Savor the Flavor. . .

March is National Nutrition Month!

We made an Impact at Legislative Day on February 24th!

Almost 100 RDNs, DTRs, interns and students spent a rewarding day in Richmond visiting our legislators. We split into two groups so when we were introduced (the famous “shout out) to the Assembly and the Senate, 50 of us stood in unison in each gallery to represent Virginia’s nutrition experts who promote the health of Virginians! This record-level attendance required leadership and coordination and for that we thank Angie Hasemann, State Policy Rep; Faye Krause and Alex Wahlberg Assistant SPRs, Christine Gries, State Regulatory Specialist, our five District Legislative Representatives, Blue Ridge (Sara Mastrantonio), Northern (Jackie Darling), Richmond (Nana Ofosu-Benefu), Southwest (Susan Noble) and Tidewater (Amber Rivera) Andrew Lamar, Legislative Consultant, and Amy Scott-MacLean. Attendees were surprised to actually meet with legislators who had time to talk about legislation VAND was supporting.

VAND Legislative Day 2016

Read more about Legislative Day in the NEWSLETTER posted on the website and check back for even more information that will provide a more in depth discussion about VAND’s MOST SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE DAY to date and lots of photos! Please plan on attending next year’s Legislative Day!


Blogging… Another Way to Make an Impact!

By now you all know that we have launched a very successful blog on our website!   What you might not know is why we started this blog and why we want YOU to contribute to it.  Blogging increases our online presence and helps us establish authority as the nutrition experts in the Commonwealth, provide educational opportunities for other RDNs, healthcare professionals, and the public, and promote the professional brand of VAND.  It helps public policy and advocacy professionals, like our state legislators and their aides, learn who we are and what we do.  Publishing on our blog can also help YOU build your professional brand and online presence.  With National Nutrition Month this month, we would love to flood the blog with pictures of NNM activities throughout Virginia, and educational posts and healthy recipes to help Virginians “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right”!  Submit your materials to our Professional Education Chairpersons at vand.professionaleducation@gmail.com – we can even help edit your post if you would like us to!

Thank you in advance for your submissions!

~ Wendy Phillips and Kristen Chang

Go to www.eatrightvirginia.org and click on “Blog” to view recent submissions:

Facts about coconut oil, VAND election candidate profiles, Nutrition Myth Busters, Order Writing Privileges. . . .


Virginia Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics 87th Annual Meeting
April 10-12, 2016 – 
Fairfax, VAlogoAM2016

Have you seen the speaker line up? Have you seen the workshop topics? This is a meeting not to be missed! Margo Wootan, D. Sc. Center for Science in the Public Interest (restaurant nutrition labeling); Patsy Catsos, MS, RDN (FODMAPS), Scott Kahan, MD, MPH (What RDNs need to know about medications for weight reduction), Alanna Moshfegh, MS, RD (Chew on This Changes in Americans’ Eating Habits) to name a few!

ALL WORKSHOPS & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ARE STILL AVAILABLE, BUT ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE ROOM BLOCK ARE GOING FAST!

Up to 23 CPEUs are being offered over three days.  VAND’s 87th Annual Meeting will host many nationally renowned speakers and local experts presenting hot topics in food and nutrition to advance practice in all areas.  Log onto VAND’s website at www.eatrightvirginia.org and click on the Annual Meeting announcement to check out the meeting site.  Here you can view the program agenda, meet the speakers, access hotel information and register online with a credit card.

Early bird registration fees are available NOW through March 18th

Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks, 

11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway,

Fairfax, VA  22033


Academy Elections

The final numbers are in and 14.48% of VAND’s membership voted in the Academy elections coming in 3rd place in Category 3 behind Georgia’s 26.15% (Donna Martin from GA was selected as AND’s President-Elect so they had lots of GOTV energy) and Alabama’s 16.09%. In 2015, VAND had 9.1% of its members vote so a 37% increase in participation is great improvement.


Upcoming Events
  • March VAND Elections—will be announcedMarch Webinarwill be announced soon, stay tuned!
  • March 2016 National Nutrition Month: “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” www.eatrightpro.org has lots of resources for RDNs and NDTRs to use.
  • April 10-12: Annual Meeting:, Fair Oaks Marriott, Fairfax, VA
  • April 10: Board Meeting 5:30 pm
  • July 8-9: Board Retreat – Roslyn Center – Richmond, VA
As always, I am interested in your insights, your questions, and requests.
~Nicole

Nicole V Brown, MS, RDN, LD ACSM EP-C, VAND President

Nicole V Brown, MS, RDN, LD ACSM EP-C
703.969.6114 | Springfield, VA