The GEM Debate: Should Paula Deen “Lighten Up”?
First before I say anything else, let me say I love this woman. I met Paula Deen back when I was an anchor on that network morning broadcast and our paths crossed several times after that, most notably when I shot that pilot with her a few years back. Months later, she entertained Buff, me and the kids at her place and of course, they all fell in love with her. But what’s not to love, really?
So my heart was heavy when I heard her confirm rumors that she, like nearly 26 million people in this country suffer from diabetes. But even before people could digest that fact, she was in the center of a swirling storm with many wondering what role her love of rich, Southern (and often-times, unhealthy) food played in her condition.
The ladies of The View continued on with the topic today, asking whether Paula Deen has a responsibility to lighten up? Oh boy..
Here’s my take, and honestly I’m a little split on this. Look, yesterday she became arguably one of the most visible people living with this condition. We are a country of fat people and getting fatter all the time. We don’t exercise enough, we eat crap and it’s showing in our kids. Having said that, I must add most people are smart. Most everyone knows too much butter, sugar and fat is going to widen your load and put you in a small, pine box probably years before your time. Those who don’t are in denial. Is that Paula Deen’s fault? Yeah, um, no…
That’s my take, what about you. Do you think Paula Deen owes it to the public to change the way she cooks? Should she have been more forthcoming years ago when she was initially diagnosed? Can Paula Deen and her love of all things fried be blamed for the expanding waistlines in this country? Lemme hear ya!
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#2 written by pattyrowland 3 months ago
paula deen can do what she damn well pleases…she knows that it’s her love of all that is unholy that put her in this situation…we’ve only known for about 50 years how bad certain things are for us…if we choose to continue to indulge, then we have no one to blame but ourselves…i do not hold her responsible for the way that i eat – i have something in my head called a brain….
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As a diabetic and someone who is working on her brand, I don’t think so. Let me explain. Paula Deen is the Queen of Southern Cuisine. That’s her brand, it always has been. Here in the South, we are world famous (and the world’s worst) for eating food that is rich that is high in fats and carbohydrates. Those are the cornerstones of Southern food.
As a diabetic, I can’t or won’t condone eating this food on a regular basis but like the Southerner I am, I know that a lot of us do. Whether she got her diagnosis three years ago or three days ago, this is not something that can be stopped overnight, nor is it something that should be. My concern about all that is why Deen has to be responsible for other folks’ inability to deny themselves.
It is people’s responsibility to govern themselves accordingly. Because Deen cooks some heart-stopping, blood glucose-raising, death sentence of a wonderful tasting meal doesn’t mean you have to recreate it to share with your family. You are responsible for what you put into your mouth, not Paula Deen. She has her own health to be concerned about without having to make sure she meets someone else’s standards of what she should be doing with her own brand.
Like everything else, Americans have the ability to choose what they do and don’t want to subscribe to. If you don’t like it, don’t consume it. Point. Blank.
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#5 written by Juli 3 months ago
No it s not Paula Deen’s responsibility to censor her recipes in order to babysit a fat nation. If she was a health food spokesperson then it would be another story. As I heard her say on the Today show “Moderation”. Moderation is the key to just about everything. As a baker I have to taste my food in order to deliver a good product, but I taste, I don’t devour. I couldn’t eat a pasty every day and continue to keep myself in a healthy weight range. Leave poor Paula alone folks; she is a cook, not Dr Oz. Her health is her own business and I give her kudos for braving the backlash that comes with speaking up.
People don’t need to eat bland boring food in order to be healthy, they just need to get a grip and quit blaming eveyone but themselves for their own food choices. -
#6 written by Laura 3 months ago
you know, NO ONE, not even someone living in the public eye has a “responsibility” to disclose anything about them that they would like to keep private. With a medical condition of any kind, sometimes, it’s just better to keep private until you know what you’re dealing with. Honestly. She knew she was going to get crucified for her cooking, but honestly…this is her choice. When did we as a society decide to not give those who share their lives with us in all sorts of ways some madicum of privacy?
As for her cooking…heck…her recipies are LOADED with things that aren’t good for you. She even calls some of her creations “once in a lifetime bites.” People need to be responsible for themselves and what they eat, drink and put in their body. Kids need to be outside. People need to stop giving Paula grief over her cooking style. Just change the channel if you don’t want to watch. Personally, I watch because I love her charm.want lighter recipies of hers? Her son has a show called “Not my Mamma’s cooking” that shows better for you versions of her stuff. They looked A-Maze-ing. Heck, I’m tempted to try some of them!
What she can do? Be an awesome advocate. Teach people how to test, watch and be safe living with T2. Heck, show people that this isn’t a curse or a death sentence. It’s just changing life. You can still do what you want, eat “bad” things in bits and bites and go from there.
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As I heard once, it’s not the fried butter you eat one time at the state fair that’s gonna kill you, it’s the potato chips you eat every day. If most people are like me and watch cooking shows for entertainment purposes, then they aren’t directly affected by the kinds of rich foods Paula Deen creates.
On the other hand, I believe this is a teachable moment for Paula Deen, as she can now introduce healthier alternatives to her cuisine that are still Southern in flavor. As a diabetic, I sympathize with her love of these foods, most of which she can’t include in her personal diet any more.
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#9 written by Stephanie 3 months ago
I love Paula Deen as well and watch her show often. Do I think she owes it to the public to change the way she cooks? No! She can cook what she wants. But to go on a big media tour and not admit her diabetes is diet related is down right dangerous to some who will believe her and follow her advice, not that of their doctor or dietician. Paula has partnered with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to spread the word on managing diabetes. She has posted recipes on their website. Her new “healthy” lasagna includes cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, egg white, mozzarella cheese, gruyere cheese, cheddar cheese, cream cheese and beef. Her answer is popping pills. I politely suggest she watch the documentary Fork Over Knives.
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#11 written by KP 3 months ago
What Stephanie said. Ms. Deen is neither in the wellness, nutrition, nor healthcare fields, so I’m not sure why anything she says about eating should be held up as an example of good health.
That said, I, among with a great many others, find it difficult to swallow the timing of the pharma company endorsement, the emergence of her sons’ show and recipe book, and the continuation of her show.
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#12 written by Leslie 3 months ago
I just watched her on The Chew. She says she does not blame herself for her diabetes. Really? Whose fault is it? And then she makes light of it ( with a tear in her eye) that she hasn’t had a sweet tea in 3 years. Boo hoo.
Do I think she has to walk the walk if she is going to talk the talk? Yes, because she is now talking the talk, and getting paid to do it. But don’t say it took you 3 years to educate yourself, then come out and say that it wasn’t your lifestyle that was the #1 factor that put you there.
And don’t publish fat laden cookbooks and then tell people that you have always preached moderation, cause I am pretty sure I missed that sermon. -
#13 written by Lashell 3 months ago
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remember the days when we had personal responsibility? why should Paula Deen have to become the spokesperson for diabetes? why does she have to tell everyone she has it? what’s next? requiring all cooking show personalities to reveal their medical histories and cholesterol levels? i love Paula Deen – i think she’s sweet and funny and i love me a a Southern woman – but she has absolutely no influence on what or how i eat – i cook with real butter (and a lot of it) but i also know about moderation – i don’t eat high-caloric, high fat foods every day of the week and even if i did, it wouldn’t be Paula’s fault
should she have to “lighten up” for the public? no. she’s a Southern woman who found a career because she cooks good food, not a nutritionist!
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#15 written by Kathy 3 months ago
I happen to love Paula Deen. I do not think she owes it to the public to change the way she cooks. As you said, she is Southern and she is well known for her Southern Cooking and hospitality. That said, I do think she could make a big impact on many people with similar issues if she were to acknowledge that the foods we eat can cause type 2 Diabetes. I have been diagnosed with Insulin resistance and won’t eat many of her foods. I would for love Ms. Deen to offer healthier options with less sugar and fat and would probably use more of her recipes on a regular basis.
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#17 written by Wanda Reese 3 months ago
I don’t believe the public should gang up on her…anyone can wind up with diabetes…although of course with Type II it’s all about lifestyle. However, if you are in the PUBLIC EYE, and your brand is your product…in this case food, you need to be as honest as you can with your “client” (in this case, her fans). While I am not a “Paula Deen fan” in the sense of eating her dishes, I do respect her talent and skill because she reminds me of my late mother’s talent in the kitchen. So she certainly has place in the line-up of cooking shows, and other media related to cuisine. But, just as we expect—demand—transparency from the fast food joints (hah!) and restaurants we patronize, she shouldn’t be held any less accountable. She doesn’t have to change her MO, but she should offer a disclaimer. Or maybe the option of some less rich recipes. No she is not responsible for the health of the world–but perhaps the health of her followers, just a little? Just my opinion.
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Paula Deen can do whatever she wants. But I can hardly imagine a better platform for helping millions of people think differently about food and learn to cook in healthier ways. I hope she jumps at the opportunity and devotes at least some of her shows to teach recipe modification techniques for people with health issues. What a blessing that would be!
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My thought is we’ve always known her recipes weren’t healthy so why blame her. And moderation is the key in all things good & evil
She never said we should eat that way on daily basis & if we were stupid enough to do that then shame on us; we only have ourselves to blame. I think now she should concentrate on healthier versions of her old favorites. A cookbooks with her original recipe on one page; next to it an updated healthier version. And I’ve never heard her say her way was good for us or should be used on a regular basis. Its hard too for older generations that grew up eating & cooking a certain way to give that up….its what we know. But I think we can all be sinful OCCASIONALLY….Lets just see where she goes from here….she needs to use this platform to educate. “When we knew better we did better” -
Paula Dean has come to be known as the “Queen of Southern Cooking” with a rags to riches story to go along with the crown.
I remind my children of a saying my father instilled in me, “by the grace of God there go I”. In other words, at any time in your life you could be that other person in despair so do what you can to help your fellow man. We ALL have a MORAL responsibility to teach a man to fish. Paula Dean is in a unique situation to teach how to prepare southern cooking in a healthier way given the diabetes and obesity epidemic is more prevalent in the south than any place else in the country.
She reminds us of our mother or grandmother so we will listen. We eat with our eyes first so she can make it look appealing and that is what draws us to the show and her food.
The real issue is her clandestine agreement with the diabetic drug company before revealing she has diabetes. So let me get this right, she makes delicious tasting foods that can lead you down the path of getting diabetes. At the end of the path she suggests you take the drugs to help you maintain your insulin levels to control the diabetes.
How about preparing recipes so I never have to go down the path and take the drugs in the first place. How about that?
In these economic times, we all gravitate to comfort foods so make them healthy and be honest!
On the issue of her son making the healthy version of her foods. That is the same as the cigarette companies selling you the patch or cancer medication AFTER you have cancer.
She can be a positive role model and now an example for changing your diet to get rid of diabetes without medication, but she is the spokes person for the medication so showing you how to make foods so you won’t need the drugs is out of the question.
For the love of money is the root of all evil! Loving money more than your fellow man.
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Here’s the thing: We all love Paula Deen and most of us would love to eat the things she makes 24/7. The reality is, that’s not healthy- and she is a great example of why not. The best thing Paula can do is use her power and fame to come up with recipes that are healthier. I’m not saying throw out all of the heavy stuff, but at least devote half her efforts to things that won’t kill you.