August/September 2024 Issue

Today’s Dietitian 11th Annual Spring Symposium
By Alyssa Smolen, MS, RDN, CDN
Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 26 No. 7 P. 34

The 11th annual Today’s Dietitian Spring Symposium was buzzing with energy, fitting for this year’s Salt Lake City location. The Beehive State’s snow-covered mountain peaks framing the scenic capital welcomed dietitians flying in from coast to coast to attend the conference and enjoy all the area had to offer. A popular outdoor adventuring destination, Utah provided the ideal setting for nutrition professionals to explore the many trails beginning at the Hyatt and convene to discuss the hottest topics in nutrition.

Attracting the annual mix of progressive attendees and influential presenters, there were also those experiencing the conference for the first time. “I always looked at this conference but never registered before,” says Zarana Parekh, RDN, LD, CLT, IFNCP, a private practice dietitian based in Dallas. “I feel like it’s the most evidence-based conference.”

For many dietitians, the Symposium taps into the most relevant topics for their area of specialty. “I have to be mindful in choosing which conferences to go to,” says clinical nutrition manager, Maria Sheila Opina, MS, RD, LDN. “The topics here are spot on for what I do.”

Launch Day
Attendees began the Symposium by picking up their tote bags—an annual highlight—packed with sponsor samples, swag, and research. From there, they set off for a lively day of learning.

One of the unique aspects of the Symposium is its interactive and collaborative nature. On Sunday morning, attendees were able to register for a special opportunity to engage with bestselling author and media expert Toby Amidor, MS, RDN, CDN, FAND, in a presymposium session, “Ask the Expert, Responding Responsibly to Editorial Media Queries.” Amidor provided insightful tips for navigating media queries, and dietitians left the session with newfound confidence. As more nutrition professionals are being asked to weigh in on media topics, many RDs note this skill isn’t taught in traditional dietetics education. Today’s Dietitian provides opportunities for nutrition professionals to continue to hone communication skills beyond the classroom. “It’s not as complicated as it feels,” says Hannah Casey, a Utah-based retail dietitian, “[Toby] pared it down.”

Kicking off the main sessions, attendees gathered to hear from several powerhouse speakers. Caroline Blanco, MS, RDN, LDN; Bridgette Stasher-Booker, PhD, RHIA, CHTS-IM; Evelyn F. Crayton, EdD, RDN, LD, FAND; and Anthony Pinkston, MEd, invigorated the audience with their perspective on interprofessional diabetes care collaboration in their presentation, “Diabetes Panel: A Unique Partnership Provides Diabetes Self-Management Education.”

Clinical dietitian Lena Beal, MS, RDN, LD, CCTD, of Atlanta, says, “It’s the first [program] of its kind to use this collaboration … they filled in all the gaps.”

Delaware dietitian Marlene Rafferty adds, “The dynamic engagement between presenters really demonstrated the goal of a successful partnership with community stakeholders.”

Chiming in, local Utah clinical nutrition manager Anissa Kleemeyer, RD, felt this was a “fantastic way to start the Symposium” and says, “It was very inspiring and motivating to get involved.”

Of the trending topics sweeping 2024, GLP-1 captured as many—if not more—headlines as Taylor Swift. Su-Nui Escobar, DCN, RDN, FAND, shared a comprehensive presentation on the dietitian’s role in settings where patients are using semaglutide for weight loss. This was one of the most popular sessions among attendees. “There is so much information out there about GLP-1 medications, but Escobar provided a fundamental clinical perspective for RDs that we can apply to our own practice,” says Dina Aronson, MS, RDN, and director of nutrition content for Tangelo. “Learning from a dietitian with firsthand experience is key. I left this session with fresh new insight into the role of the RD in patient care and long-term success in patients taking these drugs.”

Highlights
This year’s Spring Symposium offered educational content for dietitians from diverse practice specialties and showcased a wealth of topics, including culinary nutrition, diabetes management, entrepreneurship, sustainable nutrition, cultural foods, lifestyle medicine, strength training, and healthy aging, to name a few.

An attendee favorite that “hit different” from many of the other topics was “A Deep-Dive Into Gen Z,” by Jaclyn London, MS, RDN, CDN. Her enlivening and timely talk helped RDs get up to speed on issues affecting Gen Z and included decoding common Gen Z slang. Some would even say that this talk “slapped!” California-based private practice dietitian Matt Ruscigno, RD, says, “This is important, and it was done well.”

Oregon dietitian educator Susan Zipin, RD, CDCES, agrees, “This was a fun, well-paced, and informative session.”

Dynamic duo Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, and Allan Pincus, MS, shared the steps to success in their transformative presentation about developing a personal business, “Key Ingredients for the Nutrition Entrepreneur.” Marisa Parra, an attendee and consultant at RDN of Tucson, Arizona, says, “This is my first look at entrepreneurship, and it’s inspiring to see. It helped provide a lot of solutions. Very insightful presentation and a great first glance for me.”

Heather Mangieri, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN, presented “A Play-by-Play: Helping Athletes Put a Sports Nutrition Plan Into Practice.” Karen Ten Cate, RD, CDCES, an Indiana-based clinical dietitian, raves, “This talk was sooo helpful, both clinically and with counseling approaches for adolescents.”

Many attendees enjoyed “Mind-Body Medicine for Improved Professional and Personal Outcomes,” a topic presented by Theresa Stahl, RDN, LDN, FAND, and Becky Wojcik, MA, RDN, LDN, RYT. Luanne Hughes, a dietitian from New Jersey, says, “This was the best session of the conference! Speakers were well-prepared and presented unbiased and well-researched information.”

Anthony Chui, RD, of Athens, Georgia, who works for the University of Georgia, was encouraged by the session on traditional foods presented by Adante Hart, MPH, RDN. It prompted him to think about programming at his university, so he may “be more inclusionary of other cuisines.”

On the last day of the conference, captivating speakers Ashley Carter, MS, RDN, and Jasmine Westbrooks, MS, RDN, CDCES, of EatWell Exchange, presented “Just Give It a Try.” They explained how health professionals can plan their own community activities and implement them when they get back to their respective cities. “The speakers [were] outstanding, engaging, real, and interactive,” says Lee Ann TenCate, RD, based in West Minnesota at Trinity Health.

Paul Carden, MHA, RD, of Columbia, South Carolina, working at a VA Medical Center agrees, noting, “This was a great way to finish off the conference.”

Morning Fitness and Ways to Unwind
Carlson Labs sponsored the Monday morning “Salty Stroll,” offering a way for attendees to destress before a busy day. Individuals could get their steps in while taking in the beautiful views and unique architecture of Salt Lake City. Runners, walkers, and joggers made their way up to the Capitol building, encouraged along the way by humorous signs with phrases like “You know you don’t have to do this right?”

Tuesday morning fitness, sponsored by Living Plate Rx, featured Mandy Enright, a certified yoga instructor and RD from Asbury Park, New Jersey. Enright was slated to host an “invigorating yoga session,” but after chatting with her fellow RDs, decided to pivot from hot vinyasa to restorative Yin Yoga. “It was a 6:30 am class, and I wanted to wake people up. But in talking to colleagues the night before, they were asking for something more chill,” she says. “As dietitians, we always advocate for listening to our clients and meeting them where they’re at, and, as a yoga teacher, it’s no different.”

Breakfast and Lunch Sessions
Courtesy of several sponsors, breakfast and lunch presentations offered additional learning opportunities for attendees excited to chow down on more knowledge.

Breakfast Sessions
Monday brought with it two breakfast sessions, one from Avocados—Love One Today and one sponsored by the Beneo Institute. Avocados’ presenters Amanda Izquierdo, MPH, RD, LDN, and Ella Bauer, PhD, shared emerging research on fiber and gut health.

Others had the opportunity to attend “Prebiotics and Mood: Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis,” sponsored by the Beneo Institute. “Prebiotics and probiotics are a hot topic right now, and I wanted to get more information,” says Kaeleena Scott, RD, local WIC dietitian in Salt Lake City, when asked what drew her to this session.

On Tuesday, breakfast sessions delivered additional topics on GLP-1 development and soy research. Edward Walker, PhD, and researcher from The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, captured attendees’ attention with his presentation “The In Vivo Development of GLP-1 Stimulating Nutraceutical, Taking A Full Pharmacological Approach,” sponsored by Calocurb.

Mark Messian, PhD, MS, with Soy Nutrition Institute Global, alongside Liz Weiss, RDN, of Liz’s Healthy Table, presented “Navigating the Health Landscape of Soy: Key Issues and Insights.” The soy presentation felt relevant for many RDs. “The section on the breast connection was super informative and really helpful,” says Jeanice Skousen, MDA, RDN, CSO, of Salt Lake City, and clinical outpatient board-certified oncology dietitian.

Lunch Sessions
Nicole Carroll, RD, LD, and preventive program consultant for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, enjoyed “Food is Medicine and Lower Carbohydrate Eating Patterns: Expanding Opportunities for Wellness,” which was presented by Mark Walter, CPA, chairman and CEO of Performance Nutrition, and Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN, of Cleveland Clinic, and sponsored by Simply Good Foods. “It was interesting how you can prescribe food to people. That was a new concept to me,” Carroll reflects.

Christopher Gardner, PhD, of Stanford College of Medicine; New York Times bestselling author Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN; and Allison Aronoff, senior director of Beyond Meat, discussed the innovations and health composition of the new Beyond Meat product launching this spring. “It’s nice to see more work is being done on the nutritional aspect, not just trying to create products to mass produce,” says Perry Chapman, MS, RD, a San Diego-based outpatient dietitian.

In the session sponsored by The Peanut Institute, “Powering Your Plate With Peanuts: How to Enjoy Peanuts as More Than Just a Snack,” Adante Hart, MPN, RDN, of Old Preservation Trust, influenced attendee Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, and www.soundbitesnutrition. com owner in Cincinnati. “Adante has a knack for combining food science with delicious dishes. I enjoyed learning about the latest research on peanuts and cancer prevention, as well as heart disease. I’m trying the West African suya spice this week on salmon!” she adds.

Attendees dined on sandwiches and salads as Vanessa Rissetto, MS, RD, and cofounder and CEO of Culina Health, demonstrated how to make a delicious bean dip using oat milk in her session, sponsored by Planet Oat, “Oatmilk: How the Dairy Alternative Delivers on Nutrition, Taste, and Performance.”

Activities and Mixers
The Symposium offers a variety of conference after-hours mixers where attendees can build relationships with colleagues while learning from other experts in the field, often through fun, hands-on experiences.

Cooking is a skill many dietitians are adding to their nutrition counseling repertoire when working with patients and clients. Pork and Partners invited attendees to an event where they shared the health benefits of pork, cooking techniques, and even prepared a delicious meal with pork tenderloin tacos and elote. Those who attended were delighted. “I like to learn new techniques and recipes,” says Susan Rouser, RD, of Cumberland, Wisconsin, who consults for a long term care facility. “They always have good knowledge to share with us.”

Among Utah’s sights to see, a highlight for many RDs was the Harmons grocery store tour and culinary demonstration sponsored by California Walnuts. Their “Eat the Science” event encouraged walnut consumption through culinary exploration in this chef-led excursion. “I didn’t think I could make birthday cake balls out of walnuts. I would use this with my husband and baby, who both have a sweet tooth,” says dietitian Kelie Lam, director of food and nutrition at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

Florida Orange Juice hosted Mocktail Monday with a streamlined lesson on making a Raspberry Mimosa Mist. Dietitian Kira Jennings of Rolls, North Carolina, will certainly be making this drink in the future. “I like how easy and convenient it was,” she says, “and the appetizers were delicious!”

Attendees were also invited to a “Milk and Mingle” sponsored by Dairy West. Amy Bakios, an obesity specialist in Salt Lake City, loved being able to meet and talk to other local dietitians. “Of course, the food was amazing!” she adds.

Rounding out the special events was the Symposium’s closing evening social, “Beef Aficionados Meat-Up,” sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The Hyatt Regency’s stunning outdoor Sundance Terrace was a picturesque landing for attendees to enjoy a stimulating networking opportunity while sampling spicy Korean beef and cucumber “beefy bites” and basking in the breathtaking views of the mountains.

The Exhilarating Exhibit Hall
The infectious energy among RDs at the special events spilled over to the exhibit hall, where attendees walked from booth to booth, engaging with over 50 sponsors, sampling new products, and discussing the available nutrition research. Ashley Carter, MS, RDN, LDN, of EatWell Exchange, “loved connecting with different brands at the expo and learning about new products.”

Rising above the hum of spirited conversations between attendees and sponsors was the much-anticipated announcement of lucky prize winners. Attendees were randomly chosen to win cash prizes, with the grand prize including free registration to the Today’s Dietitian 2025 Spring Symposium in San Antonio. Grand prize winner Krupa Patel, MPA, RD, LD/N, of Jacksonville, Florida, was “thrilled about being the grand prize winner for next year’s TDSS!” and exclaims that she can’t wait to attend the conference.

Social Media
The Today’s Dietitian Symposium was not only buzzing in person, but it was also buzzing online! Using the hashtag #TDinnUT, 207,650 individuals were reached, and posts received a hefty 1.42 million impressions.

Attendees were extremely active on Instagram as they posted daily events on their IG stories. Presenter Heather Mangieri posted about her experience on Instagram, highlighting some of her favorite parts, especially “winning two different raffles at the event.”

Many interacted in the comments section on IG posts to agree they had a great time, such as dietitian Vandana Sheth commenting, “Great job to the @todays dietitian symposium planning team.”

Others went to Facebook to share their thoughts, like The Dietitian Editor, saying she “loved reconnecting with friends and colleagues.”

Looking Ahead
After four full days of interacting with high-profile speakers, sponsors, and colleagues, many attendees were registering and making their plans to be in San Antonio for 2025.

“The Today’s Dietitian Spring Symposium in Salt Lake City encompassed a fabulous combination of new knowledge, food fun, and friendly reunions,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com and author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook. She also recounted, “The expo was buzzing with exciting new food and supplement brands as well as favorites from prior symposiums.”

“Between this and all of the other conferences I do, this one has a more collaborative feel and a lot of support from peer to peer,” says Skye O’Brien, owner of Obie Media, the company that has documented the Today’s Dietitian Symposium for the last three years. “It’s a community effort.”

This was dietitian Maves Ranola’s first time attending the conference and she had nothing but positive remarks. “It was one of the best conferences I’ve attended, the presenters were dynamic, and just the number of people I met and connected with … there is nothing like it.”

The Today’s Dietitian 12th Spring Symposium will be coming to historic San Antonio in 2025. Home of the iconic Alamo and vibrant River Walk, San Antonio is brimming with charm. Secure your spot today by registering at www.todaysdietitian.com/ss25. We can’t wait to see you there!

— Alyssa Smolen, MS, RDN, CDN, is a community dietitian, communications cochair for the NJAND, and nutrition content creator on Instagram. Her account, @arugalyssa, promotes simple recipes and is a source for myth-busting nutrition misinformation.