Friday Fieldwork: Protein Before the Cookie

A dad-tested reset for cravings, mood swings, and pantry raids.

Intro to Original Story

This week’s Fieldwork comes out of a reflection I wrote on how I can turn into the Cookie Monster or Tasmanian Devil when I don’t fuel my body properly.

You can read more about it here.

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There’s this moment, maybe you know it.

You walk past the kitchen and a plate of cookies is sitting there.

You’re not really hungry.

But your brain is tired,

your body’s on fumes,

and that cookie feels like the instant reward you deserve.

Here’s the trick: if you fuel first, the cookie stops being a crutch and goes back to just being…

a cookie.

This Week’s Fieldwork: The Protein Reset

1. Protein first

   Hit your protein goal before you even think about dessert. Yogurt, deli meat, or a shake go a long way toward keeping Cookie Monster locked up.

2. Glass of water

   Half the time you’re more dehydrated than hungry. A big glass of water helps your body catch up.

3. Enjoy the cookie

   If you still want it after steps 1 and 2, eat it. Not as a reward. Not as a punishment. Just because you like cookies.

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Why it works

Protein and hydration stabilize your energy and mood by balancing blood sugar and curbing cravings.

There’s already plenty of white-knuckling in being the dad you want to be.

Like not yelling when you step on a Lego barefoot at 2 a.m.

Willpower’s like muscle and battery combined: it grows when trained, but it drains when overused. If every food decision depends on white-knuckling, you’ll burn out fast.

When you eat the cookie after fueling, it’s not guilt.

It’s not a crash.

It’s just… a cookie.

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Quote to Remember