About Jesse:

I have been working in holistic health care since 2005 when I started my career as a massage therapist. I enrolled in massage school with a very pragmatic intention: I was studying music and wanted a trade that would support me as a performing artist. I immediately fell head-over-heels in love with the human body in my first anatomy class. We are just so cool! And thus sparked the curiosity which has lead me on this meandering path exploring the intersection of the body, mind and heart, and the work I do now as a Licensed Nutritionist.

Here are a few other pitstops on the way: 

• 2008 - Opened Chakra Khan Massage and Asian Bodywork with my friend, Julie Kesti, which became Chakra Khan Wellness when Julie moved to China and I added services to the studio.
• 2010 - Finished my BS in Nutrition Dietetics
• 2012 - Completed a Health Coaching Certification 
• 2014 - Co-founded Wellness Minneapolis with Dr. Sara Jean Barrett (I left in 2022)
• 2015-2016 - Completed two separate trainings with the Center for Mind-Body Medicine
• 2017 - Graduated with my MS in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine 
• 2019 - Completed an Advanced Ketogenic Nutrition Training program with the American Nutrition Association
• Since 2012, I’ve taught nutrition, wellness, cooking and food preservation classes in my community.
• In November 2022, I joined the Integrative Nutrition team at Penny George Institute for Health and Healing 
• I have the ongoing and sincere pleasure of sharing my thoughts with the brilliant writers at Experience Life magazine as one of their nutrition experts​
• Dandelion’s Fiber Friends kicked off in spring 2024, which I have the sincere pleasure of co-curating with my generous and talented friend, Lara Valente. Through DFF we gather makers to warm the heads and hands of members of the Aliveness Project with handmade cold weather wearables made with love from natural fibers. How does this relate to nutrition? It doesn’t! But I love this community project.  
• And I joined the 2024 cohort of Master Gardener Interns through the University of Minnesota Extension, which feels like an expansion in my understanding of food and nutrition

Throughout all this education, training and professional development, I have worked through my own health challenges. I am deeply committed to "walking the walk" and embodying wellness as a personal, daily practice.

Outside of work, I am an avid gardener, reader and knitter. I love to cook and host lavish dinner parties. I take every opportunity possible to get out of the city with my pup, Piper for a hike in the woods. And, I still enjoy music of all kinds.

Guiding my work:

• I welcome all individuals into my practice regardless of characteristics that bring us together or set us apart, such as race, religion, sexuality, gender, age or ability.
• I am comfortable navigating dietary restrictions based on faith and ethics practices.
• I have endless hope for healing, including the healing we can accomplish with our relationship with self and food. 
• I believe that eating is activism. Our food system needs to change for the health and wellbeing of all Americans. Access to healthy food is not a privilege, but a right that should be available to everyone.
• I believe that cooking is not optional if you want to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. I'll help you build these skills. 
• I am a queer, cis-gendered female.
• I have a dog named Piper who I am moderately obsessed with and, if you let me, I will likely make you look at pictures of her.

Credentials

Certified Nutrition Specialist #CNS17527
MN Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice license #N224
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Education

Continuing Education

Memberships

M.S. Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, University of Western States
Holistic Health Coach Certificate from Institute for Integrative Nutrition
B.S. Nutrition Dietetics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Certificate in Massage Therapy from CenterPoint Massage and Shiatsu School and Clinic
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Institute for Functional Nutrition Association certification (currently pursuing)
Food and Body Image Healers by Marci Evans RD – Nutrition Counseling for Eating Disorders (currently enrolled)
Advanced Ketogenic Nutrition Training (American Nutrition Association, 2019)
Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (Institute for Functional Medicine, 2019)

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​​American Nutrition Association

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