Ashley Carter is a registered dietitian and community advocate dedicated to the transformative power of culturally relevant nutrition education. Born and raised in Liberty City, Miami, Ashley experienced food insecurity firsthand and witnessed its negative health impacts on her family. These experiences sparked her passion for improving food access and empowering communities through education.
Ashley is the co-founder and director of EatWell Exchange, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with low-income, minority communities to teach how to prepare nutritious, affordable meals while honoring cultural traditions. She has forged impactful partnerships with nonprofits, local schools, community organizations, and city governance to create sustainable change. Her work focuses on increasing access, knowledge, and affordability of healthier foods, aiming to reduce preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Through EatWell Exchange, Ashley simplifies complex nutritional concepts into actionable steps for diverse audiences. She develops and leads programs that include hands-on cooking and gardening classes, community events, and professional trainings for healthcare providers, emphasizing the importance of cultural competence and food inclusivity in healthcare.
Before co-founding EatWell Exchange, Ashley spent over 10 years advocating for health equity in community and public health roles with the Department of Health. As a certified Mental Health First Aider, she understands the vital connection between mental and physical health in the communities she serves. Ashley earned her degree in dietetics with a minor in religion from Florida State University and a master’s degree in nutrition with a focus on health informatics from the University of North Florida. She is also an adjunct professor of nutrition at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and the author of Enoch’s Little Lunch, a children’s book celebrating cultural foods at lunchtime.
Ashley’s work has been featured in Eating Well, Essence, Today’s Dietitian, Miami Times, Well+Good, and Kids Eat in Color. She was recognized as one of the “40 Black Dietitians, Nutritionists, Chefs, and Food Influencers to Know and Love” and honored in Legacy Magazine’s “40 Under 40” for 2022.
When she’s not working, Ashley enjoys riding her bike, practicing yoga, and exploring her creative side through knitting. She cherishes quality time with her family, especially her nephew, who she lovingly calls her twin due to their uncanny resemblance.
Through her leadership and advocacy, Ashley is committed to addressing systemic barriers and fostering equity, inclusion, and wellness in underserved communities. Her lived experiences and professional expertise drive her mission to create generational health improvements through culturally relevant solutions in food access and nutrition education.