The next Beau-Fitt session will be a food demonstration and sample session Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of Building 10 on the Beaufort County Community College campus.

The December event will offer samples by Carry Out by Chrislyn. Participants can also get their heart rate up with Athletic Edge’s 12 Days of Cardio.

Wedged between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the event offers a way for those who have been hopping from one feast to the next to try some healthful options and break a sweat.

“The program has expanded fourfold in the past year,” reported Julie Crippen, grant writer for BCCC. In November, Mary Parker led a hula-hoop exercise session. “With the addition of Beaufort County Schools, we anticipate more growth in the program.”

Eastern North Carolina has a high percentage of obesity, diabetes and heart disease so a number of organizations are interested in reversing course on these public health issues. The Beau-Fitt program is funded through grants from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and MDC. The funds helped create the one-mile walking trail with four fitness stations, the exercise monthly sessions and the Garmin fit band program.

“There is a need for incorporating healthy living into the workplace as our lifestyles have become more sedentary,” said Crippen.

The college’s Beau-Fitt program offers a variety of fun programs to excite and engage attendees, including college students and seniors, with activities focused on improving the lifestyles of the community. The monthly sessions attract between 50 and 80 people. All events are free and open to the community.