Oh, the paradox of breastfeeding. Yes, producing milk for Nate’s late-night gnoshing sessions is burning lots of calories. In a perfect world? The calories I’m eating to produce that breast milk would not be Pretzel M&Ms and coffee–there would also be some veggies and lean protein thrown in.
But Nate has had enough fussy nights that I’m paranoid too many vegetables will make him gassy.
And the lean protein? I’m not a big meat or seafood eater. Ditto the gassiness paranoia for beans. And I can only enjoy yogurt so many times a day….
Which leaves my protein sources to cheese and peanut butter. Holy Love Handles, Batman, it doesn’t look like I’ll be out of maternity clothes anytime soon. The fat grams in a single serving of cheese OR peanut butter is in the double digits.
Really, it’s the cheese that gets me. I can’t say no. Maybe that’s because our kids could subside on a diet of only string cheese, pizza, and quesadillas. Let’s just say that queso is muy convenient around here.
And when I’m hungry and tired it seems perfectly logical to join in the CheeseFest. Why not? String cheese, pizza and quesadillas have the elusive protein that is so important to breastfeeding moms. And those foods are around…all. the. time.
You can’t drive down a street in Texas without a drive-thru that features quesadillas. String cheese is almost as easy as carrot sticks for a healthy snack (but not as gassy for Nate). My kids, true to their heritage of eating take-out way too often, love nothing more than to tuck into a gooey cheese pizza. Just like their mama.
Too bad all that melty, yummy cheese isn’t helping one bit with my goal of not wearing maternity pants to Nate’s Kindergarten graduation.
M. would say exercise is the answer. And he would be right. If I had the time.
You might say that tofu or protein shakes are the answer.
And you would be right.
If only they tasted as good as cheese.
