Welper, Jennifer A.: - Wellness Executive Chef Jennifer Welper found her niche in the kitchen while growing up on her family's dairy farm, but her career and passion for healthy, flavorful cuisine truly took shape after the sudden loss of her grandfather, who had struggled with diabetes, heart disease, and controlling his weight. Jen now combines culinary arts with nutrition education. Through delicious recipes and easy tips that incorporate whole-food ingredients, loads of vegetables, lean proteins and lots of natural flavor, Jen aims to transform the way people think about cooking healthfully and teach them how to prepare simple, practical meals that are bold and flavorful.

Chef Jen received her culinary arts degree at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI. She has held positions at the Hyatt Hotel in Newport Rhode Island and at Hilton Head Health before joining the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. As Mayo Clinic's Wellness Executive Chef, Chef Jen creates recipes for practical, healthy meals and teaches patients how to meal plan and prep for a healthy lifestyle. She recently received the honor of Distinguished Chef of the Year by Johnson & Wales University.