Paula Deen and the Food Gestapo

COMMENTARY | This Tuesday, Food Network Star Paula Deen revealed on “The Today Show” that she had been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Deen, who is famous for her tasty yet often fried and fatty dishes, has been receiving vicious backlash from fellow celeb chef Anthony Bourdain.

Bourdain, star of the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations,” recently wrote the following jab about Deen on Twitter: “Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later.”

This is on top of previous comments in which he called Deen “most dangerous person to America” who is “proud of the fact that her food is f—ing bad for you.”

Listen, I get exactly where Anthony Bourdain is coming from. I, like tens of millions of Americans, have had a constant struggle with eating right and maintaining a healthy weight my entire life. And being able to cut out calories in my cooking has had a big impact on improving my overall health. But blasting Paula Deen publicly will not change the eating habits of one single person.

For starters, ask the average 8-year-old which is healthier; a plate of French Fried Potato Balls or a salad, and without question they would know the healthier option. It doesn’t take a Master’s Degree in Nutrition to realize that a couple sticks of butter or three cups of sugar in any recipe isn’t a great diet plan. Thin people, obese people, we all know what we should be eating. Every meal, we make a choice of how we will eat, healthy or unhealthy.

Secondly, I have caught her show on the Food Network a few times and I have never heard her claim to be a dieting expert or healthy food chef. She is what she is: a soulful woman that is great at making fantastic and rich southern dishes.

And last time I checked, watching Paula Deen’s show isn’t mandatory. If you think that her show is filling your head with unhealthy recipes, be an adult and change the channel. If you don’t like watching college basketball, turn off ESPN; if you don’t like raunchy cartoon comedies, turn off FOX Sunday nights; and if you don’t like watching cooking shows that use butter, sugar, whole milk, etc, then turn off Paula Deen’s show.

Otherwise, learn to appreciate her for what she is: A woman that is great at demonstrating meals that are on occasion, both fun to cook and eat.


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