Fresh Start Program
Fresh Start is a free Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Program with the goal to prevent or improve self-management of diabetes and/or hypertension offered through the Farm2Clinic Initiative at ECU with Funding/Support by The Duke Endowment, Food Lion Feeds, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
What Does Fresh Start Offer?
- Healthy Food Delivers: Monthly Food Deliveries from June 2026 - May 2027.
- Individual and Group Support: 1 on 1 health coach and monthly virtual/online group support sessions to set individualized goals.
- Family Friendly Events: Hand's on Health and Nutrition Education, plus cooking demonstrations in your local community.
Additional Resources:
- 2 free health screenings, including blood pressure, HbA1c (blood sugar) and weight.
- A program notebook with nutrition and health education, tips, recipes and exercises.
- A set of resistance bands.
- Access to a private Facebook group with daily posts on health and nutrition.
Who Can Participate?
Fresh Start is available to anyone who has Medicaid, Medicare, or who does not have health insurance, and has one or more of the following health risk factors:
- Elevated blood sugar or a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes
- Elevated blood pressure or a diagnosis of hypertension
- BMI of 25 and above
Register by June 30th to receive a full year of program services!
Click here to sign up, or call/email a team member below with any questions:
Director: Dr. Lauren Sastre: sastrel18@ecu.edu | 252.744.1005
Assistant Director: Raven Breinholt: breinholtr25@ecu.edu | 252.744.6499