Coloradans in Action: Highlights from the Annual Nutrition Conference

Ever wonder what a group of registered dietitian nutritionists talk about when we get together? The answer might surprise you. We are far less focused on “eating clean” or following rigid diet rules than our title might suggest. Instead, we are busy running businesses, advancing public policy, and working to keep consumers safe.

Read along as I recap some of the highlights from the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference.

What is the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics?

The Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND) is the state affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, serving as a hub for dietitians across Colorado and translating national priorities into local action.

CAND supports through profession through:

- Professional development and support: continuing education, conferences, and strengthening the workforce;
- Advocacy: advancing public health policy, licensure, and access to care;
- Public education: promoting evidence-based nutrition.

Key Insights from the Conference

This year’s conference was engaging, featuring timely topics, insightful speakers, and ample opportunities to connect, network, and learn from industry partners. It also created space to celebrate and recognize this year’s award recipients.

Here are a few sessions that resonated with me, not only for their topics, but for their relevance to current priorities in dietetics.

AI and the Evolving Role of the Dietitian

It should come as no surprise that artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a top priority and concern for RDs in Colorado. Don’t get me wrong, I am more than happy to offload tasks like meal planning, grocery lists, menus, and even some of the more tedious hours of charting. But I am not ready to hand off meaningful nutrition counseling, assessment of behavior change, or complex discussions around nutrition and diabetes technology integration. So where should we draw the line with AI?

Drew Hemler, MSc, RD, CDN, FAND highlighted how rapidly AI is shaping the way people seek health and nutrition information, with a significant portion of users turning to AI for symptom interpretation, coaching, and care navigation.

As AI becomes more accessible and influential, it is also changing behavior by prioritizing convenience over critical thinking and narrowing perspectives.

This shift reinforces the evolving role of dietitians, not as replaced experts, but as essential guides who bring context, nuance, and clinical judgment to information that patients are increasingly receiving from AI tools.

Drew introduced the BEASTIE framework, offering a practical structure for using AI responsibly in clinical practice. The framework reinforces that while AI can support workflows and expand access; trust, ethical decision-making, and relationship-centered care remain distinctly human responsibilities.

Bridging GLP-1 Therapy and Intuitive Eating

Another hot topic dietitians continue to navigate is the use of incretin-based therapies, including GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Some dietitians find them highly effective for supporting metabolic health and weight goals, while others raise concerns that they may hinder the development of sustainable behavior change or, in some cases, exacerbate disordered eating patterns.

A common question is whether GLP-1 use for weight loss conflicts with intuitive eating, which emphasizes a weight-neutral approach. According to Ann Kent, MS, RDN, CDCES, they can co-exist.

Clinicians can integrate intuitive eating principles alongside GLP-1 therapy by using the medication to support physiological regulation while actively rebuilding a patient’s relationship with food and internal cues.

The goal is not to replace eating skills with pharmacotherapy, but to align both.

Still Making Sense of the Dietary Guidelines

Of course, it wouldn’t be a gathering of dietitians without discussion of the updated USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Love them or question them, they continue to generate debate, especially when it comes to translating population-level guidance into individualized clinical care. If clinicians are still working to make sense of them, it is easy to see how confusing they may be for consumers

Ryan Mayeda, DC, RDN, and Susan Gills, PhD, RDN, broke down the updated guidelines chapter by chapter.

One recommendation I can get behind is the shift toward diet quality over single nutrients, with guidance to limit highly processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates while prioritizing adequate protein and overall nutrient-dense foods.

I am less convinced by the more relaxed guidance around alcohol and the reintroduction of full-fat dairy.

The Push for Licensure in Colorado

What’s that song about how a bill becomes a law? The final session of the day focused on public policy and the current landscape in Colorado. It still feels like a bit of the Wild West, as Colorado remains one of the few states without licensure for registered dietitians.

Kara McGiver, MS, RDN, and Lauren Pickens, MS, RDN, CAND’s Public Policy Coordinator, provided an overview of how bills move through the state legislature and what helps them advance. They also shared updates on advocacy efforts, including plans to reintroduce licensure legislation with the anticipated change in the governor’s office in 2027, with a focus on consumer protection.

Dietitians can play a meaningful role throughout the legislative and regulatory process by providing early evidence, submitting testimony, and engaging in public comment. Even a single, well-prepared, evidence-based contribution can influence outcomes.

The Future of Dietetics in Colorado

What stood out most from this year’s conference is how quickly nutrition care is evolving, and how the conversations happening in rooms like this are shaping that future.

From AI to obesity treatment, national dietary guidance, and state policy, dietitians are working to balance innovation with patient-centered care.

For the general public, this means care is becoming more personalized, more integrated with technology, and more focused on long-term health.

For dietitians, this conference is a reminder that our role extends far beyond individual patient encounters. It includes advocacy, education, and leadership to help shape the standards of care in Colorado for years to come.

Ready to Strengthen Nutrition Services in Your Practice?

Are you looking to build, refine, or expand nutrition services within your practice? I offer flexible, consultative support designed to meet the needs of busy clinics and healthcare organizations.

Nutrition is central to my work across prevention and chronic disease management. My approach focuses on translating evidence into clear, practical strategies that help patients understand not only what to do, but why it matters for their health.

Let me help you develop patient-centered nutrition services that integrate seamlessly into clinical care. Book a discovery call to explore how we might work together.