Morgan Spurlock, the star, writer and director of last year's hit documentary "Super Size Me," loves Thanksgiving, especially the trimmings: "Stuffing. Isn't that a great word? Kind of says it all." On Wednesday evening, he spoke at Eastern Michigan University's Pease Auditorium, beginning with the story of a fateful Thanksgiving dinner a couple of years ago. Appropriately enough, the day that all of America celebrates its culture of overeating was when he came up with the idea for the low-budget documentary that shook the foundation of international fast-food powerhouse McDonald's.

"That's a really great bad idea," a friend and colleague of Spurlock's said after he first pitched the premise: the film would document the deterioration of Spurlock's own health during a 30-day all-McDonald's diet. He went on to reenact his mother's reaction in a high-pitched voice: "There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity."

Despite objections from friends and family, Spurlock threw himself into the project. Three weeks into shooting, his cholesterol was up 65 points, he was gaining weight rapidly and his liver was bloated with fat. Doctors advised him to drop the project - to stop before his heart did.

His mother and fiancee (who is, ironically, a vegan chef) pleaded with him, but the most influential piece of advice came from Spurlock's older brother, whom he described as the "Yeah-man-jump-off-the-roof-it'll-be-funny" kind of sibling, and encouraged him to finish. Spurlock finished out the month of McMeals, then went on an eight-week, all-organic, all-veggie detox program.

Spurlock's fiancee nursed him back to health just in time for the London premiere of the film. "Super Size Me" opened to a wide range of reactions. The chain's profits in London went down 75 percent after the opening. Word of this new documentary was spreading like grease on a fast-food napkin, but with the popularity came criticism - mostly from representatives within the fast-food industry.

Spurlock was at his most animated Wednesday when making fun of the spokespeople from what he called "McCrackshack" (because of the "crack-like french fries - you eat one and you just want 75 more"). He imitated the chain's nutritional specialists - a title he called "an oxymoron" - whining, flailing his arms around, mocking the so-called healthy choices on the menu.

"Who goes to McDonald's for an apple? If you jam a stick on it and deep-fry it, I'd go to McDonald's for an apple."

But Spurlock didn't just make fun of the fast-food conglomerate's nutritional options. He'd done his research, too. According to Spurlock, less than one percent of the 46 million people McDonald's serves every day chooses from the salad menu. "One out of every hundred people who goes in there makes a healthy choice. Less than one! The guy who goes there to get a salad has no arms and one leg," he joked.

Spurlock ended the almost two-hour speech, which came off more like a stand-up routine than a lecture, with a plea to the mostly college-age audience. "Find something you want to change. You guys are going to be the ones who write the books I want to read and make the films I want to see." His last few words were a call to action. "Vote with your fork," he said. But most of all, he stressed, "Stay healthy."