What’s New at FNCE® 2018

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From inspiring keynote speakers to dynamic educational sessions and networking galore, there’s always so much to experience at the annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo.™ This year’s program includes everything you’ve enjoyed in the past — plus so much more!

Current Events Track

FNCE® follow-up survey results indicate that shorter sessions and hotter topics are in high demand — and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is responding. Ten one-hour sessions, offering 1 CPEU each, will address big worldwide topics that, at first consideration, may not seem related to the field of nutrition and dietetics. Speakers will, however, demonstrate how issues such as climate change, the opioid crisis and political instability create opportunities and needs for registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered. All sessions in the Current Events Track will take place in room 202 AB.

Debates

Hot topics are always emerging, human studies may lack strong evidence, and issues can be polarizing even among health professionals. Rather than avoid controversial subjects, the Academy is presenting three of them in the style of traditional debates: intermittent fasting on Sunday, October 21; Health At Every Size® on Monday, October 22; and a third topic to be announced leading up to the conference. Each debate will feature a live question-and-answer period for attendee participation. Offering 1.5 CPEUs each, debates will take place in Hall D.

Learning Lounge

After making its debut at FNCE® 2017 in Chicago, the Learning Lounge is expanding to include more topics and speakers. Through a smaller and much shorter format than a traditional session — 15 minutes rather than 90 — attendees can discover, share and learn from engaging speakers and experts in a less-formal setting. Topics for these TED-like talks include communication tips for RDNs, exam prep techniques for students, creating crave-worthy content and becoming a stronger leader. Learning Lounge presentations will take place Sunday through Tuesday on the L Street Bridge.

Enhanced Mobile App

Redesigned with attendees in mind, this year’s FNCE® mobile app includes new features and enhanced functionality while still being user-friendly. Customize account preferences upon login to take advantage of attendee-to-attendee chat, meeting scheduling, contact information sharing and more. Use the “Schedule Planner” feature to highlight sessions to attend and create a custom calendar. During sessions, participate with the interactive Q&A and realtime polling functions. View the new “What’s Happening Now?” feature to stay in the know about major functions taking place at a given time, including the Learning Lounge, DPG events and more. The FNCE® mobile app will be available to download by early October.

Public Policy Workshop

For the first time ever, the Academy’s Public Policy Workshop will immediately follow FNCE®. Attendees who extend their stay and attend PPW (pre-registration required) will have the opportunity to advocate on Capitol Hill for the role RDNs and NDTRs play in malnutrition prevention and treatment. PPW will feature pre-event training webinars on Wednesday, September 12 at 2 p.m. EDT and Wednesday, September 24 at 2 p.m. EDT, a face-to-face training session after FNCE® Closing Session on Tuesday, October 23 at 4 p.m. EDT and a rally and photo opportunity on the Capitol steps on Wednesday, October 24 at 9 a.m. EDT, followed by Hill visits.

For more information about the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™, visit eatrightFNCE.org.

Food & Nutrition Magazine
Food & Nutrition Magazine publishes articles on food and diet trends, highlights of nutrition research and resources, updates on public health issues and policy initiatives related to nutrition, and explorations of the cultural and social factors that shape Americans’ diets and health.