A New Year, A New Perspective

The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) is continuing to engage Iowa’s nutrition experts, Registered Dietitians (RDs) and RDs-to-be, through science-based education and firsthand experiences that build confidence in communicating beef’s role in a healthy lifestyle.

As consumer curiosity around food continues to grow, and with trends such as GLP-1 medications reshaping food culture, clear and credible nutrition communication is more important than ever, especially at the start of a new year. IBIC remains committed to helping future health professionals separate facts from fear and confidently share beef’s high-quality nutrition story.

“Registered dietitians are among the most trusted sources for health and nutrition information,” said Erin Good, RD, Director of Nutrition and Health at IBIC. “It is critical they have access to the latest, evidence-based information on beef so they feel confident recommending it to their clients and patients.”

HANDS-ON NUTRITION COMMUNICATION WORKSHOPS FOR FUTURE DIETITIANS

This past year, IBIC partnered with registered dietitian and CEO of Sound Bites®, Inc., Melissa Joy Dobbins, to deliver media training workshops for Iowa State University’s Student Dietetic Association and University of Iowa Master of Clinical Nutrition students, The University of Iowa workshop also featured Iowa beef farmers Pat and Laura Bloome, who provided a transparent, firsthand look into cattle care practices and daily life on the farm.

Survey Results Show A Clear Shift

To measure the impact of the workshop, University of Iowa students completed pre- and post-event surveys. The most notable shift occurred in response to the statement, “Cattle are treated humanely by farmers and ranchers.”

This demonstrated increased trust and understanding after direct education and farmer interaction.

This shift highlights the value of transparent conversations, firsthand experiences, and evidence-based education in shaping future health professionals’ perspectives. Notably, 100% of University of Iowa participants reported they would recommend this workshop to other dietetic students. 

Thank you to Iowa's Cattle Producers

With the continued support of Iowa’s cattle producers, IBIC is able to equip future health professionals with the knowledge they need to help patients and communities better understand where their food comes from and the care behind the beef on their plates, starting the new year informed and confident.

###

About the Iowa Beef Industry Council: The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program and the $0.50-per-head Iowa State Beef Checkoff.  Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market development, all with the purpose of strengthening beef demand. For more information, visit www.iabeef.org.