If a TV star is known for her bubbly, Southern, distinct and consistent personality on camera, you might wonder if she's the same when studio lights are off.
During a recent meet-up with Paula Deen backstage at Orlando's Bob Carr, we quickly learned that she is in fact that way. When walking past us to freshen up for our interview, she greeted us as if we were the most important people in the venue. But she did that with everyone.
The noticeably slimmed-down star was the guest speaker for Florida Hospital's "Live to a Healthy 100" event (see bottom of page for details and press release). While we wanted to talk about her lifestyle changes since her type 2 diabetes diagnosis, we got into life before stardom.
You can watch the entire VIDEO in the clip to the right. Here's a portion of our interview:
ALLISON WALKER: Welcome to Orlando, Paula!
PAULA DEEN: It's great to be here. My visit's real short because we got our 5th grandson due at any moment.
AW: Your family's popping them out like marshmallows.
PD: Like marshmallows, Honey! Poof Poof!
AW: Tell us a little bit about this Healthy 100. I understand we're going to notice some changes in our local restaurants.
PD: You know, I think it's a great idea, the support they're getting for this. Nobody can make us order what we should. But with them putting it on the menu, it was certainly going to encourage us with our friends to order a delicious dish without feeling deprived. So I think it's wonderful.
AW: Last night, I was watching your son Bobby's show and there you were, making the guest appearance. He was making your Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. But he used Greek yogurt. What the--?
PD: Honey, I said, 'Bobby, I cannot believe it.' I thought his version might be better than mine, or at least as good. I was shocked beyond words.
AW: There was only a teaspoon of butter in the pot. I think you spilled it.
PD: I said, 'What? Is this some kind of joke?' A teaspoon of butter and trying to melt it in a pan. By the time you poured it out, there was nothing to come out. It had just stuck to the sides. But it was delicious. I'm really, really proud of him. His cookbook, "350 Calories or Less," when it came out, when directly to #1 on the New York Times bestselling list. He and my oldest son Jamie and I ... have reformulated some of our Southern favorite recipes. You can go to diabetesinanewlight.com and find these re-worked favorite recipes to be more diabetic-friendly.
AW: And look at you. You're a skinny minnie!
PD: Oh thank you. I don't feel skinny, but, you, know, I've finally started walkin' the walk and not just talkin' the talk. Before you knew it, I'd dropped 35 pounds.
AW: That's incredible. Congratulations!
PD: Thank you! Thank you.
AW: I do want to rewind back when you had $200 left, you were on the verge of homelessness, and you started the Bag Lady. What kind of things were you putting in those lunch sacks?
PD: Oh my gosh. I made the most wonderful little fresh lunches. Everything was fresh and homemade. I made everything that went into those little containers myself. I would get up in the morning at, like, 5 o'clock and put chicken breast on the outside grill and make these wonderful grilled chicken salads. I'd make homemade chicken pot pie. I would make lasagna. We would have a hot meal everyday along with sandwiches, 3-4 different salads, 2 soups, and about 4 different desserts. I did everything except sell beverages because that was too heavy. But probably one of the favorite things for people -- I made these beautiful fresh fruit salads and everyday I made a cooked custard - a French custard -- to dip those bites of fresh fruit in that was incredible.
AW: Do you still make that?
PD: Yes [smiling big]. I made some 2 days ago.
So has see changed the recipes at her beloved Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah? Or can we still get those maple syrup-smothered hoe cakes? Find out in the VIDEO above.
Meanwhile, here is Florida Hospital's official press release for the recent event featuring Paula Deen:
Sixteen local restaurants unveil new Healthy 100 Approved menu options with help from Paula Deen
Florida Hospital's Healthy 100 mission to inspire healthier living is motivating local restaurants to serve up healthier options. The 16 Central Florida restaurants joining forces with Florida Hospital's Healthy 100 Approved program were unveiled for the first time in front of more than 2,000 people with the help of Food Network Star Paula Deen. Diners in Central Florida will now be able to enjoy Healthy 100 Approved menu items vetted by Florida Hospital nutritionists, making the healthy choice the easy choice.
"It is so important to make sure we are helping our community on their health journey, especially when it comes to a disease like diabetes, which has reached epidemic rates," said Des Cummings, executive vice president at Florida Hospital. "The mission of the Healthy 100 program is to provide people with the tools they need to live a longer, healthier life. We are thrilled to have the support of local restaurants on this health journey and hope others will continue to join."
Food Network Star Paula Deen, who offers health-conscious options on the menu at The Lady & Sons in Savannah, Georgia, also shared her personal story about making healthy lifestyle changes, as well as some of the diabetes-friendly recipes that she created with the Diabetes in a New Light® campaign.
"I am thrilled to be here to support the Healthy 100 program and share some of the diabetes-friendly recipes I've been developing with Novo Nordisk through Diabetes in a New Light®," said Deen. "I look forward to spending time with the team at Florida Hospital and learn more about the work they are doing."
These participating restaurants will be displaying the Healthy 100 Approved icon throughout the month of March. A total of 39 recipes have been Healthy 100 Approved, including 10 of Paula Deen's Diabetes in a New Light® recipes. Diabetes in a New Light® is a national initiative from Novo Nordisk that aims to help adults, like Paula, tackle common challenges associated with type 2 diabetes management. As part of the campaign, Paula and her sons, in conjunction with diabetes experts, have created diabetes-friendly recipes, and are cooking them at events across the country. To learn more about Paula's story and managing type 2 diabetes, as well as to access her diabetes-friendly recipes, visit www.DiabetesinaNewLight.com.
Try a Healthy 100-approved menu item at these 16 local businesses:
- Chick-fil-A: Grilled Chicken Nuggets
- Citrus Club: Southwest Quinoa Salad
- Cocina 214: Don Carlos Tacos
- Healthy Bites Fitness Cuisine: Salmon Cake, Lima Beans
- Infusion Tea: Admiral Salad
- Nadia's Café: Hummus and Tabouli Plate
- Panera Bread of Orlando: Power Chicken Hummus Bowl, Power Breakfast Eggwhite Bowl with Turkey
- Rangetsu: Miso Seafood Appetizer
- RusTeak Restaurant: Peruvian Potato and Quinoa Crusted Swordfish
- Savion's Place: Chicken and Wild Rice with Butternut Squash and Brussel Sprouts
- Second Harvest Food Bank: Broiled Cod with Heirloom Tomatoes
- Simply Divine Food Truck: Baked Chicken Empanada, Baked Chicken Tenderloin, Vegetable Medley
- Sushi House Orlando: Ginger Dressing, Seared Salmon Crystal Roll, Imari Sushi Balls
- The Taproom at Dubsdread: Grilled Portabella Mushroom Sandwich
- White Wolf Café: Turkish Bulgar Salad, Pea Soup
- Yogurtiamo: Frozen Yogurt (various flavors)