My First FNCE Experience: the dos and don’ts and what I learned at FNCE 2025

 Written By: Mallory Murray; SLU Dietetic Intern

      

  This year, I had the opportunity to attend the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) —the largest annual gathering for dietitians across the United States. Each year, FNCE brings together thousands of nutritional professionals to learn about emerging research, product innovations, and allow space to connect with others in the field. Last year the conference was held in Minneapolis and this year it was held in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference ran from Saturday to Tuesday. As a first timer at FNCE, I had no expectations, but FNCE proved to be an energizing and knowledgeable experience. Between sessions, the expo floor, and poster presentations, there was never a dull moment! Sessions ranged from topics about GLP-1 support to chronic diseases to Hot Topics in Nutrition. The expo hall was filled with hundreds of food and nutrition vendors promoting their products, while giving a ton of free samples along the way! The poster presentations were also held in the expo hall and numerous students and faculty of schools across the nation shared their research with the participants of FNCE. Here are some of my recommendations for the conference.

#1: Attend the Learning Lounge Sessions

One of my favorite parts of FNCE was attending the Learning Lounge sessions. These are quick, 25-minute presentations that cover some of the most-talked-about topics in nutrition. I attended two sessions — one focused on GLP-1 usage and fertility, and another on the hot topic of seed oils. Both were evidence-based, engaging, and provided a lot of valuable information in a short amount of time. Here’s what I learned:

  - GLP-1 usage and fertility: GLP-1 medications cannot be used throughout pregnancy as it has complications on fetal growth, skeletal complications, and even fetal death. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers get off of the medications about 8 weeks before contraception. The dietitian also discussed what our goals as a dietitian would be to help individuals when getting off GLP-1 support. Interventions included recommending adequate hydration, regular movement, and focusing on intuitive skills (what does hunger feel like to the patient?).

- Seed oils: Seed oils have been a hot commodity in social media conversations but from a dietitian perspective here is what we know. Despite the negative effects on health, consumption of seed oils have numerous health benefits such as lowering the risk of chronic disease. The presenter also discussed the omega 3 to omega 6 ratio and how there needs to be more emphasis on adequate consumption of omega 3 in the diet. Overall, the presentation stated that these oilers are essential to provide essential fatty acids.

If you ever attend FNCE, I highly recommend checking out these sessions, they are engaging and I personally enjoyed the short presentation to get the information to me sooner.

#2: Don’t Go Alone

One of the best parts of FNCE was attending the conference with my dietetic intern cohort. Going as a group encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, attend more presentations, and explore the expo floor with enthusiasm. The best part about attending the conference together was that we were able to compare notes after each presentation, explained which booths were worth visiting, and talked about new trends and innovations we had discovered. It made the conference more collaborative, educational and fun! From learning about new products to meeting professionals in the field, it was inspiring to see how much the world of nutrition continues to evolve.

#4: Attend the Expo!

If you have the time between sessions I would recommend exploring the expo floor. However, if you plan to see each vendor, plan to have 2-3 hours opened for exploration! I did my best to visit each vendor, but also prioriitized the companies that I wanted to hear more about.

Innovations that stood out to me included

- Intoleran: this company sells an innovative blend of enzymes designed for multiple food intolerances. Often reduces gas, bloating and indigestion in participants who have taken it. Sounds like a very interesting concept and could be considered useful for patients with IBS!

- PrepTable: At this booth, two Registered Dietitians created an RD prep program that prioritizes visually appealing graphics, comprehensive lecture notes, and practice questions for the RD exam. I was given handouts that had frequently used equations, food system management definitions, and an outline of the RD exam. The dietitians were passionate about their mission and I would have never found these resources if I had not attended FNCE. I will definitely be using their website when I begin preparing for the exam! Check out their website here: https://www.preptable.org/

- La Croix: La croux introduced their new “Sunflower’ flavor. What stood out to me was that each person will have a different taste palate with the sparkling water! Mine tasted very citrusy while another intern said that it tasted like Sweet tarts to her!

Needly to say, don’t plan on bringing snacks, the vendors have numerous samples for you to taste and enjoy! The expo will have a variety of samples to choose from. I even received numerous protein shakes, a slice of pizza, and a lunch-able! Start your day with a big breakfast and anticipate receiving fruit, snacks and even entrees!

#5:Hydrate and Eat Well!

        FNCE typically means long days of presentations and less than stellar sleep if you are like me and don’t enjoy sleeping in hotels. I found it important to stay hydrated and fueled with food or else I found myself dipping in energy halfway through the day. Plan on eating a big breakfast and bringing a water bottle. FNCE even provides a water bottle during registration, I recommend using it throughout the conference! As a cohort we decided to explore the city and try new coffee shops for breakfast. I challenge you to do the same when attending a FNCE conference!

Final Thoughts

FNCE 2025 reminded me that growth happens when you’re willing to learn something new and connect with others who share your passion. FNCE is not just about earning CEUs or exploring new products; it truly is inspiring to see numerous dietitians come together. It’s about being apart of a big professional community that values collaboration, lifelong learning, and innovation. If you ever get the chance to attend, don’t be shy — network, explore, and make the most of every opportunity. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn!

Photos on the multi-media aspect of this project were provided by my SLU Dietetic Interns. All individuals in the post gave consent prior to post completion. No additional resources were used. 

FNCE logo was found here: https://www.eatrightpro.org/events/fnce/fnce-event-schedule