About Me

I’m a registered dietitian, author, and freelance food and nutrition writer based in New York City. I live in Manhattan with my two sons, Spencer, 14, and Eli, 11 and my husband of 20 years, Brian. I feel very fortunate to have found a career I’m extremely passionate about.

Every day I try to infuse my passion for living a healthful, balanced and enjoyable life into my work. My goal is to empower others—a working woman with three kids, a new mom, a stay-at-home mom, an empty-nester, children, and teens, and families—to take the steps to create their own nutritious and active life.

Through articles, blogs, television and video segments, print and online interviews, speaking engagements and spokesperson work, my goal has always been to translate information garnered from often times confusing scientific studies on food, nutrition, diet, fitness and health into practical, real world solutions consumers can apply and integrate into their own lives. I constantly read and stay in the loop about topics that resonate with consumers, and do my best to provide accurate, science-based information that makes sense so that consumers feel empowered to then take action to better their food and fitness habits.

What makes me unique is that I’m a real person! I am a food, nutrition and fitness expert that loves chocolate (and eats some every day) and even enjoys an occasional hot dog or Krispy Kreme donut. I’m the first to admit some of the foods I truly enjoy aren’t the most healthful. But I also love a lot of nutritious foods including Brussels sprouts, carrots, grapefruit, unsalted nuts and tomatoes. I eat a mostly healthful diet and am able to keep portions of sweets and treats down. I don’t drink, and recently gave up my long-standing Diet Coke® habit. My numbers for cholesterol and blood pressure and blood sugar are all where they should be, and I have successfully maintained a weight loss of over 30 pounds for years since my high weight in high school.

Although my mother certainly did her best to raise my brother and I, the fact that she once weighed over 250 pounds made her fear we, too, would struggle with our weight. We had little junk food in the house, though we went to Burger King and feasted on large bags of potato chips or Doritos when we went to the movies.

My weight fluctuated all through high school and early college, and if I wasn’t as active as I was, playing volleyball and tennis and ice-skating, I probably would have been heavier. I ate too much and sometimes ate food out of sight from my mom, who paid too much attention to what and how much I was eating because she feared I’d struggle with my weight the way she did.

My early experiences shaped who I am today (for better or worse), and led me to a career in which I work hard to not only raise my children to be active and healthful, mindful eaters (and yes—we have a pantry filled with their favorite snacks), but to pass on the wisdom from my personal and professional experiences and studies to help others to find a way to eat and live that’s not only healthful, but that’s enjoyable and sustainable. I also work hard to show others where there’s a will there’s a way, and whatever demands, challenges, stressors or obstacles we may face in life—a diagnosis, caring for an older parent or young children, dealing with deadlines, facing an unexpected illness or death of a loved one—we can find a way to care for and nourish ourselves to continue to feel empowered and preserve the vitality and vibrancy we all want in our lives.

I take pride in not taking an all or nothing approach to food or fitness. This approach can only lead to creating unrealistic expectations and setting yourself up for disappointment when you can’t achieve or maintain those ideals. I try to help people make better food and fitness decisions depending on where they are in terms of their food and fitness habits and attitudes. By my own example, and by the knowledge garnered from my studies and experience working with others, I try to inspire and motivate others to create their most vibrant life possible.

CREDENTIALS

A leading national nutrition expert, Elisa Zied has helped thousands of people enjoy healthier lives through her work as a consultant, writer, author, and speaker. After 12 years of counseling individuals, families and groups through a private nutrition consulting practice, Elisa launched Zied Health Communications, LLC in 2010. As Founder and President, Elisa continues to work as a nutrition consultant and public speaker, author, and journalist. She also creates partnerships and works as a spokesperson with reputable companies and organizations that support her mission. She also creates television and video projects.

Elisa graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, and from New York University with a Master of Science degree in clinical nutrition. She was a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) for 6 years, and received The New York State Dietetic Association Media Excellence Award in 2007. Elisa is also certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer.

Elisa has been a regular presence on and off camera for more than 15 years. She is a great communicator with a warm and approachable style that resonates with individuals and the public at large. Her common sense approach to real-world situations and her ability to cut through the clutter has provided the media and audiences alike with solid and dependable information about food and nutrition as well as practical real-world strategies to help people attain a healthier lifestyle and live a vibrant, enjoyable life.

Elisa has appeared as a nutrition expert on The Today Show and on Good Morning America. She was also a regular contributor on The Early Show on CBS for more than three years. She has also appeared as a nutrition and lifestyle expert on dozens of various national and local programs on ABC, MSNBC, FOX News Channel, The Food Network, VH1 and Lifetime. She is regularly quoted in print publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, People, Prevention, Glamour, Shape, Redbook, Parents, Parenting, Fitness, Women’s Health, O, Self, Oxygen, and Men’s Fitness, and online publications including WebMD, HealthDay, Forbes.com and others.

Elisa enjoys a busy and active life in New York City with her husband Brian and two sons, Spencer and Eli. An active person (and avid walker), Elisa loves to weight train, dance, and take an occasional tap or Zumba class. She also loves to play basketball, tennis, baseball, bowl, and ice skate with her family and friends. She also makes sure to satisfy her sweet tooth with a little bit of chocolate each day.

COLUMNIST, WRITER AND AUTHOR…

Elisa is a regular contributor for NBCNews.com, US News & World Report’s Eat + Run Blog, and GALTime.com. She’s also a regular blogger for CalorieCount.com. Elisa is also on the Advisory Board for Parents magazine and parents.com (for which she does a regular Q & A).

Elisa has written freelance articles for several publications including Parents, Woman’s Day, and Weight Watchers, and was a contributing editor for yearlong programs for both Redbook and Seventeen magazines. Elisa is the author of Nutrition At Your Fingertips (Alpha Books/Penguin, 2009), which was honored with a 2010 National Health Information Award (Merit) and a Best Books USA award. Elisa also co-authored the highly acclaimed Feed Your Family Right! (Wiley, 2007) and So What Can I Eat?! (Wiley, 2006) with Ruth Winter, MS. Elisa has also written several letters to the editor that have been published in The New York Times, Time, and U.S. News & World Report.

SPEAKER & SPOKESPERSON…

Elisa has been a keynote and featured speaker at several high profile and local events for consumers and professionals. She was a noted speaker at the Food For Your Whole Life conference in New York City, an event headlined by Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. David Roizen, Dr. David Katz, and several other distinguished experts in New York City in June 2010. Elisa was also the keynote speaker at two Wiley Faculty Network regional conferences for nutrition educators in Florida and Chicago in 2010. She has also done several talks, including a Keynote in the Spring of 2012, on behalf of the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council.

Elisa has also worked as a paid spokesperson on behalf of the following companies:

National Fluid Milk Processor Education Board (featured in one satellite media tour, participated in desk side briefings, and spoke at a media briefing and introduced the celebrity mustache-wearer);

Apple Products Research and Education Council (featured in two satellite media tours + one Twitter party);

Kellogg, Healthy Choice, Avocados from Mexico, and California Strawberries (featured in one satellite media tour);

Unilever (featured in a 1 day shoot).

She always divulges any paid or otherwise compensated opportunities in the interest of full disclosure, and is part of the RDs for Disclosure movement.

Elisa is available to speak to the media (print and on-camera) on an ever-widening palette of health, diet, food, exercise and lifestyle topics.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS…

Elisa is a Registered Dietitian with The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (registration number 819789). She is also a certified Dietitian-Nutritionist with The University of the State of New York Education Department (license number 004635-1). She is a member of the New York State Dietetic Association and the Greater New York Dietetic Association, as well as the following Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics practice groups: Dietitians in Business and Communications; Nutrition Education for the Public; Nutrition Entrepreneurs; School Nutrition Services; Weight Management; and Women’s Health. Elisa is also the current Chair for the Nominating Committee of the Women’s Health Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.