Fun Facts About Jessica
Why did you become a dietitian?
To be honest, I never planned to become a dietitian when I went to college. But I took a freshman-level Nutrition 101 course to fulfill my credit requirements and fell in love with the science behind it. I already loved to cook and eat and, as a very active person, I quickly realized that what I put in my body had a profound impact on how I felt and performed. I guess you could say I opted for dietetics for selfish reasons in the beginning, but then fell in love with the idea of helping others live better lives through nutrition and health education.
What was your first job?
My first job was as the weekend baker at Hardee’s (a fast food chain restaurant) at age 14. I would get up at 4:00 am and ride my bike to the restaurant to make the biscuits. It was hard work but I actually loved that job because I got to listen to mixtapes I had made or the radio (it WAS the 1980s) and not have to deal with customers. And, more than 30 years later, I'm still making biscuits!
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Savage, Minnesota and attended Burnsville Senior High School.
What’s your favorite food?
Tacos and anything of Mexican or Southwest cuisine: the more authentic, the better.
Do you have any pets?
I have a super hilarious and loving Bernedoodle named Tully, two cats (Lefty, and Marzo) and a large flock of backyard chickens.
What do you do for fitness?
I really love weight training and anything that involves bikes, especially mountain biking, which I got into at age 45 (proof that you're never too old to try something new)! I also enjoy gravel biking, hiking, telemark skiing, backpacking, and paddleboarding. I ride my bike to run errands and do my grocery shop because I find it way more enjoyable than driving around town. Plus biking is a great way to see things in my own neighborhood that I might otherwise miss if I'm in a car.
What do you do for fun?
In my free time I love to cook and spend time with my friends and family outdoors. I’m somewhat of an introvert (who’s learned how to present as an extrovert when necessary) so I find enjoyment in working around the house and yard on various projects and tinkering with our camper van. And road trips and low-key camping trips too, of course!
I look forward to weekend bike trips with my girlfriends where we ride hard and laugh even harder and there's always a dance party and plenty of good food to share.
Have you ever done anything considered ‘heroic’?
I once ran into a burning building to save a little girl’s cat. To be clear, the house wasn’t engulfed in flames and I took every precaution to ensure I was not putting myself in danger.
Do you have any food allergies?
Yes, I have an anaphylactic allergy to eggs so I carry an Epi-pen with me everywhere I go. It’s a great conversation starter and, although it’s incredibly inconvenient, it has made me very empathetic to the challenges of food allergy sufferers and their families. And it’s a big part of why I do what I do for a living!