Paula Deen represents everything that is wrong with America

luckygirl007

Poor Paula Dean.. Some diseases run in the family and therefore genes play an important role. My grandmother (from the south) fried all kind of things, eggplant, okra, green tomatoes, potatoes... you name it. Thing is she grew it all!! No preservatives or additives. She also ate these fruits and veggies fresh. Not saying it was healthy to fry but variety and fresh ingredients included without processed foods make a difference.

Things happen for a reason. Paula Dean getting diabetes is sad but maybe well timed. Hopefully she will change her ways of cooking to improve her own health.

My grandmother lived to be 100... just saying

anulle2009

I have to agree with the posting that who cares about Paula Deen. It is her choice to make if she wants to represent a drug company for money, and it is every humans choice on what they shovel into their mouth. Everyone by know should know that our portion size is way above normal and that clearing your plate these days has a whole new meaning. Just the other day i measured a cup of Pasta and couldnt believe that 4 ounces was 210 cals, and i looked at my size and then in memory thought about Olive garden and the size of pasta they give you. Everyone makes their own choices and if you are going to let people who make millions effect you that is your issues. Same with people who say they want to look like Jennifer Aniston or whatever. HELLO but last time i checked i didn't have millions to spend on a trainer to wake my *kitten* up every morning and work out. People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions and their own problems. Especially health issues. It is no ones fault but there own. I am sure that 99% of the obese people in this America were not sat on by another person and forced to eat!

anglyn1

No one is forcing Americans to watch the show or cook her recipes. I watch her show oftenand can't even eat 95% of what she makes due to celiac disease. Should I tell my doctor that I can't stay on my gluten free diet because the Food Network keeps showing gluten filled recipes?

What is wrong with Americans is that they lack common sense. If you eat a diet handed down by an overweight person there is a good chance you will become overweight!

BTW, this article obviously handpicked the MOST over the top examples of her recipes. I've watched the show, read her cookbooks, and before my diagnoses ate at her restaurant and these examples don't accurately represent the majority of her recipes.

I don't agree that these foods can't be eaten in moderation. For the record my grandmother cooked a lot like Paula except replace butter with lard. She lived to be 93 and had no issues with blood sugar or cholesterol.

rml_16

Paula Deen doesn't represent what's wrong with America. What represents what's wrong with America is a thread full of people BLAMING someone else for their own life choices.

Take responsibility for yourselves and watch this country become the wonderful place that people from all over the world risk their lives to reach.

Barneystinson

I'm 8 pounds from goal weight and regularly cook with rendered bacon fat. There's really nothing wrong with whole animal fats - butter, lard, or otherwise - unless you're convinced eating any level of saturated fat in your diet magically causes you to drop over dead.

The same with sugar and starch. It's mostly moderation. Our older generations ate lard, biscuits, etc. and have lived considerably long lives. HOWEVER, I'd bet many of our grandparents in the 1920s and 30s probably expended far more energy on a daily basis than we do today having more activity through manual labor and absence of the time sink and sedentary habits caused by technology. So, essentially, they could afford the denser caloric foods like lard. On this topic, the older generations probably don't have heart failure or diabetes due to their childhood lard/starch consumption; it's more likely a cause of poor lifestyle choices as they aged or if they smoked over the years.

I may cook with fats and have desserts here and there, but I treat it the same as everything else - if it fits in my macros / calorie balance. Sometimes I allow for a splurge. Generally I'd say many of the dessert recipes I've seen from the Food Network from PD would not fit into my macros if made to her "specification." They fit into the splurge category unless they're modified to be healthier.

reese66

Paula Deen doesn't represent what's wrong with America. What represents what's wrong with America is a thread full of people BLAMING someone else for their own life choices.

Take responsibility for yourselves and watch this country become the wonderful place that people from all over the world risk their lives to reach.

The thread is actually full of people, for the most part, saying the same thing as you are.

rml_16

Paula Deen doesn't represent what's wrong with America. What represents what's wrong with America is a thread full of people BLAMING someone else for their own life choices.

Take responsibility for yourselves and watch this country become the wonderful place that people from all over the world risk their lives to reach.

The thread is actually full of people, for the most part, saying the same thing as you are.

This is true. Most are saying that. But a lot are saying what the title states. I was annoyed and typing faster than my brain. :-)

But I still say that what's wrong with America is the people who blame others for their problems and there are plenty to find in this thread, though not all.

Mamafred

Paula Deen doesn't make us fat. McDonalds & Burger King don't make us fat. We make ourselves fat and then try to pass the buck.

Happyhappy352

this is my favourite recipe of hers.. it is literally just canned peas and half a stick of butter!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/english-peas-recipe/index.html

HILARIOUS! That's like Rachael Ray's "Late Night Bacon" "recipe":

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/late-night-bacon-recipe/index.html

Paula probably didn't create all the recipes she's shown. A *few* TV-type cooks do this but very, very few. That's why when you try a lot of the recipes straight from the Food Network web site or whatever, they don't work. They're usually farmed out to pro recipe writers and rarely tested because it's often work that's not paid that well. I know from experience, both as a recipe developer and as someone who has gotten to interview and talk to many top chefs, including several of the TV/high-profile cookbook variety.

That said, I think what is getting people worked up about Paula Deen is that she isn't using the HUGE platform she has for spreading a message of prevention. Of course she never said to eat huge portions of her recipes, and any idiot would see immediately that they are not the healthiest things to eat. (I personally think they just sound revolting, and her branded packaged foods taste terrible. A particularly awful cheesy frozen seafood dip comes to mind.)

What stinks about the situation though is that she waited, reportedly, some three years to reveal her diagnosis until she had a plumd eal to make money off pharmaceuticals. She has SUCH a huge audience and such wide reach that she could be discussing the important of moderation, increased activity, whatever.

But instead, she is choosing to make a wad of cash off drugs, and the implicit message to her fans is, "Don't worry about making yourself sick through your lifestyle; here's some pricey medicine to deal with it." It's terribly sad she's skipped what could have been a great public education opportunity and instead opted for even more profit.

I agree!!

tamheath

I wouldn't blame someone else's illnesses or poor choices on Paula Deen. Be responsible for yourself. HOWEVER.... I was very, very disappointed in her Today show (right show??) segment where she would barely address her poor eating choices and lack of exercise, and instead promoted her new job: a drug rep. She is a public figure (her choice) and I would have expected her to step up to the plate a little bit and perhaps gone another way (Weight Watchers?!) instead of a drug company. I KNOW she could come up with some amazing healthy recipes! So... I'm a bit disgusted with her, but I wouldn't make her recipes in any case. So it's still all about choices. She obviously has made hers. Show me the money, says Paula.

Barbaralucas

Paula has provided us with years of great recipes, love, in her own way an unspoken friendship. Everyone loved her before she was diagnosed. Lets give her our support now while she is trying to correct her faults!!!! Are there any amoung us without fault? I think not. Shes only human!!!!

Dave198lbs

Celebrity chef Paula Deen on Wednesday pledged a portion of her earnings from a lucrative endorsement deal with a diabetes drugmaker to the nonprofit American Diabetes Association.


quit bashing her

ladyfox1979

I personally don't blame Paula for her receipes becuase like most of you already know her receipes are unhealthy. What bothers me is that as a public figure and celebrity knowingly for 3 years had diabetes and chose to continue to show and cook these receipes despite knowing the consequences of such receipes effect on the body.

She always in her shows reference personal aspects of her life and chose not to disclose ths particular one. till she partnered with a pharmaceutical company HMMM.

Don't get it twisted I still love watching how to make her receipes .That does not mean I eat them HA!

paigemarie93

Just makes me hungry. That lasagne looks so good haha.

peacefulninja

let's bring out our favorite examples, the French. They eat butter, cream, animal fats, you name it, but they don't have anywhere near our levels of obesity and heart disease. Why? Because they eat small portions.

It isn't just the portion sizes. French people eat real foods, the same as our ancestors ate. Also, they walk a lot because it's so crowded and very few people have cars. They have markets all over the place and buy what they want to eat every day. There is no driving to a massive supermarket once a week to load up on chemically preserved junk food. Despite their consumption of wine their livers are probably healthier because they aren't working overtime trying to remove substances most of us can't pronounce, let alone understand their origins or their effect on the body.

I've read about studies in which people who consume artificial sweeteners are twice as likely to be obese as people who don't. I know it's been true for me: as soon as I started drinking Crystal Light I put on ten pounds!

ngory07

I agree that for a lot of people moderation is ok. BUT when u throw diabetes into the picture it changes. U have to be mindful of carbs and sugar. Its different if she was saying cook and eat like I do every so often but maintain a healthy diabetic diet most of the time. But if a person with diabetes was to eat the that every day even with smaller portion they will most likely have health problems. And I am a nurse. I think Paula Deens food looks great. But for an occasional treat meal not as a regular meal plan.

rml_16

Paula has provided us with years of great recipes, love, in her own way an unspoken friendship. Everyone loved her before she was diagnosed. Lets give her our support now while she is trying to correct her faults!!!! Are there any amoung us without fault? I think not. Shes only human!!!!

Not everyone loved her. I couldn't care less about her one way or another. I never watched her shows and her cookbooks were not appealing. Her line of cookware is too spendy for me.

I don't love her. I don't hate her. I have no opinion of her.

But it's not her fault I gained weight and it's not her fault that others might have diabetes.

Barneystinson

let's bring out our favorite examples, the French. They eat butter, cream, animal fats, you name it, but they don't have anywhere near our levels of obesity and heart disease. Why? Because they eat small portions.

It isn't just the portion sizes. French people eat real foods, the same as our ancestors ate. Also, they walk a lot because it's so crowded and very few people have cars. They have markets all over the place and buy what they want to eat every day. There is no driving to a massive supermarket once a week to load up on chemically preserved junk food. Despite their consumption of wine their livers are probably healthier because they aren't working overtime trying to remove substances most of us can't pronounce, let alone understand their origins or their effect on the body.

I've read about studies in which people who consume artificial sweeteners are twice as likely to be obese as people who don't. I know it's been true for me: as soon as I started drinking Crystal Light I put on ten pounds!

They also enjoy insanely long lunches during their workday and do not respond to my urgent phone calls.

*shakes fist*

I, too, wish I could be out for a long stroll and a croissant, but nooooo. 30 minute lunch break!

fuhrmeister

That's a pretty bold/mean statement, Paula dean represents everything that is worng with America. Last time I checked Paul didn't support child abuse, or abuseing socail programs provided by our governmet or support domestic terrorism. She just likes butter. If you don't like her recipies don't make her food. I for one love her peach cobbler and will likely make it every summer until I can no longer stand in my own kitchen. I believe that you can eat in moderation. She can choose to cook whatever she likes and you can choose to cook whatever you like. her health is her business. Move On.

gingerb85

Okay, I've read the first four pages of this thread (no more because it's just killing me) and what I do not understand is that no one seems to have actually READ the thread title. It says she REPRESENTS what is wrong in America, not that she, herself, is to blame.

Not being the OP, I cannot speak for his/her exact thoughts when posting this, but I can see the point. Here in America, we (using the generalized "we" - not meaning everyone) tend to overindulge CONSTANTLY. Our portions are huge. We drink sugary, caffeinated soft drinks by the gallon. Snack all during the day. Drive through to get a fix of fat and salt at a McFastFood place. We live a sedentary lifestyle. Then when we get fat, develop diabetes or have a heart attack, we drive to the nearest hospital where we expect the doctors and nurses to give us a quick fix for what we have done to ourselves for decades. We cry and we moan and we lament our "terrible family history" of this or that disease.

My husband is a heart nurse and he sees this all the time. Obese man comes in with a heart attack, has heart surgery and is in ICU where hubby takes care of him until he is able to go to a regular room and the patient's first request is either a bacon double cheeseburger or a cigarette, THEN a burger. He talks to them about smoking cessation, exercise, diet change, and most of the patients could care less and go back to their old lifestyle when they are discharged from the hospital.

If you are going to eat that way, that's fine. It's your business. But my health care dollars go to fund (through Medicaid and Medicare) "fixing" people who have diseases that are caused by their poor lifestyle choices and that does irritate me to no end. We don't want true change, we want a quick fix. A magic pill.

Regarding the French, yes they may eat a high fat diet, but they also eat much smaller portions than Americans, do not snack between meals, have a much lower intake of hydrogenated and trans fats and processed foods. They eat pretty whole foods, exercise, and drink red wine. And when the French come to American and start to EAT like a typical American, they have the same incidence of heart disease and diabetes as Americans.

What we need to do is be proactive in all areas of our life and take responsibility for ourselves, do what we know to do even if it is not convenient or easy. Not blame other people (my Mama had diabetes, too). Make the hard choices. Get up off the sofa and exercise.

What Paula Deen REPRESENTS to me is the typical American who has eaten a high fat diet, lacked exercise, and now when faced with this illness, absolves herself of all guilt and takes a pill, yet will not change what she has done before that got her into this position.

shanaenichole

I have never watched her show or read anything she's written until she was on NBC the other morning (I saw it by default) and I have to say. She is the most annoying person I've heard in a while. LOL She evaded the questions about diabetes being linked to unhealthy eating. She talked so slowing and then wouldn't stop...obnoxious comes to mind.

That said. I agree with the posters that say Americans (people in general actually-starts in the Bible where Adam blames it all on Eve "it's that woman you gave me...she made me do it"-and ironically that was food too!) need to take responsibility for our own choices and actions. Period. We choose what we eat and how much of it. Shame on us for blaming anyone. Is Paula Dean an ambassador for good health? Heavens no! But is it her responsibility that our diabetes rates are sky-high? Absolutely not. Educate YOURSELF and decide what you want. Generally speaking if you take care of your body it will take care of you!!!!!

YES, YES, YES!! I agree with all of this. You eat what you eat. No one else puts the food in your mouth. You do. That's just like suing for hot coffee. Come on, guys. You know that coffee is hot! Don't drink it! You know that food is fatty, don't cook it!

joakool

Paula who?

kjgarcia

I'm at work and I don't have time to read all the comments so I apologize if this has been said. I just have a couple of things....One is that we are ultimately responsible for what we do. She never claimed to be healthy or an example to follow. I'm not shocked that she is diabetic.
I also don't think that she is using this for a "platform" so to speak. She has been up there in popularity and celebrity status for awhile, this is nothing new.

spa9177

I never liked watching her show anyway, because of all the unhealthy food she prepares.

kingkong123

Okay, I've read the first four pages of this thread (no more because it's just killing me) and what I do not understand is that no one seems to have actually READ the thread title. It says she REPRESENTS what is wrong in America, not that she, herself, is to blame.

Not being the OP, I cannot speak for his/her exact thoughts when posting this, but I can see the point. Here in America, we (using the generalized "we" - not meaning everyone) tend to overindulge CONSTANTLY. Our portions are huge. We drink sugary, caffeinated soft drinks by the gallon. Snack all during the day. Drive through to get a fix of fat and salt at a McFastFood place. We live a sedentary lifestyle. Then when we get fat, develop diabetes or have a heart attack, we drive to the nearest hospital where we expect the doctors and nurses to give us a quick fix for what we have done to ourselves for decades. We cry and we moan and we lament our "terrible family history" of this or that disease.

My husband is a heart nurse and he sees this all the time. Obese man comes in with a heart attack, has heart surgery and is in ICU where hubby takes care of him until he is able to go to a regular room and the patient's first request is either a bacon double cheeseburger or a cigarette, THEN a burger. He talks to them about smoking cessation, exercise, diet change, and most of the patients could care less and go back to their old lifestyle when they are discharged from the hospital.

If you are going to eat that way, that's fine. It's your business. But my health care dollars go to fund (through Medicaid and Medicare) "fixing" people who have diseases that are caused by their poor lifestyle choices and that does irritate me to no end. We don't want true change, we want a quick fix. A magic pill.

Regarding the French, yes they may eat a high fat diet, but they also eat much smaller portions than Americans, do not snack between meals, have a much lower intake of hydrogenated and trans fats and processed foods. They eat pretty whole foods, exercise, and drink red wine. And when the French come to American and start to EAT like a typical American, they have the same incidence of heart disease and diabetes as Americans.

What we need to do is be proactive in all areas of our life and take responsibility for ourselves, do what we know to do even if it is not convenient or easy. Not blame other people (my Mama had diabetes, too). Make the hard choices. Get up off the sofa and exercise.

What Paula Deen REPRESENTS to me is the typical American who has eaten a high fat diet, lacked exercise, and now when faced with this illness, absolves herself of all guilt and takes a pill, yet will not change what she has done before that got her into this position.

Hyperbole and ridiculous generalizations.

abazooday727

What's wrong with America? Blaming Paula Deen for "leading people over a cliff" really?...WTH I bet all of you have no problem letting your daughters listen to people like Brittney Spears or Lady Gaga either...SO Lady Gaga made your daughter plunge into a life as a stripper...I think not...

PEOPLE LISTEN UP!!! YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES!! Drug dealers do not make you take drugs...JUST SAY NO!!! In all cases food or otherwise. Treat your body right...I DO NOT BLAME ANYONE on me being OBESE...I had no help in driving my large self to any drive thru...I MADE MY BED and I AM FIXING IT..

It's like saying people like Jillian Micheals is responsible for people losing weight... WRONG...She gives an outlet for CHOICES...That is all...She can not make you lose wieght if you don't get your behind off the couch...really.

Enough with my rant...

bcattoes

What Paula Deen REPRESENTS to me is the typical American who has eaten a high fat diet, lacked exercise, and now when faced with this illness, absolves herself of all guilt and takes a pill, yet will not change what she has done before that got her into this position.

How the heck could she change the past? She could only change the future, and you can't possibly know what she will do in the future.

savage22hp

The problem is not Paula Dean or what she makes a living doing , the problem is personal responsibility . We live in a " it's somebody else's fault " society where we don't take responsibility for our own choices . We are quick to judge others but slow to recognize our own faults . Paula Dean will have to deal with the choices she has made just as many have to deal with the same issues . I agree that moderation is the key to all of the " evil" foods whether it is McDonald's or that loaded with butter recipe handed down from generation to generation . Our society has on the daily menu what used to be reserved for holidays and special occasions , killing ourselves with our wealth .

gingerb85

What Paula Deen REPRESENTS to me is the typical American who has eaten a high fat diet, lacked exercise, and now when faced with this illness, absolves herself of all guilt and takes a pill, yet will not change what she has done before that got her into this position.

How the heck could she change the past? She could only change the future, and you can't possibly know what she will do in the future.

Once again, you are not reading. I didn't say Paula Deen anything. I said what she represents.... I work in the medical industry. People come in all the time who are diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes. They do not want to change their behavior - they want a quick fix. Same with every aspect of life. We want a quick fix rather than to actually WORK to fix the problem. I would imagine that if you are on MFP and active on this board, that you are different from mainstream America - that you are working to reverse obesity or high cholesterol or diabetes or whatever. Most people in this country do not do that.

OMGLeigh

I'm not really interested it going into her food habits, but the title of this thread bugs me. Paula Deen is more than just butter.
How can a single mother who raised two kids, used what she knew to feed her family and ultimately bring them out of poverty be what is wrong with America? How can a woman who helps charities, cares for and nurtures her home town, embodies the American ideal that you can make something of yourself, be what is wrong with America?