Meeting Paula Deen

During my internship to be a RD, I got to work with Florida Hospital’s Healthy 100 program, which seeks to educate and motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and live to a healthy 100.

The hospital has a program that determines which foods are healthy, based on nutrition parameters set by their dietitians. Those menu items are then labeled “Healthy 100 approved”. In fact during my foodservice rotation, I had to create a menu that was Healthy 100 approved, market, cook, and serve it in the cafe!

Working with the chefs I learned so much, including how to cut an onion! Which has revolutionized my onion cutting experience! Video to come! I LOVE IT!

Since it’s terribly difficult to eat healthy while dining out, Healthy 100 is partnering with 16 local restaurants and approving menu options!! This is a great step toward educating the community and promoting health! A total of 39 recipes have been Healthy 100 Approved, and I’m pumped to see some of my favorite dining spots in the line up… Chick Fil A, Infusion Cafe, Panera Bread, and White Wolf Cafe.

I was thrilled to receive an invite as a “Media Guest” for the “Cooking to a Healthy 100 with Paula Deen” in Orlando, and then get to go backstage and meet Paula!! The event was held at the Bob Carr where Paula discussed her journey with diabetes and adopting a healthier lifestyle. She also created a Healthy 100 approved meal… chicken fajitas!

“I was bumfuzzled and in denial about my disease. I’m finally learning moderation and putting it into practice,” Paula said. She then joked that she thought that moderation was only eating 2 biscuits when she really wanted 3. This woman was hilarious. I didn’t know Paula Deen was such a jokester. She spoke about strategies that have worked for her like putting down the fork during a meal to slow down and taking walks with her girlfriends.

Eric and I totally love “Not my Mama’s Meals” with Bobby Deen. I so wanted to tell Paula this when I met her, but I was a little star struck. We did get a quick pic, though 🙂

Look at what I found on Facebook after the event. My dear husband comparing my day of work with his. Jealous much? I thought this was hysterical and had to share it with you.

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