Med Instead of Meds was created by a group of nutrition and health professionals from NC State University and NC Division of Public Health. Eating the Med Way has been proven to protect against chronic illness.  In some cases, eating the Med Way may even result in decreasing medications taken for blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. 

The "Med Instead of Meds" curriculum focuses on:  

- Eating primarily plant-based foods and limiting red meat 

- Choosing whole grain foods  

- Consuming 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day 

- Using olive oil and fresh herbs instead of solid fats or seasonings high in sodium  

- Limiting high processed food, fast food, and sugar-sweetened beverages and snack

The Med Instead of Meds program is designed to address healthy eating within the adult population of Brunswick County. The program is meant to raise awareness of health issues and alternative eating habits that may not be utilized. 

For more information and Med Way recipes, visit the Med Instead of Meds site.

Email Avery Ashley, arashley@ncsu.edu to join the waitlist and receive information about the next Med Instead of Meds program. 

North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center 

In 2023, Brunswick County Cooperative Extension hired and onboarded a new Family Consumer Sciences Agent.  The Extension agent came with experience of administering this program. In the Fall of 2023, the extension agent began promotion and recruitment for the program. 

2024 Program Overview: 2024 was a successful year for the Med Instead of Meds program. We collaborated with four Brunswick County Libraries, three senior centers, and various housing communities and local clubs, including the Brunswick Newcomers Club and the Brunswick Singles and More Club. Additionally, we partnered with Oak Island Methodist Church to offer the program.

Outlook for 2025: Looking ahead to 2025, I have two more classes scheduled for the first half of the year. After that, I plan to shift my focus to a new program we are developing, which will center on healthy cooking at home. Since I’ve covered nearly every part of the county with the Med Instead of Meds program, I anticipate pausing it for a year or two before potentially relaunching it in the future.

Submitted by: Avery Ashley, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences-Brunswick County Center