- 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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July 30, 2009
Blog: Feeding a toddler who is a picky eater
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Parents worry. It comes with the job. And another part of the job is making sure your child eats a healthy diet. Which is why it's particularly frustrating when it seems your toddler has turned into a "picky eater." What can you do? Start by educating yourself.
What parents should know
- As children enter toddlerhood, their rate of growth slows — and so does their appetite. Your child should no longer be doubling or tripling his weight as he did in his first year.
- Your toddler knows how much to eat. She will eat when she's hungry and stop when she's full. Toddlers may eat a lot at one meal, but they usually make up for it by eating less at the next.
- Developmental issues influence behavior at the table. When your child acts picky about food, he may just be expressing a natural desire for more autonomy.
- Children are innately suspicious of new foods. It can take up to 10 exposures before your child will accept a new food.
- Picky eating does not make your toddler more likely to have long-term growth or developmental problems.
What parents can do
- Trust your child's appetite. Let your toddler eat to her satisfaction. Don't push her to clean her plate.
- Offer a variety of healthy, age-appropriate foods. Serve "real" food, such as fruits and vegetables, and avoid packaged foods with extra sugar and salt.
- Don't use food as a punishment — or as a reward. And never use food as a bargaining tool. This can lead to power struggles and prevent your child from learning self-control.
- Make meals calm and pleasant. Mealtime should also be a time for the family to socialize. So relax and enjoy.
- Make food fun. Encourage your child to admire the color and shape, as well as the touch, smell and taste of food.
- Watch the drinking. If your child tends to drinks more than she eats, limit beverages before meals. At mealtimes, offer solid foods before serving milk.
- Talk with your doctor. If you're still worried or you see unexpected changes in your toddler's energy level or growth, don't hesitate to discuss your concerns with your child's doctor.
What other advice can experienced parents offer parents with toddlers who are picky eaters?
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