- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
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
- Get sandwich savvy with these tasty tips
June 4, 2013
- Restaurants get on board with gluten-free cooking
May 25, 2013
- Juicing and blending with a focus on flavor
May 22, 2013
- Safe juicing and blending
May 14, 2013
- Is NEAT part of your weight-control plan?
May 1, 2013
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Nutrition-wise blog
-
April 4, 2012
Pink slime and red meat — What's the takeaway?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Recent news reports about red meat reinforce the wisdom of eating less meat. continue
76 comments -
March 28, 2012
Play it safe when taking food to a loved one in the hospital
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Read these safety tips before you take food to a loved one in the hospital. continue
2 comments -
March 21, 2012
Kids and sugar — The good, the bad and the ugly
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Kids eat too much sugar. That's no surprise, but it turns out that sugary drinks aren't the main cause. continue
9 comments -
March 13, 2012
Get your plate in shape
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Are you're putting the healthiest foods in the right proportions on your plate? continue
11 comments -
March 6, 2012
What's behind the buzz about coconut water?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Coconut water may be the next big thing, but what is it? continue
54 comments -
Feb. 22, 2012
Why a picture of broccoli is worth a thousand words
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Kids need to be exposed to a food 10 or more times before they'll try it. Do pictures of food count? continue
8 comments -
Feb. 15, 2012
Will school lunch changes mean healthier kids?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
New rules mimic changes many families have already made, such as eating more fruits and vegetables. Will kids be healthier as a result? continue
21 comments -
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
4 comments -
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
10 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
12 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. 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. 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
9 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
10 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
9 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
25 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
32 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
Find Mayo Clinic on