- 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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Jan. 1, 2009
Healthy habits for the new year
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Maybe it seems too cliche to bring up New Year's resolutions in a nutrition blog. On the other hand, we're all thinking about how to eat better and be healthier in 2009. So, whether it's the hangover of holiday indulgence or the desire to "lose 10 pounds" that has you thinking about change, here are some tips to help you get the new year off to a healthy start.
As I thought about healthy habits and New Year's resolutions, I looked through the past year's posts and your comments. I pulled out five key healthy habits — and I added tips for getting started with them.
| To start these healthy habits | Try these tips |
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Beyond our genetics, our lifestyle choices dictate our health. As you reflect on the lifestyle changes you'd like to make, remember the goal is not a quick fix. The goal is long-term health, and any changes to achieve it must be reasonable and realistic.
As you look in the mirror and into your future, imagine your ideal reflected back at you as many puzzle pieces. And as with any puzzle, it will take time to put all the pieces in place. What's your first piece going to be?
When you've decided, commit to it and create a plan for achieving it. Make sure your plan includes strategies for handling tempting situations and getting yourself back on track if you stray. Then act.
As always, keep your suggestions coming. With your help, we'll make this another year full of interesting topics and discussions.
Thanks, and here's to your health!
- Katherine
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