Nutrition Services

Meet Your Nutritionist

Jessica Masterson, RDN, CDN, CDCES, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. She has worked in the nutrition and culinary field for more than 15 years and is passionate about good food and the healing ability of good nutrition.

Her background includes providing medical nutrition therapy (MNT) in a hospital and community setting for groups and individuals. She also has experience as an adjunct nutrition professor, culinary instructor, diabetes educator, and clinical sales specialist.

A nutritionist can give you tools to help treat or improve:

Diabetes
Cardiovascular Disease
High Blood Pressure
Mental Health
Food Relationships
Food Allergies and Sensitivies
And More!

Services offered:

Pediatric Nutrition Education
Adult Nutrition Education
One-on-One Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition Education Classes
Children’s Healthy Cooking Class, provided to the community free through the support of Corsini and Brantner Families.

Join us for pediatric hands-on & nutrition/cooking class at Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center taught by Jessica Masterson, RDN, CDN, CDCES, registered dietitian nutritionist and special guest Abbe Carreira, RDH, CDA and Cat Durkin.

spring 2023 Class Schedule

February 13: Crazy for Chocolate
Mole Sauce with Chicken
Chocolate Pudding
Chocolate Snack Cake

February 27: Stuffed and Rolled CANCELED
Click here for class recipes
Dolmades
Spring Rolls
Stuffed Pita Pockets

March 13: Everything Green
Click here for class recipes
Super Broccoli Soup
Kale Chips
Pesto Pasta

March 27: Brain Food | Fat
Click here for class recipes
Avocado Toast with Candied Tomatoes
Simple Hard-Boiled Eggs
Feta, Leek, and Walnut Orzo
Fish Tacos

April 10: Spice it Up!
Click here for class recipes
Coconut Dal with Carrots
Spiced Chickpeas
Buffalo Cauliflower
Minty Water

April 24: Funky Fruit
Click here for class recipes
Fruit Tacos
Chicken Sonoma Salad
Apple Bites

May 8: Eat the Rainbow CANCELED
Roasted Multicolor Cauliflower
Amazing Kale Salad
Stuffed Rainbow Peppers
Blueberry Parfait

May 22: The Science of Bread
Whole Grain Bread
Flat Bread
Allergy-Free Pancakes
Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

June 5: How have you bean?
Sloppy Lenny’s
Amazing Avocado Dip
Black Bean Brownies

June 19: Holiday | NO CLASS

June 26: Very Veggie Day
Spaghetti Squash
Zucchini Muffins
Cucumber and Tomato Salad

All recipes can be modified to meet child’s capabilities.

Please let the instructor know of any food allergies prior to attending class,
we are not an allergen-free kitchen.

Email Jessica or call at 959.282.2435 to register or with any questions.

Click Here to View Past Virtual Cooking Classes

Free Healthy Family Recipes

Allergy Friendly Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti
Tomato Ricotta Bruschetta
Kale Salad
Fruit Tacos

ALLERGY FRIENDLY CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY BISCOTTI

Kids can help measure and combine ingredients. They will also have fun shaping the loaves. Once the cookies have cooled after slicing, allow the kids to place them back on the cookie sheet. Let them dip the cookies into melted chocolate and add embellishments like sprinkles or chopped nuts. Click HERE for the recipe.

TOMATO RICOTTA BRUSCHETTA

Kids can mix the tomato mixture once an adult has helped to chop the peppers and tomatoes. They can easily prepare the ricotta mixture. Allow them to rub the toasted slices of bread with garlic and let them get creative distributing the ricotta and tomato mixture on to the bread slices. Click HERE for the recipe.

KALE SALAD

Kids will have fun tearing the kale into bite-size pieces. Allow the kids to shake the dressing in a mason jar or mix in a bowl. Click HERE for the recipe.

FRUIT TACOS

Kids can make this recipe on their own once the fruit is washed and cut. Older children can help prepare the fruit. Let kids come up with their own flavor combinations by setting up a "taco" bar. Click HERE for the recipe.

NBC Connecticut Covered Our First Toddler Nutrition Class on March 12. Watch and listen below. Online text news story here.

On April 9, the cooking demonstration focused on kid-friendly breakfast ideas that children can help make, and the educational talk will be the dreaded topic so many parents struggle with: what to do if your child is a picky eater!

Supervised kids' activities for children are provided
A free gift is available for all participants after every class
Anyone attending three classes can receive a $50 grocery store gift card

Pre-registration is not required, but strongly recommended by RSVPing to Jessica Masterson at JMasterson@Wheelerclinic.org.

Wheeler's nutrition programs help patients and the community fight chronic disease and achieve wellness through consultation, education, and individual counseling for children, adults, and families, focusing on how healthy diet can address:

Feeding issues
Failure to thrive
Medical nutrition therapy for HIV/AIDS
Weight concerns
Diabetes
Hyperlipidemia
Sports nutrition
Digestive disorders
Food allergies
And more!

Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center is a community health center that provides medical and dental care for the whole family, as well as behavioral health care and a range of alternative and complementary medicine such as chiropractic care and more. Our doctors, medical assistants, clinicians, counselors, and care facilitators work side-by-side as a team to meet your complete health care needs, in one location.

News from Wheeler's Registered Nutritionist

Fiber, The Underappreciated Superfood

Fiber is an underappreciated super food. Not only does fiber aid in digestion and gastrointestinal health, it is also linked with reducing the risk of developing chronic disease, assist in weight loss, and help lower blood sugar.

Prevent Illness with Healthy Habits: Healthy Lifestyle to Support Immune Function

As the temperature and humidity drops, viruses may spread more easily. Having a strong immune system can keep you feeling good all winter. Learn several lifestyle factors that can help to keep your immune system strong.

Spices and Herbs

Looking to add some variety and flavor to your meals? Take a walk down the spice aisle at your favorite grocery store! Trying different herbs and spices is a great way to introduce new flavors and maybe even boost the nutritional benefit of some of your dishes. A spice is the seed of a plant and can be used whole or ground. An herb is a flower or leaf and can often be found fresh or dried.

June is Strawberry Season!

June is strawberry season, a favorite time of the year for many New Englanders. This is a great time to increase your fruit and veggie intake. First, because produce may be a little less expensive when in season, and second because produce tastes better when in season!

How to Reduce Food Waste

With food costs rising, healthy eating can be more difficult, and the last thing you want to do is throw food away. Jessica Masterson, RDN, CDN, CDCES, Wheeler's registered dietitian nutritionist, shares tips on how to reduce food waste.

March is National Nutrition Month

Nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. It is also science that interprets the interaction of nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health, and disease of an organism.

Foundation of a Heart-Heathy Diet

February is Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the cause of 1 in 3 deaths in the United States, and more than 800,000 people die of cardiovascular disease ever year. To reduce your risk of heart disease, it is recommended you follow a heart-healthy diet, exercise, manage stress, do not smoke, and talk to your doctor about your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.

How to Stick to Nutrition New Year's Resolutions

A new year is not the only time to focus on getting healthy, but it is just as good as any. If you have been sticking to your resolutions so far this year, great work! If you have not been as successful as you planned, consider revising your goals. Instead of setting huge goals, which may be difficult to stick with, try setting smaller goals.

Health-Conscious Holiday Cookie Ideas

When it comes to the holidays, it is important to enjoy the foods you love, like cookies, and continue family traditions. Not every food or recipe needs to be modified to make it “healthier.” I would not recommend you alter your great aunt’s sugar cookie recipe, but if you are looking for a few more health-conscious options to add to your cookie tray this year, below are some great ideas. See the recipes for additional nutrition benefits and tips for cooking with kids.

Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

When it comes to healthy eating during the holidays, I think the most important thing to remember is that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle. The holidays only happen once a year, so mindfully enjoy the foods you love and focus on friends and family!