Down South: Coastal and Inland North Carolina

First off, I just have to give a shout-out to W&J for giving me the opportunity to embark on a Magellan project. I'm currently in the Wilmington, NC, area, and it is amazing! My first day here has been a busy one, meeting with Professor Alice Ammerman of UNC Chapel Hill, as well as several clinical dietitians at the Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.

Sausage, Peppers, and Grits Bowl!

While talking with Professor Alice Ammerman, I was fascinated to learn about the emergence of the "Med-South" eating plan in this region. Already, some health outcomes of the Med-South diet include improvements in blood pressure and weight loss. Professor Ammerman has been promoting this lifestyle throughout the area, particularly by starting Equiti Foods, an organization emphasizing the role of a better diet which leads to better health. Specifically, Professor Ammerman has created Good Bowls, accessible frozen meals that focus on the Med-South concept. They look amazing, and the flavors range from "Sausage, Peppers, and Grits" to "Chicken Burrito!" The bowls are really epitomizing staying true to the Southern cuisine while also incorporating healthier fats, nuts, veggies, and whole grains. We also discussed a problem that research has shown is associated with the bowls: sadly, people are reluctant to buy them simply because they believe they will not taste good since they are more nutritious. Additionally, many social events, such as potlucks, Church gatherings, and family gatherings usually include more Southern foods that lack nutrition. However, Equiti Foods is helping the community at large by showing that eating healthy does not mean eating foods that are not enjoyable; rather, it is shifting to a more open-minded approach when it comes to trying new foods.

At Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC, I got to sit down with several dietitians: Morgan Adkisson, MS, RD, LDN; Emily Clegg, MS, RD, LDN; Kristin Mulderig MS, RDN, LDN; Erin Nargi, RD, LDN; and Lillian Nugent, RD, LDN. We first discussed how the area is a "food swamp" since it is filled with fast-food chains and convenience stores that provide low-quality foods. It is also not only a tourist spot, but also a college town and a historical site as well, so the reasons that bring people to the area are numerous. It is even a popular destination spot for retirees from many different areas. Thus, it is safe to say the cuisine here is diversifying. However, I learned that it is still mostly marked by the typical southern diet and foods high in sodium, thus correlating with increased occurrences of heart disease and hypertension. Although a farm-to-table approach is being adopted in the region, the same trend seems to be occurring throughout different regions of the country in which high quality produce also comes with a hefty sticker price. However, I was excited to learn about the "produce prescription" concept that is starting to become more popular; this is essentially a "food pharmacy" in which a patient is prescribed fruits and vegetables as a way to improve their health. I think this is a great way to diversify the way patients are treated, and hopefully this will encourage a more preventative approach that the dietitians would like to see in the area. They also highlighted the importance of making resources such as food stamps and the produce prescription more advertised and easily accessible for people. Hopefully, these trends will occur as programs such as the aforementioned Equiti Foods and similar initiatives promote healthier living for all people.

I already learned a ton of info from these meetings, but I plan to continue scoping out the nutritional patterns in this area by observing the community, perhaps by visiting some local restaurants and seeing what is popular and by learning what vacationers typically bring to eat at the beach (more info on all this to come!)