Janet Helm

Janet Helm is a registered dietitian nutritionist and culinary professional with over 25 years of experience in nutrition communications and food marketing. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Mass Communications and a Master’s degree in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services from Kansas State University. Helm’s career began early as the first nutritionist for McDonald’s Corporation, where she focused on developing healthier menu options and managing nutrition-related communications. This early role laid the foundation for her expertise in translating dietary science into practical, consumer-friendly information.

Helm spent 28 years at Weber Shandwick, a global public relations agency, serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Food and Nutrition Strategist. In this role, she was instrumental in building the agency’s food practice, working with numerous recognized food brands and agricultural commodity boards. Her notable projects include transforming milk’s perception with the ‘got milk? milk mustache campaign,’ repositioning pork as a lean protein, elevating tart cherries to superfood status, and leveraging research on probiotics for Danone. She also contributed to Panera’s initiatives in promoting a better food system. In 2023, Helm served as a Global Food Analyst and Associate Director of Food & Drink at Mintel, utilizing data-driven consumer insights to inform product innovation and marketing strategies. Since January 2024, she has run her own consultancy, Food at the Helm, continuing to assist food brands and agricultural commodity boards with their nutrition messaging and stakeholder engagement.

Throughout her career, Helm has been a contributing writer for national publications such as Health, Cooking Light, U.S. News & World Report, WebMD, and Huffington Post. Her work includes co-authoring the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ practice paper on social media and articles on social media ethics for the Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. Helm is a recognized media spokesperson, appearing on programs like Good Morning America, Today, and CNN, and she is a sought-after speaker at national conferences on food trends. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with awards including the Media Excellence Award and Nutrition Entrepreneur of the Year from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is also an Advisory Board Member for Forbes Health on food and nutrition.