Plant-Powered Momentum: My Takeaways from SNA ANC 2025 in San Antonio

By Michelle Saletan, Institutional Support Manager, Balanced

School nutrition’s biggest stage—the School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference (ANC)—returned this July, drawing 6,500+ professionals, 120+ education sessions, and 900+ exhibit booths under one roof. Attending with our friends at Friends of the Earth, The Farm Sanctuary, and Plant-Based Food Association, we represented the Plant Powered School Meal Coalition. This gave me a front-row seat to the plant-forward progress happening across the country.

The Exhibit Hall: A Tale of Two Realities

Walking the massive show floor inside San Antonio’s Henry B. González Convention Center felt like stepping into two parallel universes:

What Gave Me Pause	What Gave Me Hope
🚨 Mega-sized corporate booths pushing ultra-processed products in eye-catching packaging.	🌱 Dozens of scrappy, mission-driven brands spotlighting fiber-rich legumes, whole grains, and innovative meat-free entrées.
⚖️ Price-focused messaging overshadowing health and sustainability.	✨ Operators crowding small booths to taste plant-based samples—proof that demand is real.

The contrast was stark, but the optimism was tangible. Every conversation at a plant-based booth reaffirmed what we know at Balanced: schools want cost-effective, kid-approved options that also support public health.

Key Conference Themes for Healthy-Menu Advocates

Fiber-First Nutrition

Attendees buzzed about closing the fiber gap in school meals—exactly the mission of Balanced’s Focus on Fiber campaign. Operators asked for recipes, procurement tips, and nutrition talking points they can bring back to their districts.

Sustainability & Climate

From breakout panels to hallway chats, the link between food choices and greenhouse-gas emissions took center stage. Plant-powered meals emerged as a win-win for student health and the planet—language that resonates deeply with our coalition partners.

Culinary Creativity

Live-cooking demos proved that kid-friendly dishes like roasted tomato curry with kale and chickpeas, vegan veggie pizza, or Smart Snacks like flavored, roasted sunflower seeds can be built within school-meal budgets. If you grabbed a sample, you tasted how flavorful compliance can be.

Who Made a Strong Impression?

• Sukhi’s Irresistible Indian Cuisine

• Daiya, Dairy Free Cream Cheese and Cheese Sauce

• Better Balance

• Sunrich Products, Smart Snack Sunflower Seeds

• The Amazing Chickpea, sandwiches, snacks, and dips

• Feel, Vegan Protein Bars

• Big Sandy Organics, Whole and Ancient Grain Snacks
  

San Antonio: Beyond the Convention Center

I’d be remiss not to mention San Antonio’s vibrant hospitality:

• River Walk Strolls: Post-conference evenings spent along the cypress-shaded canal restored my energy after eight-mile exhibit-hall days.

• Plant-Friendly Eats: Local spots like Rosario's and Plantology dished up Tex-Mex flavors with delicious fiber-packed recipes.

• Alamo Inspiration: A quick history lesson reminded me that big change often starts with a passionate few, just like our nutrition movement.

FAQs

Q1. What is the SNA Annual National Conference?

A three-day gathering of 6,500+ school nutrition professionals, featuring 120+ education sessions and 900+ exhibits that shape K-12 foodservice each July.

Q2. Why did Balanced attend ANC 2025?

To champion high-fiber, plant-forward menus and to connect food-service teams with the technical support available through our Institutional Support Program.

Q3. What were the biggest wins for plant-based meals this year?

Greater vendor presence, operator curiosity about fiber-rich recipes, and stronger alliances with groups like Friends of the Earth and the Plant Powered School Meal Coalition.

Q4. How can schools start offering more plant-powered meals now?

Begin with small swaps—bean-based chili for taco meat, whole-grain pasta with lentil “meatballs,” or chickpea salad sandwiches—and tap Balanced for menu analysis and procurement guidance.

Action Steps for Food-Service Leaders

1. Schedule a Free Menu Analysis. Email me at Michelles@balanced.org to uncover fiber and cost-saving opportunities.

2. Download Our K-12 Toolkit. Get recipes, marketing templates, and sourcing tips to make change stick.

3. Check out the Focus on Fiber Campaign. Our campaign seeks to spread awareness and inspire action to elevate fiber to the forefront of nutrition conversations.

4. Stay Connected. Follow @thebalancedorg on social for monthly recipe drops and success stories.

The Road Ahead

Leaving San Antonio, I felt a renewed sense of possibility. Yes, big food companies still dominate floor space—but small plant-powered innovators are capturing hearts and taste buds faster than ever. When students ask for black-bean street tacos over processed nuggets, we know culture is shifting.

Balanced will continue to support districts ready to lead and make sure that food service directors are set up for success!

Together, we’ll turn the spark I saw at ANC 2025 into campus-wide change—one fiber-rich, plant-powered meal at a time.

See you on the journey,

Michelle

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