Current & Past
~ Professional Affiliations ~
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Food and Culinary Professionals DPG, Past Supermarket Retail Sub-Group Chair
Progressive Grocer Retail Dietitian Symposium Advisor & Event Emcee
Food Marketing Institute, Consumer Affairs Committee Past Chair; Member & Advisor
Food Marketing Institute Health and Wellness Advisory Council Member &
Advisor
Retail Dietitian Business Alliance Member and Contributing Author
Egg Nutrition Center Health Professional Advisor
Nutrition 411 Editorial Board Member
Diabetes Influencers Featured Influencer
Topco Dietitian Advisory Committee Founding Member
Cooperative Extension Advisory Board, Past President
Pennsylvania Dietetic Association, Public Relations: Past Chair
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Member, 25 years
I
~ Honors and Awards ~
2018 Food and Culinary Professionals DPG Communications and Education Award
2015 Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Excellence in Practice Award Nominee
2014 Food Marketing Institute Gold Plate Award: Weis Healthy Bites’ positive impact on family meals
2013, 2014 American Heart Association Gold Fit Friendly Worksite Award: Weis Balance™
2009 Woman of Influence in the Food Industry: Griffin Report
2009 Top Women in Grocery: Rising Star; Progressive Grocer
USA Rice Federation ‘Ricessionista’ and 2008 Retail Partner of Year
Excellence in Broadcasting Award; Best Public Service Campaign; Million Pound Meltdown 2006
Freelance columnist
Co-Author & Presenter; Published May 2015
Interim Editor; Author Nov 2014-May 2015
Editorial Board Member Product Reviews Writer & Coordinator
Health Professional Advisor
Nutrition Advisory Board Member
Featured Diabetes Influencer
Bio
& Experience
Karen believes in the healthy enjoyment of food! As a trusted nutrition expert, she delivers credible advice via radio, television, newsprint and electronic media in support of her mission to help consumers better understand the connection between food, nutrition and health. Since 2014, Karen has been providing food and culinary nutrition communications consulting services to clients in the food industry nationwide.
While serving as Supermarket / Retail Subgroup Chair within the Food and Culinary Professionals (FCP) Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Karen helped develop and co-author Supermarket Business and Industry Skills to Thrive Certificate of Training program published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Karen is recognized widely as "The Weis Dietitian" for her long-standing role as Director of Lifestyle Initiatives for Weis Markets Inc., a Pennsylvania-based grocery store chain. There, she was responsible for cause marketing and leading strategic planning for health & wellness initiatives geared to both customers and associates. Prior, Karen was Senior Marketing Manager at a National Sales & Marketing firm, where she worked to establish retail dietitian programs at Big Y, Pathmark, Shaw's, Farm Fresh, Acme Markets and Penn Traffic.
Notable contributions include launching Weis Healthy Bites™ magazine, serving as its Editor for volumes 1--69, and creating Weis Mystery Tours™, a custom field trip program that helps combat childhood obesity through nutrition education, reaching more than 15,000 children. Karen also launched Weis BALANCE™ comprehensive employee wellness program, Weis Step Up
Challenge™ physical activity campaign and Weis Wellness Workouts. Karen launched the Weis Healthy Heart annual television media campaign to educate viewers in New York's Southern Tier about heart health. Karen has appeared on both radio and television, completing more than 1000 nutrition media segments. Branching into social media, Karen also produced a series of more than 100 instructional videos featuring healthful recipes and nutrition guidance.
As a sought-after speaker, Karen has given numerous presentations at professional conferences including Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo, Progressive Grocer Retail Dietitian Symposium, Food Marketing Institute Connect, Viva Fresh Produce Expo, Oldways Leadership Symposium for Supermarket Dietitians, FMI Communications and Consumer Affairs Conference, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, Food Marketing Institute Future Connect Conference, Central Pennsylvania Dietetic Association Conference, The Susquehanna Valley Women’s Leadership Symposium and more.
Honors include receiving the Food Marketing Institute's 2014 Gold Plate Award recognizing Weis Healthy Bites' contributions to healthful family meals, being selected as a Woman of Influence in the Food Industry by The Griffin Report and being named one of the Top Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer.
In addition to her work in the retail sector, Karen is experienced as both a clinical and community dietitian. As a nutrition educator, she taught group classes for diabetes, conducted one-on-one counseling sessions, designed and led supermarket shopping tours, and provided community education via local radio, television, newspaper, and health-related events.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition from Albright College and practices as both a nationally Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist and Pennsylvania State Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, serving as past-PR Chair. She was a founding member of the TOPCO Dietitian Advisory Committee, past-chair and member of the Food Marketing Institute Consumer Affairs Committee and member of the Channel Marketing Committee for Produce for Better Health Foundation. She continues to serve as a founding member of the Food Marketing Institute Health and Wellness Task Force and serves on several health/nutrition-related advisory boards. Karen is the proud mother of two active children.
~Publications & Speaking~
►Fuel for the Future with Frozen Foods; EasyHomeMeals.com March 2023
►Heart Smart Eating with Frozen & Refrigerated Foods; February 2023
►The Food As Medicine Trend at Retail; Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 14 February 2023
►New Year New You: ReDiscover Dairy & Frozen; EasyHomeMeals.com January 2023
►Healthy Holiday Eating on a Budget; Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 14 October 2022
►Getting Kids into the Kitchen for More Family Meals; Easy Home Meals September 2022
►Healthful Morning Solutions for Back-to-School; Easy Home Meals August 2022
►Get Grillin': How-to Tips & Sensational Side Dishes; Easy Home Meals July 2022
►The Dish on Dairy by an RD; Easy Home Meals June 2022
►Tapping CBD's Positive Role in Personal Well-Being; Progressive Grocer May 2022
►10 Ways to Reduce Food Waste; Easy Home Meals April 2022
►Seeking Nutritious Foods Beyond the Store's Perimeter; Progressive Grocer Magazine March 2022
►Celebrating Global Flavors with Frozen Foods; Easy Home Meals March 2022
►Make it a New Year, New You; Easy Home Meals January 2022
►6 Tips for Healthful Holiday Gatherings; Easy Home Meals December 2021
►Family Meals Made Easy; Easy Home Meals September 2021
►A Dose of Health This Holiday Season p. 18 Progressive Grocer Magazine September 2021
►Top Dairy Aisle Picks From A Registered Dietitian; Easy Home Meals June 2021
►CBD Trends Despite a Pandemic-Related Sales Slowdown, This Emerging Category is Still Ripe for Growth p. 18 Progressive Grocer Magazine May 2021
►Focus on Frozen Foods p, 18 Progressive Grocer Magazine March 2021
►Personalize Your Plate with Frozen Foods; Easy Home Meals March 2021
►Helping Shoppers Snack Sensibly p18 Progressive Grocer Magazine November 2020
►Planning for Healthy Holidays Amidst Covid-19: Prepare to Pivot p 16 Progressive Grocer Magazine September 2020
►CBD Primer for Retailer p16 Progressive Grocer Magazine May 2020
►Navigating the Frozen Aisles p18 Progressive Grocer Magazine March 2020
►Make the Most of Family Meals; Eatright PA September 2019
►Growing Vegetables: A Basic Guide; Eatright PA May 2019
►Power-Up with Fruits & Vegetables! ; Eatright PA March 2019
►Meat Market: Organic, Natural, Grass-Fed--What Do they Mean for the Category?
Progressive Grocer p 22 February 2019
►What Major Meat Claims Must Grocers Clarify for Their Shoppers? Progressive
Grocer Online February 11, 2019
►Thanksgiving Prep Guide; Eatright PA November 2018
►Omega-3s Update; Eatright PA October 2018
►Harness the Power of Family Meals; Eatright PA September 2018
►How Grocers Could Combat Barriers to Selling More Produce; Progressive Grocer
Magazine p 22 September 2018
►The People Behind Beef: A Portrait of Pennsylvania Cattlemen; School Nutrition
Association of Pennsylvania 2018 Conference; Pittsburgh, PA;
Lead Presenter & Expert Panel Moderator; August 1, 2018
► 2018 Retail Dietitian's Healthy Shopper Summit; Event Host/Emcee
McCormick Place; Chicago, Il June 25-27, 2018
►Leveraging Retail Dietitian and Pharmacist Partnerships; Progressive Grocer
Magazine p. 24 June 2018
► Veal or No Veal? Exploring Consumers' Food Attitudes Today
& Ways to Boost Veal's Appeal Among Food Shoppers Tomorrow;
King of Prussia, PA. Presenter: Veal Summit; April 4, 2018.
► How to Meet Millennials' Growing Snacking Needs; Progressive Grocer
Magazine p. 22 April 2018.
►We've Got a Tasty Plan for Your Easter Leftovers! ; Eatright PA March 2018
►Food & Fun: My Discoveries in Portugal; Eatright PA February 2018
►Future of Farming Dialog 2017>Innovating for Sustainable Agriculture;
Food Chain Discussion Panelist; Dusseldorf, Germany; September 2017
►Becoming My Own Boss--A Dietitian's Journey to Nutrition
Entrepreneurship; Presenter; Central Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition &
Dietetics Conference; August 2017
►Egging Shoppers On: The incredible edible item is due for a protein-centric
in-store makeover; Progressive Grocer Magazine. p. 20; August 2017
►Have A Healthy Back-to-School Season: Strategies to Reach BTS Shoppers;
Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 24; July 2017
►The Tidal Wave Shift Toward Cage-Free Eggs; Nutrition Close Up. pp. 6-7 Spring
2017
►Wellness from the Deep: Seafood Can be Part of a Health Diet; Progressive
Grocer Magazine p. 24; March 2017
►Whole-Store Health Solutions; Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 22; October 2016
►Beyond Fresh: Get Wellness-Seeking Shoppers to Look at Center Store;
Progressive Grocer Magazine pp. 22-24; April 2016
►Harness the Power of Protein: This Key Wellness Trend Can Help Grocers Boost Historically Lagging Milk Sales; Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 34; January 2016
►Consumers Seek More Protein; Nutrition Unscrambled; November 24, 2015
► Will Consumers Turn to Healthy Snacks? If they're tasty enough, yes. ;
Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 20; October 2015
►Utilizing the Influence of Retail Dietitians in Produce Marketing; New England
Produce Council Expo; Cape Cod, Mass. Presenter; September 18, 2015
►Culinary Applications in Retail Dietetics;Tastings Newsletter; Summer 2015
►Healthful Harvest: Fall and Winter Eating Occasions Bring Opportunities for In-Store Dietitians to Connect with Shoppers; Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 20; August 2015
►Insights into the Supermarket Shopper: How-to Guide to Retail Dietitian and
Food Company Partnerships; Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting
and Food Expo; Presenter; July 13, 2015
►Clicking with Consumers: Retail Dietitians Must Evolve to Meet the Needs of the
Online Grocery Shopper; Progressive Grocer Magazine p. 22; June 2015
►Food Marketing Institute Connect; Supermarket Business and Industry Skills to
Thrive: An Online Training Program; Session Moderator; June 10, 2015
►Progressive Grocer Retail Dietitian Symposium; Hot Topics in Retail
Dietetics: Panel Moderator, Session Organizer; June 9, 2015
►Supermarket Business and Industry Skills to Thrive in Retail Dietetcs: Certificate of Training Program; Co-developer; Co-author: October 18, 2013-May 27, 2015
Module 1-Retail 101: Navigating the Landscape
Module 2-Roles and Responsibilities of the Retail Dietitian: In store, Regional
and Corporate; Co-Author
Module 3- Expanding Your Reach by Developing Internal & External Partnerships
Module 4-The Metrics of Success: ROI (Return on Investment) and other Tools
►Retail Dietitians: The Legislation on Your Plate Tastings Newsletter; Spring 2015
►Working Solo as a Retail Dietitian RDBA Weekly; May 20, 2015
►Tips for Effective Salary Negotiation RDBA Weekly; May 13, 2015
►Calculating & Communicating ROI RDBA Weekly; April 22, 2015
►Marketing: A Discussion for Retail Dietitians--Part 4: Event Marketing
Strategies to Engage Consumers RDBA Weekly; April 08, 2015
► The Increasingly Important Role of Supermarket Dietitians; Viva Fresh Produce
Expo Panel Presenter, Session Organizer; March 27, 2015
► Marketing: A Discussion for Retail Dietitians—Part 3: Layering Techniques &
Co-Marketing Partnerships RDBA Weekly; March 18, 2015
► Marketing: A Discussion for Retail Dietitians—Part 2: Value-added Marketing
RDBA Weekly; March 4, 2015
► Marketing: A Discussion for Retail Dietitians—Part 1: The 4 Ps of Marketing
RDBA Weekly; February 18, 2015
► Jewel-Osco Retail RDs Share First Merchandising Experience RDBA Weekly,
January 14, 2015
►Making SMART Goal Setting Work for Your Career RDBA Weekly; January 7,
2015
►The Retail Dietitian’s Map to Success in Employee Wellness RDBA Weekly;
January 7, 2015
►Retail Dietitian Close Up: Julie McMillin, RD, LD—Learn About Julie’s Path to
Earning her AVP Title RDBA Weekly; December 17, 2014
►Measuring Positive Return on Investment (ROI) RDBA Weekly; December 10,
2014
►Member Spotlight: Francis Lenna Cooper Memorial Lecture Award Recipient
RDBA Weekly; December 10, 2014
►Balancing a Holiday Food Budget While Keeping Healthy Eating a Priority Egg
Nutrition Center Nutrition Unscrambled; December 10, 2014
►Cooking Videos - Tips to Get You Started RDBA Weekly; December 10, 2014
Co-author
►Talking Organic with Your Customers RDBA Weekly; December 3, 2014
►Climbing the Retail RD Career Ladder: Are You Poised to Move Up? RDBA
Weekly; December 3, 2014
►Consumer Interest in Food’s Journey from Farm to Fork Food & Culinary
Professionals Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics; Tastings Newsletter: Fall 2014
►How Can Retail Dietitians Reach the Millennial Shopper? RDBA Weekly;
November 26, 2014
►Consumers Seek More Seasonal & Local Foods—Supermarkets Deliver
Food & Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics; Tastings Newsletter: Summer 2014
►Flavor Trends in the Kitchen Food & Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice
Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Tastings Newsletter: Spring
2014
►Working with Grocers to Reduce Dietary Sodium: Lessons Learned From the
Broome County Sodium Reduction in Communities Pilot Project; Journal of
Public Health Management January/February 2014 Volume 20 - p S54-S58
►Supermarket Food and Nutrition Communications Food & Culinary
Professionals Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics; Tastings Newsletter: Winter 2014
►Food Marketing Institute Toolkit: ‘Hiring, Leveraging and Empowering Retail
Dietitians’ Reviewer 2013
►A Retail RD’s Perspective on Special Dietary Trends Food & Culinary
Professionals Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics; Tastings Newsletter: Fall 2013