I recently got back from my favorite food & nutrition conference, FNCE! Here’s a recap of some of the highlights.
FNCE is the world's largest meeting of food and nutrition experts and registered dietitian nutritionists, hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The conference includes educational sessions, an expo hall, excursions, special events and some fun parties. This year it was in Denver, Colorado and it was truly a blast.
Here's a recap of a few of my favorite sessions at FNCE 2023:
Glowing Skin Is In! Can What You Eat Really Impact Your Skin?
In this session I learned all about how nutrition and skin health can be related, especially with common issues such as psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, etc. A key takeaway is that an anti-inflammatory diet may help improve skin health. One key anti-inflammatory nutrient I always recommend adding in is omega-3s from fatty fish. Many Americans have a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. You can assess your levels through testing, which is a service I offer in my private practice for my clients! If you want to learn more, book a call here.
Making Infant Feeding of Common Allergens Practical
This session was presented by one of my best friends and favorite dietitians, Malina Malkani. The session covered the latest guidelines for introducing common allergens during infancy to prevent food allergies later in childhood. If you want to explore this topic more I recommend following Malina on instagram where she shares amazing resources and tips.
Anti-Obesity Medications: Mechanisms of Action, Lifestyle Implications, and Future Developments
This session covered the trending topic of obesity medications, providing an overview of currently approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs), their mechanisms of action, and the dietary and lifestyle implications to support AOM usage. It also offered tips for dietitians on how to help clients mitigate common side effects. You can learn more about anti-obesity medications here.
Benefits of Attending FNCE
Networking. As a solo entrepreneur, my journey as an RD can sometimes feel lonely, but not at FNCE. Each year, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry leaders attend the annual meeting, making it the perfect place to connect with others in the field.
This year, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my cohort group of the National Media Spokespeople of The Academy, which was SUCH an honor to be a part of! That’s us above.
Continuing education. To maintain their RD certification, RDs must complete 75 continuing education units (CEUs) every 5 years. Each session you attend at FNCE offers CEUs, making it easy to fulfill a majority of the CEU requirements at this event if you attend every year.
Connection with brands. At the FNCE exhibition hall, participants have the opportunity to visit numerous booths, interact with exhibitors, discover new food products and services, enroll in giveaways, explore potential career prospects, access educational nutrition resources for clients, and, of course, taste test delicious food and beverage samples.
Exposure to the latest research and nutrition trends. As a dietitian, staying up to date with the latest research is essential for providing evidence-based care. FNCE offers an excellent opportunity to be surrounded by the world's leading nutrition experts who readily share their knowledge. Additionally, you can select sessions that align with your interests, allowing you to expand your education and better support your work as an RD.
Overall, if there's one thing I would recommend to young dietitians and nutrition students looking to kickstart their careers, it's attending FNCE. Every year, after leaving this conference, I find myself feeling more inspired and excited about being an RD. If you attended FNCE, please comment below and share your favorite part from this year!