The IINsider's Digest: Digital Addiction, Paula Deen, Nutrition Guidance and more!
Addictions and prescriptions top the headlines this week as Deepak Chopra discusses digital dependency and Celebrity Chef Paula Deen makes an announcement that has everyone taking sides. The CEO of Stoneyfield Yogurt steps down to fight GMOs, and IIN teacher Dr. David Katz offers real-world nutrition guidance for a society surrounded by potato chips.
Find all that and more right here in the IINsiders Digest.
Paula Deen, "Queen of Southern Cuisine," Announces She Has Type 2 Diabetes
After much speculation and murmuring in the gossip mills, Paula Deen finally confirmed yesterday on the Today show that she does in fact suffer from Type 2 diabetes. This news is not exactly surprising; the TV chef and self-proclaimed “queen of Southern cuisine” is famous for her decadent deep-fried cooking laden with butter, sugar, and lard.
What is shocking, however, is the fact that she waited three years to reveal her diagnosis – and is apparently only speaking publicly about it now that she’s a paid spokesperson for a diabetes drug. Aside from giving up sweet tea, she says she doesn’t plan to drastically change her diet and cooking habits. At best, her blasé approach to tackling diabetes is one-sided; at worst, it’s calculated and cynical.
Kids in the Kitchen
Guess what’s the next hot activity for kids? Cooking.
Many studies have found that the more kids are involved in meal preparation, the more willing they will be to try new dishes. The marketplace has seen a surge of children’s cookbooks and even video games to accommodate this new trend. These teaching tools go beyond learning how to bake cookies, but offer up recipes for main courses and side dishes, like roast chicken and brisket. They also speak to the family bonding experience of parents cooking with their kids.
The new cookbooks include: “Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook” and “The Second International Cookbook for Kids,” by Matthew Locricchio. Video games from Nintendo include “Personal Trainer: Cooking,” featuring cooking techniques and more than 240 dishes from countries around the world.
With rising rates of obesity and diabetes in children, it’s no surprise that we are seeing a push to get kids active in the kitchen. Cooking is not only fun, but creates healthy habits at an early age.
The next time you’re at the bookstore scan the cookbook section for books with colorful pictures and steps you know your kids can help out with, like washing vegetables or rolling out dough. Happy cooking!
