Hunger Task Force Community Nutrition Educator’s Insights from FNCE 2026

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics held the 2026 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in San Antonio, Texas, and brought together nutrition professionals to explore emerging trends and challenges shaping the future of food and nutrition. Several important themes stood out, particularly surrounding school meals, food banks, culinary education and federal nutrition policy.

A common message throughout the conference was that improving nutrition goes beyond providing access to healthy foods. Food must also be affordable, appealing, culturally appropriate and practical for individuals and families to prepare.

Improving School Meals Through Engagement

School nutrition programs serve millions of children every day, which makes them an important part of the nation’s nutrition safety net. However, providing nutritious meals does not necessarily mean students will eat them.

The FNCE session Tricks of the Tray: The Power of Relationships in Promoting School Meals highlighted the importance of improving student participation through appealing food presentation, positive cafeteria experiences and stronger relationships between students and school nutrition staff. Strategies included incorporating student feedback into menu development, offering taste-testing opportunities and improving meal promotion. The takeaway is that taste, appearance, accessibility and the overall dining experience are just as important as meeting nutritional requirements.

Making Pantry Foods More Nutritious and Appealing

Food banks and pantries play a critical role in addressing food insecurity, but distributing nutritious foods is only part of the solution. Individuals also need practical ways to prepare and enjoy the foods they receive.

The session Beyond Fresh: Culinary Techniques to Elevate Pantry and Frozen Foods emphasized that canned and frozen foods can be valuable components of a healthy diet. Frozen vegetables, canned beans, shelf-stable proteins and canned fruits offer affordable, convenient alternatives to fresh ingredients while helping reduce food waste.

Simple culinary techniques can significantly improve flavor without requiring expensive ingredients. Incorporating garlic, onions, herbs, spices, citrus and vinegar can transform basic pantry staples into satisfying meals. Food pantries can build on these concepts by offering cooking demonstrations, practical recipe cards, and nutrition education using ingredients currently available to clients. Hunger Task Force offers all three.

Culinary Nutrition: Making Healthy Food Taste Better

Another major conference theme was the importance of culinary skills in improving dietary quality. Rather than simply encouraging people to eat healthier, nutrition professionals can demonstrate how to make nutritious foods taste delicious. Key strategies included reducing added sugar while maintaining flavor, using herbs and spices to enhance vegetables and proteins, incorporating fruit and fresh ingredients into hydration options and adding beans and vegetables to familiar meals such as pasta, soups and potato dishes. These techniques are particularly useful in institutional food service where meals must balance nutrition, affordability, preparation time and consumer acceptance.

Moving Forward: Opportunities for Nutrition Professionals

The 2026 FNCE conference reinforced three important priorities for the future of community nutrition:

• Nutrition security must extend beyond food availability. Programs should consider affordability, cultural preferences, convenience and the ability to prepare nutritious meals.
• Culinary education is an underutilized tool in public health nutrition. Teaching individuals how to prepare affordable ingredients in flavorful and practical ways can help translate food access into healthier eating habits.
• Nutrition professionals must remain informed and engaged in federal policy. Changes will influence how communities access food and how organizations deliver nutrition services.

Ultimately, improving community nutrition requires more than providing food. It means creating opportunities for people to access nutritious ingredients, develop cooking skills, improve their health and build greater stability.

Hunger Task Force is Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader and Free & Local food bank. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.