Jessica Penner is a Registered Dietitian whose personal journey to overcome picky eating sparked her longstanding commitment to helping families build healthier, more positive relationships with food. She graduated at the top of her class in Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba and completed her Dietetic Internship in Manitoba.

Jessica developed her first recipe at the age of five—a playful experiment she didn’t realize could someday become part of a career. It wasn’t until decades later, as she worked to expand her own palate and deepen her understanding of nutrition, that she discovered how her love of food and problem-solving could translate into meaningful support for families. Her global travels further broadened her appreciation for diverse flavours and sparked a deeper curiosity about how people learn to enjoy the foods they eat.

Today, Jessica is the co-founder of Happy Healthy Eaters, where she helps parents navigate feeding challenges and raise confident, adventurous eaters. She also leads Smart Nutrition, creating recipes, meal plans, and practical tools that deliver real-life results. Her resources blend nutritional science with the realities of busy family life—simple ingredients, realistic prep times, and strategies that make healthy eating both accessible and sustainable.

You can find her on Instagram at @happyhealthyeaters and @smartnutritionca