SNEB 2026 brought more than 500 nutrition educators together in Washington, D.C., July 29–31, 2026, for three days of learning, collaboration, advocacy, and celebration. With a program focused on the latest developments in nutrition education, the conference provided opportunities for attendees to share research and ideas, explore emerging issues, connect with colleagues, and advance the field of nutrition education.

The conference kicked off with the ASNNA-SNEB Joint Hill Day, bringing more than 80 nutrition education leaders together to meet with congressional offices. Participants shared how nutrition education improves health, strengthens communities, supports agriculture, and helps Americans make informed food choices. The event provided an important opportunity for SNEB members and partners to advocate for the role of nutrition education in advancing public health.

The first official day of the conference featured the thought-provoking Bee Marks Communication Symposium, engaging concurrent sessions, and a JNEB Rapid Reviews session highlighting timely research. Later in the day. attendees gathered for the opening and poster reception, providing an opportunity to connect with colleagues and explore the latest research and work being done across the field.

Day two kicked off with an original poem, “Ode to SNAP-Ed” written and performed by Leah Brown. The morning continued with “A State of the Science on Nutrition Policy,” a timely discussion covering key nutrition policy actions from 2025–2026. The rest of the day featured more than 15 concurrent sessions exploring a wide range of topics, including nutrition policy, systems change, food justice, digital innovation, and community health.

The final day began with the SNEB Business Meeting, followed by additional sessions covering topics including GLP-1 receptor agonists, nutrition policy, community engagement, food systems, health equity, SNAP-Ed, and lifelong nutrition education. The conference concluded with the SNEB 2026 Awards Ceremony and Presidential Address, where the Society celebrated the achievements and contributions of its members, reflected on the accomplishments of the past year, and welcomed incoming SNEB President Adrienne Markworth.

Congratulations to our award recipients:

  • SNEB Program Impact Award – Lynn Fredericks, FamilyCook Productions
  • SNEB Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award – Katie Kraus, Utah State University
  • SNEB Early Career Achievement Award – Jessica Soldavini, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • SNEB Helen Denning Ullrich Award for Lifetime Excellence in Nutrition Education – Pamela Koch, Teachers College – Columbia University
  • JNEB Great Educational Material (GEM)
    • Winner: Brody, R. , Cunningham, A., Stevens, J. (2025). Prairietown Regional Medical Center: An AI-driven simulation for teaching leadership and change management to nutrition graduate students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(2), 145–151.
    • Finalist: Garner, J. A., Shrodes, J. C., Garrity, K., Zhao, S., Aboagye-Mensah, E., Williams, A., Brock, G., Hefner, J., Walker, D. M., & Joseph, J. J. (2025). Cooking Matters for Diabetes: A curriculum to support diabetes self-management among individuals facing food insecurity. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(5), 460-466.
  • JNEB Best Research Brief
    • Winner: Short E, Li J, Selig JP, Bounds K, Rowland B, et al. (2025). Medically tailored grocery delivery for food pantry clients with diabetes. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Advance online publication.
    • Finalist: Sundermeir, S. M., Matsuzaki, M., Zhang, A., Obi, J. C., Gittelsohn, J., & Winkler, M. R. (2025). Characterizing the unhealthy consumer food environment of dollar stores and exploring differences by neighborhood racial composition. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(10), 972-979.
  • JNEB Best Research Article
    • Winner: Faul, C. B., Jilcott Pitts, S., Calloway, E. E., Seligman, H. K., Reis, H., Cherry, C. W., et al. (2025). A meta-ethnography to determine critical constructs of nutrition security. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(3), 167–184.
    • Finalist: Cohen, J. F. W., Zuercher, M. D., Orta-Aleman, D., Chapman, L. E., Hecht, C. A., Hecht, K., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., Olarte, D. A., Patel, A. I., Polacsek, M., Schwartz, M. B., Ritchie, L. D., & Gosliner, W. (2025). Impact of deimplementing universal free school meals: School food authority perspectives. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 57(10), 902-908.

Thank you to everyone who helped make SNEB 2026 possible, including our conference planners, volunteers, presenters, poster authors, speakers, sponors, exhibitors, and attendees. Your contributions made this year’s conference a valuable opportunity to flourish through change and celebrate the impact of nutrition education.

continue reading

Related Posts