I am so tired of protein being treated like the solution to every problem.
Every doctor’s appointment lately feels like the same conversation. Eat more protein. Watch your carbs. Lose weight. Gain weight. Eat more protein. Have you tried more protein?
Being plus-size and pregnant is already confusing enough. On one hand, I’m growing an entire human being and I’m supposed to gain weight. On the other hand, I’m constantly reminded that I should lose weight because of my BMI. Somehow I’m supposed to do both at the same time.
Then there’s the protein obsession.
Before pregnancy, I was anemic. During pregnancy, my anemia got a little worse, which is pretty common. Now my iron levels are back in the normal range. That’s great news. But somehow every nutrition conversation still comes back to protein.
And yes, before anyone jumps into the comments, I do have a gestational diabetes diagnosis. I’m not pretending I don’t. I’m checking my blood sugar, following instructions, and taking it seriously. But my fasting numbers have consistently been around 92–95, and somehow every conversation still circles back to protein, protein, protein and cutting carbs even more.
At a certain point it starts to feel like protein has become the answer to every question in medicine.
Stubbed your toe? Protein.
Tired? Protein.
Pregnant? More protein.
Gestational diabetes? Even more protein.
Meanwhile, I’m over here just trying to survive another chicken breast while my daughter rejects every other meat known to mankind.
For whatever reason, this baby absolutely hates most meat. Beef? No. Pork? Absolutely not. Turkey? Don’t even think about it. The only meat she consistently tolerates is chicken, and after months of chicken, I am beyond tired of chicken.
What I don’t understand is why eggs never seem to count in these conversations. Eggs have protein. Greek yogurt has protein. Cottage cheese has protein. Beans have protein. Peanut butter has protein. There are plenty of ways to get protein that don’t involve forcing myself to eat another sad piece of chicken that makes me want to cry.
And while we’re on the subject, I’m getting a little tired of keto being brought up as the answer to gestational diabetes.
Everything I’ve read about gestational diabetes management focuses on balance. Pairing carbs with protein. Watching portions. Eating consistently throughout the day. Learning which foods spike your blood sugar and which ones don’t. The goal seems to be managing blood sugar, not pretending carbohydrates don’t exist.
Maybe there are situations where keto makes sense for some people. I’m not a doctor and I’m certainly not trying to give medical advice. I’m just saying that as a pregnant woman trying to feed herself and grow a baby, hearing “eat more protein” over and over again gets exhausting.
Especially when my numbers have been good.
Especially when my iron levels have improved.
Especially when I am already trying.
I know my doctors want what’s best for me and my daughter. I genuinely believe that. But sometimes I wish there was a little more room for nuance and a little less assumption that every nutritional problem can be solved by eating more protein.
Some days I just want to eat my eggs, have a piece of toast, take my prenatal vitamin, and grow my baby without feeling like I’m failing a nutrition exam.
Is that really too much to ask?
