It’s true Courtney Kremer didn’t venture far from her hometown of Worthington, Minnesota, but in the quest for healthy eating, the move to Austin made sense.

Kremer is the new dietitian for the Austin Hy-Vee, taking over for Jena Pape. While Kremer isn’t completely new to the Hy-Vee chain, she is an example of someone who worked their way up.

“I started bagging groceries [in Worthington] and worked my way up to work in the floral department,” Kremer said, from her office in Austin’s store.

Kremer eventually graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in dietetics and a minor in health education. She completed an internship with Mayo Clinic in Rochester which had her doing a variety of things including six weeks in food service, six weeks working in the community with Rochester Public Schools and clinical dietetics training with Olmsted Medical Center.

Coincidently, her first step in the Austin store was a familiar one.

“I worked in the floral department last year and I wanted to stay with Hy-Vee,” Kremer said. “It felt like a good fit.”

Like all dietitians, Kremer said she has a simple goal.

“I want to let everybody know, it’s easy to eat healthy,” she said.

That goal comes from a point when Kremer was younger. As a ninth-grader she remembered her dad having a very involved heart surgery. The idea of living a healthier life through healthy eating stuck with her.

“I really was interested in healthy cooking and eating,” she said. “I met with a dietitian and I thought, ‘what a cool job.’”

Kremer said she also understands the importance past the simple healthy eating and cookings. She understands how important it is to sit down with family.

“Sitting down to family meals is very important,” she said. “It’s a chance to sit down and ask family, ‘how was your day?’”

Kremer plans on enthusiastically continuing a variety of programs has to offer including the garden the store maintains as well as promoting MyPlate and the Fast, Fit and Food program.

But she’s also planning outreach to the community, all in an effort to promote health and food — something that can be a simple process.

As for her short time already in Austin, Kremer has no complaints.

It’s been really good,” she said. “it helped that I worked in the floral department,” Kremer said. “I understand Hy-Vee’s culture and values as a company.”

Kremer is recently married to Steven Kremer who works for Hormel Corp. Foods.