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Unpacking Bias & Advancing Equity: Cultural Perspectives in Nutrition Care

Sunday, October 25, 2026

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Room 304

CPE: 1.5

Proficiency: Intermediate knowledge/experience

Track: Public Health, Health Equity & Community Nutrition

Theme: Food, Culture & Connection

Description

In an increasingly diverse nation, nutrition professionals must understand more than nutrients; they must understand people. This session explores how cultural identity, lived experience, and systemic bias shape nutritional care for communities whose cultural needs are often overlooked in U.S. healthcare settings. These cultural groups may be underserved due to limited culturally tailored nutrition resources, a lack of provider familiarity with traditional foods and health beliefs, and communication approaches that do not fully reflect cultural norms or lived experiences. Three registered dietitians representing Latin American cultures, the Philippines, and the Middle East will share insights from their cultural lenses, highlighting how historical context, food traditions, and sociocultural values influence patient engagement and health outcomes. Through real-life case examples and an engaging panel discussion, the session will explore how implicit bias and Western-centric frameworks can unintentionally influence assessment, communication, counseling, and health outcomes. The session will provide attendees with practical tools to deliver care that accounts for cultural nuances and challenges, enabling more equitable and culturally responsive nutrition practice. Participants will walk away equipped with strategies to build trust, adapt recommendations with cultural fluency, advocate for equitable care, and provide high-quality care to clients across diverse cultural communities.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe how cultural identity, food traditions, and health disparities influence nutrition needs and counseling approaches across diverse cultural communities.
  • Demonstrate practical methods to build trust, adapt nutrition recommendations, and incorporate cultural perspectives to enhance equity and improve client engagement and health outcomes.
  • Explain ways students and educators can create equitable, culturally inclusive learning environments that prepare future practitioners for effective, culturally aligned nutrition care.

Performance Indicators

  • 1.7.4 Implements strategies and creates culturally sensitive and diverse resources to support diverse populations.
  • 2.1.1 Applies cultural humility and competence, and consideration for social determinants of health in a variety of settings (e.g., health care, education, business) to show respect for individuals, groups and populations.
  • 2.1.4 Applies knowledge of cultural foods, religious traditions, eating patterns, client values, and food and nutrition principles when developing nutrition and dietetics services to be comprehensive of all individuals in target population.

Speakers

  • Yasi Ansari photo

    Yasi Ansari

    Founder/Owner, Yasi Ansari Nutrition, LLC

    Yasi Ansari is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics based in Los Angeles, CA. She is the Founder and Owner of Yasi Ansari Nutrition, LLC, a consulting practice specializing in nutrition for athletic performance and nutrition therapy for individuals with eating disorders and disordered eating. She works with competitive athletes and performing artists to support peak performance, recovery, and a positive relationship with food. As a Persian American dietitian, Yasi integrates cultural foods into her approach to care, emphasizing the importance of honoring cultural food traditions as a key component of health and performance through an inclusive, patient-centered care model. In addition, she works with adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders at the Medical Stabilization Program at UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center. Yasi is a former National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her expertise has been featured in Dance Magazine, Women’s Health, Women’s Running, SHAPE, SELF, CNN Health, CBS Mornings, Spectrum News 1, and more. She serves as the Past Chair (2025–2026) of the Academy’s Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (SHPN). Yasi holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. Her work reflects a deep commitment to supporting the health and well-being of athletes and performers through evidence-based, culturally inclusive nutrition care.
  • Grace Derocha photo

    Grace Derocha

    National Media Spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

    Grace Derocha is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and nationally board certified health and wellness coach. Grace was born and raised in Michigan. She attended Michigan State University (Go Green!) and received two bachelors of science degrees in dietetics and psychology. She also completed her dietetic internship at MSU. Grace later received her MBA focusing in marketing and management from Wayne State University. Grace is proud to be one of the national media spokespeople for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Grace currently works for a workplace wellness company and an insulin pump company. She has experience working with a variety of people from various cultures, backgrounds and during different ages and stages of life. She loves helping others learn how to live healthier and happier lifestyles.
  • Sandra Arévalo photo

    Sandra Arévalo

    Director of Community Health and Wellness, Montefiore Nyack Hospital

    Sandra is a bilingual independent consultant and also serves as Director of Community Health & Wellness at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. Her Latina heritage and experience around the world have contributed to her commitment to promote disease prevention among the most underserved and diverse families, including people without homes and the LGBTQ+ community. With almost 30 years of experience, she is a recognized national expert and speaker on diversity, health education, diabetes, nutrition, chronic diseases, health equity, and social determinants of health. Her work has been featured on national and international TV, in numerous print media outlets, on radio, and in peer-reviewed journals. She volunteers for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as spokesperson and a member of the nominating committee. She is also a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists and has volunteered on the board of other various professional organizations. Sandra has received numerous nominations and awards, such as LAHIDAN’s Trinko Award (2023), Mom On A Mission, next to Michelle Obama (2017), and the Garden State Diabetes Educator of the Year Award (2018), among others. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health.

Moderator

  • Angel Planells photo

    Angel Planells

    National Media Spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

    Angel Planells MS, RDN, CD, FAND is the owner of a private practice/consulting firm. He is a former president of the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Greater Seattle Dietetic Association. Planells has been honored for his work as chair of the Academy’s National Organization of Men in Nutrition member interest group for recruiting and retaining men in the nutrition and dietetics profession. He is a member of the Academy’s Healthy Aging dietetic practice group. Planells earned a certificate in adult weight management. He is a graduate of Tulane University and earned a master’s degree from Columbia University.

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