Chef Jessica Williams, a local food expert and former nutritionist for the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program, offered the first session on healthy eating to participants in the Fourth Annual Fall River Fitness Challenge on February 9, 2011 at the Fall River YMCA. The session covered a Healthy Body Cleanse and emphasized ways of getting foods and beverages that are not good for the body out of one's diet. Ms. Williams emphasized making gradual shifts from a poor diet to one that emphasizes natural foods that have been shown to be beneficial. Sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI),  Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Fall River YMCA, General Fitness and Healthy City Fall River, and supported by grants from the United Way of Greater Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community, the Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in Fall River to get fit, lose weight, have fun and win prizes. Call CD-REC at 508-679-0922 for more information or go to www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com..

(Top row) Chef Jessica Williams begins her session by describing the effects of the environment on our health, including stress, the lack of sleep and smoking. (Middle row) Chef Williams goes over the various types of beverages, including water and soda, and explains why water is the best alternative. (Bottom row) Chef Williams describes the small and large intestine with a 22' length of hemp to illustrate how both nutrients and chemicals are absorbed in the process of digestion.