Why is Everyone a Protein Girlie Now?

And does anyone really need to eat a gram per pound per day?

CW: This piece includes some unavoidable discussion of food-related numbers and dieting behaviors. Take care of yourself! 

Aydan Metev, Getty Images

Back in April,

Sara Petersen

and I co-wrote an essay/text thread about Ballerina Farm’s new high protein diet. Hannah Neeleman, the famously ethereal tradwife/mom of infinity children/sourdough enthusiast, shared that she was “trying to build muscle” by eating one gram of protein per pound of body weight daily—and then conveniently mentioned her brand’s new High Protein Flour a few slides later. (Corinne and many of the rest of you pointed out that “high protein flour” is just…bread flour. Which also happens to be high in gluten! But you know Hannah isn’t trying to eat more of that.)

Ever since, the social media algorithms have served me a near-constant stream of Protein Girlies. And we need to discuss.