For some reason, Anthony Bourdain enjoys making Paula Deen the object of his critical comments. He doesn’t like the way she cooks. He doesn’t think it’s healthy. And in the wake of her revelation about having diabetes, he’s decided to use her illness against her as well. In fact, from headlines I’ve seen, others are also being critical of Paula Deen because she’s had diabetes for three years and has just now revealed it. Let’s consider some things.

First, she’s a chef with several cooking shows on Food Network. She’s published several cookbooks, and she owns a restaurant or two. For those who think she should have revealed her diabetes before now, I ask, “Why?” Really, what business is it of ours what health issues she has? If she’d been fighting cancer for three years and just now told us, would the critics be as up in arms? I doubt it. Just because she’s a celebrity chef does not mean she has to reveal her private health issues to us. We are all entitled to privacy concerning our health, and cooking on TV doesn’t remove that right.

Second, I’ve never heard Paula Deen claim that she cooks the healthiest dishes. She cooks with butter, cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, and more butter. She likes to deep-fry foods. On the shows I’ve watched, she’s never claimed the dishes are healthy. She’s also not encouraged viewers to eat those dishes every day. On the flipside, though, she also prepares vegetable dishes and grilled dishes, which are healthier. Anybody who watches her shows and uses what they know about healthy cooking will realize it is inadvisable to eat those kinds of dishes every day. Here’s the thing. Each chef with a show on Food Network has a theme. They sometimes demonstrate dishes that are outside of their normal cooking routines, but most often, they stick with the theme. Bobby Flay will grill, Rachael Ray will give you a 30-minute meal, and Melissa d’Arabian will show you how to feed four for less than $10. Paula Deen’s theme is comfort food. And comfort food is fattening and is not considered healthy. That’s what makes it comfort food.

If it makes all her critics feel better, her son Bobby has a new show on Cooking Channel called Not My Mama’s Meals where he reduces the fat and makes the dishes healthier for you. If you want to eat the healthier version, use Bobby’s recipe. If you want or need the comfort food, use Paula’s. If you want to eat Paula’s version every day, that’s your business. But don’t get upset because you’re not following a healthy diet.

Paula Deen’s job is to share recipes with you. She does that. She doesn’t make any false pretenses about those recipes. Her critics need to move on. Her health issues are her business, not ours. Her recipes are her business. If you don’t like them, for whatever reason, don’t use them and don’t give her grief for sharing them. If you’re just watching her show so you can give her grief, maybe it’s time for you to change the channel.