Food choices are rarely made on scientific evidence alone. Culture, cost, convenience, confusion about what's healthy, taste, and personal values all shape how people eat.

This session examines the intersection of behavioral economics and evidence-based nutrition practice to explore how individuals interpret, prioritize, and act on dietary information. Leaders in behavioral science and nutrition, will unpack how people actually make decisions: through emotion, culture, tradition, and circumstance, revealing the predictable, and often irrational, nature of food decision-making.

Grounded in real-world case studies, participants will learn to balance the latest evidence with the lived experiences, values, and pressures of those they serve. Attendees will explore how clear, credible cues and environmental "nudges" can guide choices, while recognizing that information alone rarely drives change.

Rather than feeling constrained by guidelines or polarized debates, RDNs will be empowered to trust their expertise, embrace nuance, and apply professional judgment to deliver high-quality, person-centered care. Attendees will leave equipped to inspire lasting, meaningful change, rooted not only in science, but in the human relationship with food.