Introducing the 4th Food For Kids Summit: How are new guidelines, emerging research and evolving trends reshaping children’s diets and the marketplace?

20-Oct-2021 - Last updated on 22-Oct-2021 at 17:58 GMT

Beginning at conception and continuing through first bites to afterschool snacks and beyond, nutrition plays a pivotal role in children’s brain development, emotional lives, and long-term health – but all too often they aren’t getting all the nutrients they need, and many are getting more calories than they are burning off.

For example, the US Dietary Guidelines recommends toddlers 12 -23 months consume two-thirds to one cup of vegetables per day, but nearly 90% fall short of that recommendation. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in five children and adolescents in the US is obese.

At FoodNavigator-USA’s fourth Food For Kids Summit, we will take a closer look at the outsized impact of nutrition on children’s development during two multimedia webinars.

The first, on November 10, will look at Early Childhood Nutrition. The second, on November 17, delves into Children’s Snacks.

Both webinars will include keynotes from industry leaders about the current landscape, including challenges and opportunities. They also will feature insights from parents, market research and established and emerging brands about nutrition science and formulation challenges, branding and marketing, go-to-market strategies, and white space in the category.

Find out more and REGISTER HERE for this FREE two-part virtual event.

Nov. 10 Food For Kids Part 1: Early childhood nutrition

In the opening webinar in the series, we’ll explore how parents and caregivers can help to develop adventurous palates and healthy eating habits in early childhood, incorporating the latest science and government recommendations for the first 1,000 days (spanning a range of topics from allergen introduction to nutrient shortfalls), with input from established and emerging brands in the baby and toddler food space, nutrition experts, and parents of young children.

Kicking off our event is keynote speaker Ella Daniels, the lead for Partnership for a Healthier America’s Shaping Early Palates initiative, which is working with industry, health professionals and early childhood education experts to “raise a generation of veggie lovers.”

Following our keynote, diamond sponsor DSM North America’s Early Life Nutrition Segment Lead Toni Farinella will share new proprietary consumer research around caregivers attitudes and behaviors toward nutrition and feeding during the first 1,000 days.

Next, during a Fireside Chat with Nestle Nutrition Gerber Baby Food Principal Scientist Sarah Smith-Simpson will walk us through key highlights of the new Dietary Guidelines for children under 2 years and shine a light on the importance of key nutrients like iron, omega-3 and probiotics.

In a panel discussion with three moms – Raakhi Agrawal, Karen Gardner and Mary Jane Peck – will share their experiences feeding their children during their first 1,000 days.

Finally, during our capstone Panel Discussion: Laying a foundation for healthy brains, bodies and diets in the first 1,000 days we will dive into the details of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for children under 2 years, explore what it takes to meet these new standards, and how registered dietitians, medical experts and leaders in food and beverage industry can best ensure healthy future generations.

Panel speakers include:

Wendy Sue Swanson, pediatrician and chief medical officer, SpoonfulONE

Katina Langley, registered dietitian and medical science liaison, Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition

Evelyn Rusli, co-founder, president and CMO, Yumi

Kristi King, pediatric dietitian, Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College

Elizabeth Crawford, moderator and deputy editor, FoodNavigator-USA

Nov. 17 Food For Kids Part II: Children’s snacks trends

In the second installment of our Food For Kids virtual summit, we will explore what kids are snacking on, what parents are looking for when they buy their children snacks and to what extent children and older members of their household eat the same or specialized foods. This session also will look at branding, formulation, nutrition, go-to-market strategies and where there is room for innovation – including input from parents.

Our keynote speaker Ali Webster PhD, RD, and director of research and nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council, will share the organization’s insights around kids nutrition and eating habits, and what the most pressing challenges are for families.

Next a presentation from our diamond sponsor Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes USA’ VP of science and technology John Deaton will share the results from the company’s latest clinical trials, which uncovered multiple health benefits of its Bacillus subtilis DE111 probiotic ingredient for children attending preschool.

Once again, three parents – Nicole Hakkarainen, Brigette Bufka, and Leah Lopez – will weigh in on the challenges and opportunities to improve the children’s snacking set.

Finally, we’ll wrap up the event with an industry panel discussion – Children’s snacking trends: What does it take to build a kid-friendly and parent-approved snack brand?

Panel speakers include:

Denise Woodard, CEO and founder of Partake Foods

Ethan Holmes, CEO and founder of Holmes Made Foods

Jason Burke, CEO and founder of The New Primal

John Deaton, vice president of science & technology of Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes

Find out more and REGISTER HERE for this FREE two-day virtual summit, which is made possible thanks to our diamond sponsors DSM North America and Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes USA, and our platinum sponsor Cargill.