Paula Deen Kicks Off Healthy 100 in Orlando

Paula Deen at Bob Carr, demoing healthy recipes.

I feel pretty fortunate that the Queen of Southern Cooking herself, Paula Deen, graced Orlando with her presence today. While the bigger-than-life TV personality is known for her decadent Southern meals and desserts, she has quickly transformed her lifestyle and her recipes to focus on healthy recipes.

Ever since she received her Type II diabetes diagnosis last year, Paula has been on a quest to transform the way she eats and lives her life - and has extended that transformation to her family. She and her two sons have all lost a ton of weight in the past few months, and Paula visited Orlando to share how others can have the same success.

Paula also helped Florida Hospital kick off its new "Healthy 100 Approved Menu Items" program. Partnering with the hospital's dietitians, 16 local restaurants and chains now feature special Healthy 100 appetizers, entrees, side dishes and desserts. For example, Panera Bread of Orlando is now carrying a Power Breakfast Eggwhite Bowl with Turkey and Power Chicken Hummus Bowl, while Chick-fil-A is selling Grilled Chicken Nuggets. I have never heard of "healthy" chicken nuggets, so I can't wait to try these ones.

Other local eateries with special recipes include: White Wolfe Cafe, Rangetsu, Infusion Tea, Cocina 214, Shushi House Orlando, and Simply Divine Food Truck. See all of Florida Hospital's Healthy 100 recipes at www.healthy100.org.

Paula also shared her Healthy 100 recipes with the crowd gathered at Bob Carr today, and Flavorful Excursions will share them with you throughout this week!