There’s an old Indonesian saying that goes, “Don’t feed a buffalo with a mirror.” Translation? Stop giving your body pretty meals that look good on the ‘Gram but do jack shit when it comes to feeding your muscles, brain, or sanity.
Your kale wrap might sparkle under a ring light, but what’s it really doing when your body is out here begging for a hit of amino acids like a broke student outside a nightclub?
Let’s call it like it is—some of y’all are out here building meal plans like you’re auditioning for a Pinterest board, not living in a real human body that bleeds, breathes, and breaks down if it doesn’t get what it needs.
You got rainbow smoothies, three almonds, and a hope that chia seeds will save your soul. But where’s the beef? Literally. Where’s the chicken? The eggs? The tofu? The anything that isn’t just fiber, carbs, and air?
Aesthetic Isn’t a Macronutrient
This obsession with photogenic food is starting to feel like a joke we forgot to laugh at. Meal prep reels got people thinking that five cashews and a sprinkle of edible flowers count as a “balanced lunch.”
Sis, that ain’t lunch—that’s a damn edible garnish. Somewhere between oat milk lattes and dragon fruit parfaits, protein got ghosted harder than your ex after Valentine’s Day.
And it’s showing.
You feel tired. Your skin’s looking dull. Your hair? Falling out like autumn leaves. Your cravings are wild, your mood’s unpredictable, and you’re “mysteriously” hungry 24/7 even though you just downed a smoothie the size of your head.
News flash: protein is the queen bee of satiety. Skimp on her, and everything else starts crashing like a Jenga tower on tequila night.
The Silent Sabotage of “Healthy” Eating
A lot of people think they’re doing everything right. They’re cutting out “bad” food, going plant-based, intermittent fasting, following some influencer’s 1,200-calorie what-I-eat-in-a-day plan that looks like rabbit scraps.
But what they’re really doing? Starving themselves of the one thing that holds their body together.
Protein ain’t just for bodybuilders chugging shakes and flexing biceps. It’s for hormone health. It’s for your brain, your immune system, your bones, your metabolism. It’s literally the raw material your body uses to build everything.
Skipping it? That’s like trying to build a house with glitter and vibes. Looks fun. Collapses in the rain.
“But I Eat Clean!”
Yeah, clean—but not complete. Look, eating spinach and apples is great, but a plate full of greens with no protein is like a relationship full of good vibes and zero communication. Pretty, sure. But it won’t last.
You’ll end up worn out, snappy, bloated, and confused about why “clean eating” is making you feel like trash.
And let’s not even talk about how this low-protein nonsense messes with women more. Hormones, iron levels, monthly cycles—all of that takes a bigger hit when the body doesn’t get enough of the good stuff.
Yet somehow, the wellness world still treats protein like a side character. Background noise. A luxury instead of a basic human need.
The Misplaced Fear
Somewhere down the line, protein got a bad rep. People started side-eyeing it like it was gonna bite them. “Too much protein is bad for your kidneys.” “Protein makes you bulky.” “Plant-based is cleaner.”
OK, but so is water—until you drink 10 gallons in an hour and die. Context, people.
Also, can we stop acting like tofu, tempeh, eggs, lean beef, salmon, or lentils are criminal activity? If your “clean” meal makes you hungry two hours later, it’s not clean—it’s unfinished. Stop blaming your body for wanting more when it’s clearly underfed.
You’re Not a Damn Pet Rock
You’re not built to survive on cucumbers and vibes. You’re a walking miracle of organs, muscles, tissues, and neurotransmitters.
You’re a machine that runs on fuel—not fairy dust. So while it’s cute that your salad has edible flowers and a whisper of lemon zest, it might be time to check if it actually fuels you or just flatters your feed.
Let’s keep it real. If you wouldn’t serve that plate to someone you love and respect, why serve it to yourself?
“Nutrition is not punishment. It’s self-respect.”
In the End, It’s Simple:
If your body could talk, it wouldn’t ask for aesthetics. It would scream: “Where’s the damn protein?”
And no, sprinkling a tablespoon of hemp seeds doesn’t count.
Want your body to show up for you? Show up for it.
With actual fuel. With food that feeds—not just flatters.
