If you’ve ever tried to “fix your life” with green smoothies only to end up bloated, frozen, cranky, and wondering why your jeans suddenly hate you… you’re not alone.
Women keep quietly confessing this to me like it’s some kind of secret sin: “I feel way better when I eat actual meat.”
And honestly? Same.
Here’s the truth no influencer will whisper over their pastel collagen lattes: your body is not a greenhouse plant. You are a warm-blooded, busy, rural New Brunswick woman hauling kids, groceries, feed bags, emotional labour, and the weight of your own never-ending to-do list. You need substance, not slush.
And your Spleen (the poor thing) has been begging for a pot roast since about 2019.
Smoothies Are Cute. Your Nervous System Needs Dinner.
Cold, raw foods take a ton of energy for your digestion to process. They feel “clean,” but inside your body they often feel like someone dumped a snowbank onto your digestive fire.
Meanwhile, cooked proteins do the opposite:
they steady you, warm you, anchor you, and help your blood sugar behave.
It’s wild how many women think they’re “opposite of healthy” for wanting something as basic as meat and potatoes. That is not a moral failure. That is your Spleen saying,
“I’m tired, babe. Feed me something with heat.”
Protein Helps You Wake Up Feeling Human
Women who start eating more protein (especially in the morning) report the same things over and over:
- More stable energy
- Less anxiety
- Better sleep
- Less bloating
- Fewer cravings
- Actual motivation to get out of bed
This is not a coincidence. It’s physiology. And it’s TCM 101.
Protein helps build Blood and Qi.
Warm, cooked foods protect and strengthen the Spleen.
Steady blood sugar keeps your nervous system from spiraling into that familiar edgy overwhelm.
Suddenly you’re not a “lazy person.” You’re just fed.
Your Body Is Not Trendy — It’s Ancient
You come from women who survived winters, raised babies in drafty houses, worked long hours, and cooked actual meals every single day. Their bodies needed warmth, fat, minerals, and enough protein to keep their cycles regular and their energy stable.
You don’t override that lineage with a blender.
The Real Truth?
Most women feel better on:
- Meat (yes, red meat counts)
- Warm veggies
- Bone broth
- Eggs
- Slow-cooked meals
- Seasonal foods that match our northern climate
This is not “old-fashioned.” It’s intelligent. It’s aligned. It’s the opposite of starving and shivering your way through wellness.
And if you’ve been craving pot roast, chicken thighs, pork chops, steak, stew, chili, slow-cooked anything… it’s not random. It’s wisdom.
Your body is asking to come home.
A Gentle Note: I’m a student of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and this space reflects my learning as it unfolds. TCM is deep, layered, and complex, and I’m still finding my footing within it. I will refine my understanding over time. I will make mistakes. That’s part of doing this honestly. What I share here is my current perspective, shaped by my teachers, clinical training, lived experience, and my own biases. It’s not absolute, it’s evolving. I welcome thoughtful conversation, shared insight, and respectful correction along the way. I humbly welcome your insight. Let’s learn together. You can always find me over on Instagram to keep the conversation going.