Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo – A Quick Recap
Once a year, thousands (11,000+ to be exact) of Registered Dietitians attend the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE), a jam packed four days of educational sessions, networking, and sampling new food products.
This year, our Registered Dietitians headed to Washington D.C. to attend, Session topics included live culinary demonstrations, multicultural cooking, medical nutrition therapy, sports nutrition for athletes, nutrition debates, how to enhance social media presence, and more!
On the expo floor, tons of vendors come to connect and show off their new food products. From pasta and peanut butter to oatmeal and seltzer – if the food exists, it’s most likely at the expo. See below for some product highlights from the expo:
- Vegan: from bars and snacks to protein powders and pastas, these products are giving us more ways to power up with plants. Plant based products are beneficial to the environment, our wallet, and our health – but don’t worry, they don’t skimp on the protein. From soy products, pulses, and beans, there are plenty of ways to get in your protein fill with these tasty vegan products.
- Allergen Friendly: there were tons of snacks and spreads on the expo floor that were allergen friendly. Some free of the top 8 major food allergens and others focusing in on one common allergen. These products give us more options to help those with food allergies feel safe about their food choices.
- Dairy Free Products: we are all aware of the common nut, soy, or lactose free milk alternatives, but are you familiar with oat or banana milks? These two dairy free milks are up and coming and are beneficial for those with nut or soy allergies. There were also some yummy dairy free ice creams to try!
- Oatmeal and Overnight Oats: looking for a quick breakfast? Look no further – there were plenty of oatmeal and overnight oat on the go options. From quick oatmeal packets that just need water, to pre-packaged cups with overnight oat mixes, your mornings just became that much easier. Some of the oat mixes had some extra health boosts with some added chia seeds and quinoa.
These were just a few of the common themes from the expo this year, but there were so many more cool new products to try. We can’t wait until FNCE next year to continue staying up to date on the latest and greatest nutrition education, products, and trends.