The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is not so beautiful

Taking a Closer Look 

at the not so beautiful, "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"

The bill (P.L. 119-21) passed and was signed into law by Donald Trump on July 4, 2025 

https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf

As a registered dietitian and adjunct nutrition faculty at Rowan University, the cuts to SNAP are hitting me hard right now as an educator; but not nearly as hard as the families affected personally and the employees whom have lost their government jobs. 

SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is formerly known as America's food stamp program. The program provides food benefits and more to low income families. The recent SNAP cuts could widen New Jersey's nutritional health gap.(1)

The SNAP-ed programs served Community Nutrition gardening, diet and lifestyle interventions in so many wonderful ways across the US and are already feeling so missed. Our south Jersey Rutgers Extension office had a wonderful program that is now dismantled. You may remember some of the recipes posted on GardenCuizine from our NJ SNAP-ed program.

Here is a link to Maine's SNAP-ed recipes and tips and Eating Healthy on a Budget Cookbook.

This video shows success at the 2023 California Fresh Calfresh SNAP-ed program: 

Community nutrition education is needed to inspire and teach people how to eat well to prevent nutrition related diseases, such as: obesity, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc. 

Tonight, I took a closer look at The One Big Beautiful Bill's (OBBB) cuts to the SNAP program but also the many rescissions of a LOT of funding related to our environment; oh my, this is outright appalling and is unacceptable. 

Below chart clip of Sec 60001 to 60026 rescission/repeals: (2) 

 

I am not sure why our scientists and leaders have lost their voice (sorry if you are speaking out, but it does not seem to be loud enough!) in convincing the public and the President on how critical a clean environment is for the future of all of us and our children, including the President and his friends and family members.

Sorry for such a heavy post; it may be partially related to me feeling sad of the new health struggles that Harry is facing. We have a big day tomorrow with medical experts. Nothing is ever easy. And to make it worse our weeds are winning in the garden... tomorrow is a new day.

Stay strong. Keep pushing!

DW 

References:

1. How SNAP cuts could widen New Jersey's Nutritional Health Gap. Accessed 9/21/2026. https://policylab.rutgers.edu/publication/how-snap-cuts-could-widen-new-jerseys-nutritional-health-gap/ 
2.  US Congress.gov. Public Law 119-21. Accessed 9/21/2026. https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf 

Blog post Copyright (C) Wind 2026. All rights reserved.

ASN Conference Nutrition2026 Poster Session: Prevent Youth Type 2 Diabetes

ASN Conference Nutrition2026

Proud to present at the American Society of Nutrition annual conference July 25-28 near Washington, D.C. at the Gaylord Hotel and Conference Center, National Harbor, Maryland.

I had a mixed bag of emotions departing from home to attend as our cat Cali was dying. It was hard to leave home knowing this. She held on until I got home; she passed away yesterday from hyperthyroid. 

The conference was a lot to take in for a first timer. I hope that I will have the opportunity to attend again. Next year is in Vegas and their centennial Nutrition2028 is slated for Boston, my favorite city. 

I plan to encourage my students to get involved in the group's engaging members, GEMS. This was the first I learned more about ASN's special interest groups. I signed up for the Community and Public Health Nutrition GEM. 

Some of my former professors from Rutgers were there as speakers! Seeing Dr Fitzgerald was a highlight for me. Another exciting highlight for me was meeting Dr Dodge from University of New England (UNE) in person! She was my mentor for this research along with Dr Falls. Dr Dodge directed the master's in nutrition at UNE. Now she is developing their doctoral program. 

Standing by my poster was of course a huge honor. People all around me came from all around the world to present their research. Just across from my poster was a scientist from Ireland standing by her poster.

The symposium on The Gut Microbiome and Risk of Child Obesity by Dr Comstock of Michigan State University was very interesting. The ASN Welcome Reception was terrific! They provided a free glass of wine and delicious food. It was great to see a Rutger's PhD, RD standing among the group selected as Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Poster Competition. 

It was also great hearing Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH, speaker from Boston Children's Hospital. He is also the editor in chief for The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Congrats to him on receiving the 2026 Robert Suskind and Leslie Lewinter-Suskind lifetime achievement award. Since I work in a teaching hospital, I liked that he encourages doctors to learn more about nutrition, "...Many of the underlying problems are nutrition problems," said Dr. Duggan. He does not see this as a threat to dietitians as they are an integral part of the healthcare team. He credits learning a lot about nutrition from dietitians and other mentors, including Dr Walter Willett, a physician and nutrition researcher and professor at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

A beautiful ending to a very busy day!

The conference location was along the Potomac River at the Gaylord Hotel and Conference Center. The large 350 foot tall Capital Wheel was nearby and lit up the sky with a rainbow of colors every night. The sunset and surrounding landscaping at the hotel were gorgeous. I didn't get any photos of the plantings, but it was sort of what you would expect to see at Longwood Gardens.

My personal interest in doing all that I can to help children prevent type 2 diabetes was strengthened by this experience. It made me reflect on all of the children and adolescents and families that I have had the privilege to consult and treat.

As these individuals with prediabetes continue working on their wellness goals, such as combined lifestyle interventions of healthy eating and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, they can be reassured that some evidence shows that this can lower hemoglobin A1C, which in turn can delay the progression or even reverse their prediabetes. 

I hope that my research poster on the topic was noticed by others as many dietitians and researchers may be unaware that the rate of adolescents with prediabetes has now reached the adult rate of one in three having prediabetes. Prediabetes leads to type 2 diabetes and in most cases this is preventable.

Follow me on Instagram for more on this important topic.

Related links

Career Pathways in Nutrition 

New GEM for Physicians interested in Nutrition 

Membership in ASN for students - FREE for undergrads; $40 for students 

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Kids 

Blog post and photos Copyright(C) Wind. All rights reserved.