VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - Despite the challenges of today, organizations are still coming together to benefit the health of the individual on a local, national, and global stage. The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) held its annual conference July 20–July 24, 2020, and transitioned its annual conference to a virtual showcase for attendees across the world. The theme for this year’s conference was “What Food Future,”and Dr. Shreela Sharma, Co-Founder of Brighter Bites^® and Professor of Epidemiology at UTHealth School of Public Health, and Lori Taylor of The Produce Moms^® were part of the event.

“We pitched our presentation to SNEB 2020 to ensure that fresh produce was part of the conversation about the future of food in schools. The presentation that Dr. Sharma and I gave to the professionals at SNEB was a great way to provide these leaders in nutrition academia and research with a better understanding of the role we play in providing nutrition and health education programs to families,” Lori Taylor, CEO and Founder of The Produce Moms stated. “Brighter Bites and The Produce Moms both share a mission that fruits and vegetables can change the world with Brighter Bites focused on creating healthy school communities in underserved neighborhoods through fresh produce, and The Produce Moms as a wellness brand in the digital community for fresh fruits and vegetables and promoter of public policy to protect and increase the availability of fresh produce in public schools.”

The Healthy Children and Youth Session, combined new educational strategies with improvements to child nutrition programs to help preschoolers through college students obtain and sustain health, according to a press release.

This year’s SNEB conference Chair, Pamela Koch, EdD, RD Research Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food Education and Policy Program in Nutrition, Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University shared her joy around the educational event

“We were delighted to have Brighter Bites and The Produce Moms present at our conference. We know that many Americans, as well as many around the globe, cannot afford and do not have access to fruits and vegetables that are vital to be well-nourished,” Koch said. “The amazing work of Brighter Bites and The Produce Moms is working toward everyone eating more fruits and veggies, especially communities that have limited access due to entrenched systemic racism and social injustice.”

To view the full presentation by Brighter Bites and The Produce Moms The Future of Food in Schools: Rounding Out What’s Already Being Done in the School Cafeteria, click here.

“Through the presentation that Brighter Bites and The Produce Moms delivered at SNEB 2020, we were able to demonstrate to a very respected, influential group of nutrition educators, researchers, and practitioners, how our organizations are eliminating the perception of intimidation by produce and demystifying how to buy and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Sharma expressed. “We were able to tell the story of the impact Brighter Bites is having on child and parent produce consumption to reduce food insecurity and ultimately improve child health.”

Thank you to all the advocates who throw their hats in the produce ring! We thank you, every day!

The Produce Moms Brighter Bites