AZAND Annual Conference Recap: Nourishing Our Future
Tiffany Selchow | May 29, 2025
The Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AZAND) held its Annual Conference on April 25, 2025, at the University of Arizona's Student Union Memorial Center in Tucson. The event, aptly themed "Nourishing Our Future," brought together nutrition professionals from across the state to explore cutting-edge topics in dietetics and foster meaningful connections within the community.
The Arizona Beef Council served as a proud sponsor of the conference, showcasing their commitment to advancing nutrition education and supporting healthcare professionals in their vital work. Additionally, through the Beef. It's What's For Dinner. Nutrition Seminar Program, they sponsored featured speaker Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LDN, CLEC, CPT, whose presentation on adolescent nutrition was a highlight of the day's educational offerings.
The day began with a pre-conference Edible Plant Walking Tour, followed by check-in, poster presentations, and a continental breakfast. AZAND President Shawn Toso opened the official proceedings with a warm welcome and recognition of award recipients, setting a positive tone for the day ahead.
Lauren Manaker's presentation, "Adolescent Nutrition: Balancing Diet and Development," addressed a critical gap in nutritional research and practice. She shared compelling statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) demonstrating significant nutritional deficiencies among adolescents.
Manaker highlighted the essential role of high-quality animal proteins, particularly beef, in supporting adolescent growth and development. She emphasized that these protein sources provide crucial nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins that are often lacking in teenage diets yet vital for cognitive function, immune support, and overall development.
Manaker stressed that despite teenagers comprising a substantial portion of the population, less than 1.5% of nutritional research focuses on their unique needs. Her session provided practical strategies for healthcare professionals to incorporate nutrient-dense proteins like beef into adolescent meal planning, while also addressing how to navigate the influence of social media on eating habits and offering effective approaches for encouraging positive dietary changes that prioritize complete protein sources.
The 2025 AZAND Conference exemplified the organization's commitment to advancing nutrition science and practice in Arizona. As sponsors, the Arizona Beef Council was grateful for the opportunity to support this valuable educational event and connect with dedicated nutrition professionals working to improve health outcomes across diverse communities.
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About the Arizona Beef Council
The Arizona Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors representing cattle growers, cattle feeders, and dairy farmers, and are appointed by the Governor of Arizona. These volunteers oversee the Beef Checkoff and Checkoff-funded programs.
About the Beef Checkoff Program
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA Approval. For more information, visit BeefBoard.org.