Paula Deen: A Big 'Fat' Payday?
Paula Deen has been in the news as of late with the headlines being she now has the disease Diabetes. You may have heard of Paul Deen. She’s the chef on the food channel that loves her southern cooking, deep fried everything and don’t forget the stick of butter. Ok, so excuse me if I was not surprised to learn about her recent findings during her last trip to the doctor. Did she really not know she was headed down this path every time she added more food into the deep-fryer?
Look, personally I really like Paula Deen. I admire her for being a single mother, overcoming her personal problems in her life and re-building her career all on a passion for cooking food. Many people should be so lucky. She even sells her own line of fancy dancy cookware with her name on it. It’s just that when I also found out that Paula Dean was also making a profit from her new found diagnosis that’s when I began to wonder: Should you profit from being FAT?
I should really say, should you live a life that you know is unhealthy, teach other people to cook using unhealthy techniques and ingredients all the while smiling as you sell your books and sign your autographs. Was she intentionally trying to hurt people all of these years, no probably not. Is it just her southern upbringing and style of cooking that gave her this diagnosis? Did Paula sell out or is she truly trying to help other people now?
So now Paula will work with a pharmaceutical company to endorse a Diabetes drug to help people who are similarly afflicted. She is certainly not the first celebrity to take Big Pharma money, nor will she be the last. However, I do think the timing was unfortunate. If she had announced her illness 6 months ago, and announced that she had developed a lifestyle plan with a drug company today, I don't think so many people would be so angry with her. I can only blame her or most probably a PR executive for a case of bad timing. As for encouraging bad behavior, well we're responsible for putting food into our own mouths. Nobody is as harsh on McDonald's as they are on Paula.
So when Paula goes running to the bank to cash those big checks, will you still use her recipes? If you get Diabetes you won’t get a big fat payday, all you’ll get is a disease.
Lisa Hastings
7:56 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
This is a no - brainer. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease are lifestyle diseases. Unfortunately, people ignore the facts and make excuses by saying that these diseases as a normal part of aging, when in fact it has been demonstrated time and again that people who don't exercise and eat a la Paula Dean -- a diet high in sugar and animal fat-- develop these diseases. Paula Dean and her Big Pharma deal are part of the health care crisis in this country. I have no respect for her yet the big problem is that the public is ignorant and are easily manipulated by her tear-jerking personal issues. I saw a video of her crying on TV after this story broke, claiming that she has always advocated eating her (poisonous) food in moderation. Give me a break.
Lisa Maiorana
8:08 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
It's so true Lisa, I quite agree. All these years people have been following her recipes to make unhealthy foods and she's been getting a paycheck for that too. Do people have a choice? Yes, but most people see a celebrity chef and think well if they can eat like that so can I. The only trouble with that is you're not getting paid to do it and you're not benefiting from coming down with Diabetes. It's an easy choice for me.
Lisa Hastings
8:05 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
I wanted to add that many drugs, such as antidepressants, and those used to treat these diseases make it extremely difficult to maintain a normal weight, which only compounds the problem. Another big paycheck for Big Pharma!
Dennis Bridwell
8:27 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thanks for the post Lisa, I can't remember a person in our community putting out this message, well, ever! Thanks, and I agree! I have been by proxy, an avid "cooking show" watch for many years. My wife and her mother live for it and not my daughter is going to school in Pasadena at the Cordon Bleu. I have listened to Dean talk about "moderation" at the end of pretty much every show. Sorry, but I have to call it how I see it, 'bull"! With this news came the truth that many other chefs have
Diabetes, but they have been preaching healthy cooking, stating that it can be an occupational hazard if you don't change how you cook and how you eat! Now to hear that Dean is going to jump into bed, tears and all with Big Pharma, just gives her another reason to say poor me, let's make a beacon cheeseburger on a krispy cream bun! Anthony Buordain got a smack down for calling Dean on her game.
Life is hard, I could be the poster child for "Life is Hard", so can hundreds of thousands of other americans right now. The last thing we need is to listen to the queen of comfort food telling us it's ok to eat like she does, and by the way, "tell your doctor about my new pill, I created it just for you"!
Lisa Maiorana
8:40 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
It's very said but true Dennis. Paula has an out but do we? Paula has a paycheck from being overweight, unhealthy and Diabetic but would we. So thank you for your kind words - not sure if you were addressing me or Lisa H. but thank you nonetheless (lol) ;)
Janet Castro
11:25 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
I've been watching this play out as well. Patt Morrison at KPCC/NPR spent some time with guests debating the ethics of the Paula Dean situation. Mostly glaringly to me is the fact that Ms. Dean's diagnosis is now two years old. She continued to hawk her wares knowing full well what her condition was. She and her family used that time to strategize. Note that both of her sons are now pitching healthier versions of mama's cooking. I think they should all be ashamed and embarrassed.
Altadena Resident
11:27 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
At what point do we put the responsibility on the individual? In this case, it's the viewer. Does anyone watching Paula Dean's show think that the food she is cooking is healthy? Can anyone look at her and not gather from her size that she became that way by eating her own cooking? I'm not familiar with her show, but I have to imagine that most people who watch her can rationally determine that her recipes are not healthy, especially if it include a stick of butter.
Apparently she is an influential person. If she influenced viewers to cook and eat her food and get diabetes, perhaps she can influence them once again to get medical treatment and eat healthier.
My opinion, if you watch her show, and cook her food on a daily basis, and get fat and become diabetic, then you deserve it because you're stupid or a glutton.
My big concern in all of this is how it affects me, the taxpayer. Our taxes go up because we have to pay medical costs for everyone's poor choices. Keep in mind everyone, that it's not just poor diet, but smoking, drinking, drug abuse, risky lifestyle. Also, who do you think paid the rescuers for those lost hikers on Eaton Canyon the other day?
I'll bet if people who are obese, smokers, drinkers, drug abusers, hang gliders, face climbers, speeders, and hikers had to pay higher premium costs for their medical insurance, we would be talking about the armed robbery in front of Right Aid right or how Altadena is becoming a slum, not Paula Dean.
Dickinson
11:40 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Her name is Paula Deen, not Dean, and boy oh boy, I hope that you don't live in a glass house. How arrogant to feel it necessary to slam those who may be less fortunate than you and have some baggage that they compensate for by eating or drinking or abusing drugs or living a risky lifestyle. Have you not heard that those can be illnesses and not choices? I, for one, am flabbergasted that people feel self-righteous enough to think it's fine to publicly flog people about whom you know nothing. Here's hoping you never make a misstep!
Gary Edwards
8:40 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
agree w/ altadena resident. hadn't even heard her name until there was a slow media day and the "story" became news.
tired of hearing how people on tv have so much influence over us that a cooking show can convince "sane" adults to eat unhealthy.
personal accountability should play some part in this.
don't celebs make $ too when they balloon up & then want to lose lbs?
Dickinson
7:55 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
@AltadenaPresident Her name is Paula Deen. At least have the respect as you are tearing her limb from limb to use her name correctly.
Dickinson
11:32 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Geez, really?...if you don't want to eat like paula, don't. But this high and mighty approach is on my last nerve. In fact, if you watch her show, she has ALWAYS said that they don't eat that way all the time. AND, if you read the reviews of her recipes on the Foodnetwork website, you will see that there are loads of people that make her recipes with low fat this and reduced fat that, sugar substitutes etc. It's not a cult, people have a choice. Let's not blame Paula Deen with the state of the country. And we all should be so lucky as to have been in an abusive marriage, made it through a horrible bout of agoraphobia raised two sons alone and come out the other side with a successful business and greatly improved lifestyle. If she made it cooking "southern" food, then more power to her. We here in Altadena do tend to be so judgemental at times. Get over it!
Lisa Maiorana
11:48 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
@ Dickinson - did you not read the part wherein I indicated that I personally liked her, I just don't agree with what she is doing and how she is indeed profiting from her disease and all the other people who come down with that same disease, unfortunately will not be able to do the same. I'm entitled to my opinion just as you are entitled to yours. It's a shame that you can knowingly tell people to follow your recipes (that you've known for two years) to be unhealthy and turn around and say well I have this disease now but it's ok because, guess what, I've got a pill to sell you now as well. Didn't eat like that all the time, sure, now who's naive?
Altadena Resident
12:25 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Dickinson, you choose to put a stick of butter in your mouth, that's a choice not a disease. You stick a needle in your arm, that's a choose not a disease, you choose to do something dangerous and get hurt, that's choice not a disease. You choose to smoke that's a choice not a disease. Let's stop making excuses for people's bad decisions. We all have choices that we have to make in life. Do I go to medical school or law school? Do I buy or sell this particular stock? Do I take this job or that one? Compare these choices to, should I REALLY put a stick of butter in my recipe? Do I stick this needle in my arm? I have a history of lung cancer in my family, is this a good time for me to start smoking?
Altadena Resident
12:26 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
continuation:
We have the power of choice Dickinson. Simple as that. We don't always make the right ones, you're right. I've made some bad ones myself. The difference is I blamed no one but myself for them. I didn't blame my mom or my dad or the 1%. And I certainly didn't blame Paula DEAN. I don't feel that I am slamming anyone less fortunate than me, nor am I publicly flogging anyone either. I understand that there are people who are truly less fortunate than me and I have sympathy for them. But lets reserve that title of "disease" for the ones who truly have them. Again, I don't see how putting a stick of butter in your mouth is a disease. That Dickinson, is a pretty bad choice. I simply want to stop making everyone who does something stupid a victim.
Those that choose moderation or modify Paula Dean's recipes are making a better choice. Simple as that.
By the way, my house is made of wood and stucco.
Lisa Hastings
6:53 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
We have the right and responsibility to be judgemental in this case. True, Paula Deen is not solely responsible for the food/health/disease/obesity crisis in the country. However, she is part of the problem, just as fast food is part of the problem. She is fair game because she is a public figure who is now taking big bucks from the pharmaceutical companies to push the drugs that are now needed by people who make poor food and lifestyle choices. And boo hoo, we all have had our own personal problems to deal with. Pass the kleenex!
Gary Edwards
8:44 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
it's off topic but all those hikers last wknd, who needed to be saved, made bad, bad choices. guess they have illnesses & diseases, right? can't be a bad choice.
Lisa Maiorana
12:53 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
You know, this just goes against everything I believe in as a Nutritionist, a mother and a person. So I'm supposed to say to my own children, go ahead and eat those greasy fries, go ahead and eat that cake made with a whole stick of butter because in the end, when you become obese and unhealthy and come down with Diabetes, you'll be able to profit off of it in some way. Really? Even if Paula didn't think her cooking was unhealthy she still kept it a secret and made money all the while her loyal followers were downing her deep fried recipes. Nobody ever wants to take accountability for their own actions in this day and age.
Altadena Resident
3:31 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
She had no obligation to disclose anything about herself, including her diabetes. It's not our place to judge her. I would have done things differently, as I'm sure so would have most of you reading this. It's your responsibility to teach your children what and how to eat, not Paula Dean. She's not responsible for your children. You have control over what they watch and assuming they are young enough, what they eat. Let her cook all the crap she wants, and if there is interest then people will watch. In the end, it's her that has to live or die with diabetes, not you. She's made her decision, you make yours.
I've never seen her show, but if I did, I'm sure I would like a few of the things that she makes along with the entire stick of butter. The difference is, that I know I shouldn't eat it every day or even often. It's my choice, good or bad, if I decide to eat it every day or once a year. That's moderation. It's my responsibility to teach my kids, not Paula Dean.
Lisa Maiorana
4:45 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
She had no obligation! I beg to differ my friend. She is a public figure who gets PAID to cook unhealthy food and teach people how to cook it. As a Nutritionist I understand that there are a lot of people who actually do not know how to cook healthy and do not know how to cook using healthy ingredients. So, I should be like Paula and teach all my clients to eat garbage because they should know better? Nope, people do not know how to eat healthy hence a NATIONAL OBESITY CRISIS. If it were as simple as we should know better then we'd all be thin and healthy but we're not ;(. I would never let my children watch a cooking show like that. They don't learn it by watching me and they certainly won't learn it from watching her.
Altadena Resident
6:07 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Your last paragraph makes my point. You are responsible for what you do and for teaching your children to make the right decisions. Paula Dean should be allowed to cook whatever crap she wants. She's being paid lots of money to do so, which means people are watching. There is nothing wrong with what she cooks Lisa, if you don't abuse it. You would agree that eating normal portions is healthily right? Have you ever been to a baseball or football game? Did you ever eat a hotdog there? Did you eat just one or did you eat 5? One hotdog, even if it's wrapped in bacon and deep fried, eating it once or twice a year is not going to make you obese. We have an obesity crisis in America because parents are too young and too lazy to do what's right and we make excuses for them by calling them victims. Show me the person who thinks that eating 3 meals a day at McDonalds is healthy, especially if it's a big mac, fries and a coke. Yet people still do this, why? Because they're lazy!
Lisa Hastings
6:47 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
@ Altadena Resident. Nobody is saying that it is Paula Deen or Dean or whatever's responsibility to teach our children or us to eat right. As Ms. Lisa said, she is a PUBLIC figure so she is fair game for all of the criticism that comes her way, which includes being an irresponsible and poor role model. There is a servious food/health/obesity crisis in this country which she epitomizes so it would be seriously wrong NOT to criticize Paula Dean.
Altadena Resident
6:45 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
@Lisa Hastings.
Are you criticizing her for the food that she cooks and is pushing or because she became diabetic? From what I understand by reading the thread above, she puts a disclaimer at the beginning or end of her program. I guess something to the effect of "eat this stuff in moderation, or not to eat it every day" Again there is nothing wrong with the food she prepares, IF EATEN IN MODERATION OR SELDOM. Seems as though she didn't practice what she preaches. This is the same warning you'll find on the sides of cigarette packs. Those who ignore those warnings have to live or die with the consequences. If you are criticizing her for covering up her diabetes, she has no obligation to disclose her medical condition. Her diabetes does not change the facts. From what I can gather, she probably weighs 275+ pounds. No one gets that favor diabetes from an occasional fatty meal. The obesity crisis has nothing to do with celebrity chefs like Paula Dean. It has everything to do with irresponsible people who make bad choices and blame others for it. There have been people cooking rich and fatty foods forever. The French still do and there's no crisis there.
Lisa Hastings
8:18 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Okay Altadena Resident. You write an article about lazy and irresponsible people who make poor lifestyle and food choices and end up being obese, with diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, and we'll criticize them instead. Happy?
Lisa Maiorana
8:54 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Look, Paula's own P. R. person quit this week because she didn't agree with her decision to sign on for the Big Pharma deal. She was with her forever. This goes to show you that when money comes knocking at your door, people will sell themselves out for a big fat payday even know it has hurt so many people along the way - that will not be getting a payday. They probably won't be able to even afford the Diabetes medication she's is getting paid to sell. So who might I ask is accountable?
Revvell
9:08 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Step away from the computer, turn off the TV, get up and get out and mooove! When yer done, come back and enjoy a healthy, non-Paula Deen, meal. :) Your choice, of course.
Lisa Maiorana
9:14 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Agreed! Best advice ever!
Lisa Maiorana
10:06 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Bizarre Foods show host Andrew Zimmerman is quoted as saying this: "I have a tremendous platform and responsibility to talk to people about these issues about sustainability and about health and wellness when it comes to food." and he goes on to say "I famously came out last year against a whole bunch of cooks -- not just Paula -- and what they cook and what they stand for," Zimmern told Anderson Cooper. So everyone, not just me or people in our community, chefs all over are very upset about this.
Susan McGuinness Getzinger
7:17 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
food - "Treating scrap meat with ammonium hydroxide creates a pink goo that is used to extend meat products like chicken and beef and to kill bacteria.
By M. Alex Johnson, msnbc.com"I think people need to know, so I hope you don't mind me posting this on your sight and thanks. I rather KEEP the toy & let THEM KEEP the ammoniun hydroxide and inedible meat! You may not go here, but if you do, or family & friends, they have made a recent change since Jamie Oliver made the discovery & request for positive change at a major food company: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/31/10282876-mcdonalds-drops-use-of-gooey-ammonia-based-pink-slime-in-hamburger-meat.
Lisa Maiorana
8:37 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
So good to know Susan, thank you!
Susan McGuinness Getzinger
8:59 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
@Lisa - thought you should know & you are most welcomed. Here is a facebook link that has more info. regarding the civil rights to know regarding health & education & disabilty issues, if you are interested, please hit the "Like" button to spread the word. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Educational-Hearings/241566429222152
Lisa Maiorana
9:21 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Will do!
Nina Malone
5:48 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Um, I kind of have to side with Altadena Resident here...to a point. Anyone watching PD on Food Network has seen the majority of shows pushing healthy cooking, her show is a rarity not the norm. I highly doubt anyone watching her show doesn't know that using a stick of butter, oils, flour, sugar, etc. is not healthy. Like you said, if you go to her recipes there are always alternatives by viewers for healthier alternatives. I personally love some of her recipes. She makes an amazing seafood lasagna with a ton of cream (and yes, butter) but it's unlike anything I've tasted. Do I make it each week? No, it's reserved for when we have company and it always gets rave reviews. Do I think she went about all this in the best way, no, but I'm sure she's now realizing she didn't make the best decisions on how to expose her disease either. I don't know, taking responsibility for your choices (including PD herself) and not blaming everyone else. If you follow PD and not the 50 other healthy cooking chefs on FN, then that's an obvious decision you've chosen to make. I grew up in the south, that's how they cook and there is a bit of denial or just pure "I don't care" when cooking...I don't believe PD is trying to hurt anyone, she's known for her comfort, southern food cooking. Who's going to watch her if she's making calorie counting meals? It's just not her. The whole thing w/the drug co., I don't know enough about it to comment.
Lisa Maiorana
6:03 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Believe it or not Nina - there ARE people who do not know or fully understand that eating they way Paula eats is unhealthy. It's hard to believe yes, I know. It's sad but true. I personally see it all the time and it's proven int he area where she is from "stroke belt" "Diabetes Belt" and "Heart Disease belt". At some point someone has to take certain responsibility when "teaching" other people how to cook. As I'm adding this entire stick of butter to my recipe please realize that this may cause: fill in the disease of your choice. So, I disagree with you my dear on this one. She chose to not only eat unhealthy herself, teach others how to do so but sell out hawking the Diabetes drug she caused herself to get. Too bad when other people that followed her come down with the disease can't pick up a few million as well. Tragic.
Nina Malone
6:22 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012
Lisa, I think you know that I'm not so ignorant to think there are people who wouldn't know not to follow her cooking because THEY are ignorant, I'm not a nutritionist but I know that. I'm not saying there aren't people who don't know better, especially in those areas, southern etc (I lived there, I know), what I was saying is that if they are watching her on FN, they are not clueless. Now, if she's got her own city show on PBS and that's the only cooking exposure they're getting, that might be different, and I don't know, maybe she does. If she's going around to supermarkets in the mid-west touting her new cookbook, then ok, you're right, but if they're watching her on FN, then they're seeing the other shows too. They know. They are just choosing to make those meals because they taste good (well, in fact, many of her stuff is just too rich for me, but a lot of people just simply like it and choose to ignore the unhealthiness of it). It's like fast food. I know plenty of people who are well aware of how bad the food is but they still eat it too regularly. I'm not saying EVERYBODY falls into that category, but anybody watching PD on FN has exposure to better alternatives for cooking. And I can't fault her for her cooking, sometimes you want to serve something that's just crazy--my seafood lasagna for example. It just wouldn't be as good w/o the cream--thank you Paula :-)
Lisa Maiorana
6:57 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2012
I get it Nina - I really do.....I just took it the way Anthony Bourdain did when he was recently quoted in the press calling her out her as well. It made me look at her in a completely different light as a lot of people now do. I'm only gonna let you off the hook if you invite us over and cook me some of that Paula stuff - (kidding).......luv ya! ;)