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Mayo Clinic dietitians answer the most common questions they get about how to lose weight and stay healthy. continue
3 comments -
Jan. 17, 2012
Restaurant trends — What's on the menu for 2012?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Restaurants are embracing locally sourced, healthier menu options. Will these trends delight or disappoint diners? continue
9 comments -
Jan. 4, 2012
Taking off the holiday pounds
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Put on weight during the holidays? Now's the time to take it off. continue
1 comment -
Dec. 21, 2011
Put the fruit back in fruitcake
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
It's time to rev up the taste and nutrition of this traditional sweet. continue
6 comments -
Dec. 13, 2011
Healthy holiday eating — Remakes of favorite recipes
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Holiday celebrations can make healthy eating a challenge. But these tips can help you can cut fat, sugar and salt while still celebrating in style. continue
18 comments -
Dec. 7, 2011
What food trends define the millennial generation?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Millennials' approach to food can be summed up as "I eat what I want when I want." But is that healthy? continue
2 comments -
Nov. 30, 2011
Healthy gift ideas for the holidays
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
'Tis the season for holiday gift giving, but are you short on inspiration? Check out this list of fresh and fun gift ideas. continue
15 comments -
Nov. 22, 2011
Cooking a turkey? Avoid these mishaps
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Want to disaster-proof your holiday dinner? Then check out the top turkey mishaps and see how to avoid them. continue
1 comment -
Nov. 15, 2011
Updating Thanksgiving dinner
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Love Thanksgiving dinner but not the calories? Don't despair. Try these healthy updates to your favorite dishes. continue
5 comments -
Nov. 9, 2011
Sweet tooth linked to sweet disposition?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
People who like sweet foods may be seen as having a sweet personality.
continue 3 comments -
Nov. 1, 2011
Carbonated water and bone health
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Does drinking carbonated water weaken your bones? Get the facts. continue
7 comments -
Oct. 18, 2011
Halloween can be a teachable moment
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Tired of acting as the candy cop at Halloween? Then try putting your kids in charge of dealing with the candy landslide. continue
17 comments -
Oct. 11, 2011
Super soup — Think outside the can
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
If you've taken soup off the menu because you're worried about sodium or fat, there's good news. It's easy to make healthy soup from scratch. continue
9 comments -
Oct. 4, 2011
Recognizing that words carry weight
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Do the words used to describe weight problems help or hurt? continue
5 comments -
Sept. 28, 2011
Got food questions? Get answers
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Should you cook pasta in salted water? Why do beans cause gas? Get the answers to these and other fun food questions. continue
18 comments -
Sept. 14, 2011
Defining 'gluten-free' — Is it all or nothing?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
How do you feel about allowing "gluten-free" on labels of foods that contain barely detectable amounts of gluten? continue
27 comments -
Sept. 2, 2011
Pack lunches with a healthy punch
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
A new school year often means a new lunch box. Get back into the school routine with these tips for creating healthy and tempting lunches. continue
9 comments -
Aug. 31, 2011
Start early to encourage healthy eating
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Can a woman's diet when she's pregnant or breast-feeding affect her child's diet later in life? continue
3 comments -
Aug. 24, 2011
Do you have a taste for healthy foods?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Which foods you choose or avoid can affect your health. Try these tips for finding healthy foods that suit your taste. continue
7 comments -
Aug. 16, 2011
Bring back the salad days
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Are you in a salad rut? Try these tasty tips for making salads more interesting. continue
6 comments -
Aug. 10, 2011
Animal-pollinated crops essential to the food supply
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
What do bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats have to do with nutrition? More than you might think. continue
2 comments -
Aug. 2, 2011
Orthorexia — When eating healthy goes awry
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
What happens when you take healthy eating too far? continue
27 comments -
July 27, 2011
What can be done to improve America's health?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Prevention has to be woven into all aspects of life, including how you live, learn, work and play. continue
5 comments

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