Courtesy of The Grio
This focus on Paula Deen and the health risks of “old school”-style Southern cooking is not new. Deen is making news for revealing that she has had Type 2 diabetes for three years, while continuing to cook in the fat-laden style that has made her famous. As part of her revelation, the celebrity chef announced an endorsement deal with the Novo Nordisk company, which creates diabetes treatments. Yet Deen has stated that she will not alter the way she cooks, despite the connection between her cooking and her development of diabetes.
Many chefs who specialize in Southern cuisine have already altered their cooking styles to include low-fat ingredients and unusual substitutions — like applesauce for fats and butter — without losing that down home taste.
After collapsing onstage 17 years ago and subsequently being diagnosed with diabetes, Patti LaBelle traded in her infamous deep fryer for sautéing, egg whites and turkey products. Her two most recent cookbooks feature healthy recipes, and her first, not-so-healthy cookbook isn’t even featured on her website.
And, then there’s Paula Deen.