Just got back from Philadelphia and attending the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE). It was a great conference and I was so excited to get to attend. I don’t have the luxury of getting to attend every year, but I have been able to now go three times and each time is a fantastic experience. If you are curious about my trip in 2017, CLICK HERE for a blog recap of my one day at FNCE in Chicago.
I wanted to give you all a recap of some of the exciting things that I was able to see and do. If you are a RDN, I hope this encourages you to try to attend FNCE in the future. If you are not a RDN, but still reading this, then I hope to be able to share with you some neat experiences and a glimpse into the world of dietetics.
Each year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts an annual conference. It is in different locations around the country each year. In 2020 is will be in Indianapolis. I am so excited about this and possibly being able to be involved in the planning process. It is such a big conference and so much work is done behind the scenes to pull off a successful event.
I wanted to go over some of my highlights from FNCE 2019 in Philadelphia with you and get you excited for FNCE 2020 in Indianapolis next October.
Educational Sessions
One of my favorite parts of FNCE is the wide assortment of education sessions. There are so many different sessions that you can attend Sunday-Tuesday. Most of the sessions are 1.5 hours and you get 1.5 continuing education credits (CEUs). I was able to attend 7 sessions over the course of 3 days and earn 10.5 CEUs. The fun thing about all the sessions offered is that the topics are so varied. You can find so many different topics that apply to your area of expertise, something you want to learn more about or something that you find super interesting. Then you have the freedom to attend however many sessions as you want.
The Expo
The exhibition hall area for the vendors is another really neat part of FNCE. There are vendors from all types of businesses, they bring samples, hand out goodies and have people available to talk with you about their business/products to answer your questions. I didn’t spend a ton of time this year in the expo area, but it was fun to be able to talk to a couple vitamin companies, snap some fun pictures for social media and grab some free samples. There are also cooking demonstrations that happen in this area as well as poster sessions that are on display.
Opening/Closing Sessions and Member Showcase
Each year the Academy brings in some big names for the opening and closing sessions and the member showcase session during the conference. I wasn’t able to make it to the opening session due to flight delays, but I was able to attend the member showcase and listen to Abby Wombach speak. She did an amazing job explaining her life as a professional soccer player, describing her journey to find her new calling after retirement and empower women to fight for equality. I was impressed with her and the message that she shared with a room full of dietitians. The Surgeon General of the United States even came, which was really neat to see that support for our organization.
Networking
With a conference this large it is sometimes hard to get to know people on a personal level. With so many people it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. Thankfully all of the Academy practice groups have networking events and things going on throughout the conference so it gives you some time to connect with others in your speciality area/area of practice. I was able to attend the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (PNPG) breakfast. I was hoping to get there earlier, but I made it for the last part, but was able to meet several RDNs and had a chance to introduce myself. The other neat part of these practice groups, is their executive boards and the opportunities to network, run for elected positions and be able to help support the Academy through your area of practice.
As you can see there is A LOT going on at FNCE and there are tons of things to see, do and learn. Since FNCE is in a new city each year, there are lots of opportunities to go do some sight seeing as well. When you all come to Indianapolis next year, make sure you take the time to walk along the Canal downtown, you will have to try Long’s donuts, check out the War Memorial on the Circle or eat at The Nest restaurant that rotates above the city. There are lots of family, friendly activities in the city as well - we have the largest Children’s Museum, an amazing zoo and a fantastic art museum (Newfields). If you are a RDN here in Indiana, make sure you ask your employer about supporting you to attend FNCE next year. If you can’t attend for the whole conference, come for even 1 day and check it out. It is a great experience and as so much to offer to you as a RDN. If you are a member of the Central Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CIAND) make sure to jump over to their website and apply for a $200 scholarship to attend FNCE next year! CLICK HERE for the link to that application!