Nutrition Services

Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center team is helping patients to take charge of their physical and mental health by understanding the role that food plays in overall health and helping patients to learn about—and practice—good eating habits.

Meet Your Nutritionists

Circle Profile.png 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.

Circle Profile.png

Violet Pastorkova-Jaouen, RDN, CD-N, has joined Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center as a registered dietitian nutritionist. With 18 years of experience in nutrition and 24 years in dietetics, Violet brings extensive expertise in nutritional assessment, education, and counseling to a wide range of patients managing various diseases and conditions. Originally from Elizaville, New York, Violet has worked across multiple settings, including traumatic brain injury centers, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and comprehensive weight management programs, with a special focus on bariatrics.

Fluent in Spanish and studying French, Violet’s multicultural background has fostered a deep appreciation for diverse cultures, foods, and languages. Reflecting on her Ecuadorian mother’s influence, Violet shares, “My mother taught me that food is life, good medicine, and magic. She instilled in me the belief that you are what you eat, so nourish your body, don't just feed it. She initiated this lifestyle in me that I hope to ignite in my patients.”

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.

Individual Counseling in Bristol, Hartford, New Britain, and Waterbury

During an individual appointment, Jessica and her patients review food intake and eating habits, physical activity, social activity, medical conditions, and medications. Based on this information, patients receive eating guidelines to suit their health and behavioral health conditions as well their lifestyle.

Group Counseling also is available. Call for a schedule.

To be eligible for services, individuals must be receiving primary care at
Wheeler Health.

To learn more, call Wheeler’s Navigation Center
860.793.3500, or contact
Jessica Masterson
860.224.6340
jmasterson@wheelerclinic.org

Email Jessica or call at 860.224.6340 for more information about our cooking class.

2024 Class Schedule

October 1: Funky Fruit
43 Woodland Street, Hartford
Fruit Tacos | Chicken Sonoma Salad | Apple Bites

October 15: Eat the Rainbow
43 Woodland Street, Hartford
Roasted Multicolor Cauliflower | Amazing Kale Salad
Stuffed Rainbow Peppers | Blueberry Parfait

November 4: Cozy Creations
1 Hope Street, Bristol
Baked Apple Slice | Stuffed Winter Squash | No Bake Cookies

November 18: Cozy Creations
43 Woodland Street, Hartford
Baked Apple Slice | Stuffed Winter Squash | No Bake Cookies

December 2: Harvest Mornings
1 Hope Street, Bristol
Root Veggie Fries | Granola | Winter Fruit Yogurt Parfait

December 16: Harvest Mornings
43 Woodland Street, Hartford
Root Veggie Fries | Granola | Winter Fruit Yogurt Parfait

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

Violet Pastorkova-Jaouen Joins Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Team

Violet Pastorkova-Jaouen, RDN, CD-N has joined Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center as a registered dietitian nutritionist . Violet comes with 18 years of nutrition and 24 years of dietetic experience, including providing nutritional assessments, education, and counsleing to a broad range of patients with varied diseases and conditions.

Beyond Weight Loss: The Unexpected Benefits of Medical Nutrition Therapy

We all know Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) can be a game-changer for weight management and chronic disease control. But did you know it offers a treasure trove of benefits that extend far beyond the typical reasons people seek it out? As a registered dietitian, I am here to shed light on the hidden gems of nutrition education.

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.