Girl Dinner

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Part of a series on TikTok. [View Related Entries]

About

Girl Dinner is a slang term that gathered traction in mid-2023 when TikToker Olivia Maher posted a video showing her simple uncooked dinner comprised of bread, cheese, grapes and pickles, calling it "girl dinner" and jokingly comparing it to a "medieval peasants' dinner." Several other internet users then shared their versions of "Girl Dinner," which are often charcuterie board-inspired easy to assemble meals with little to no cooking involved. However, the trend has also been criticized by people who think many "Girl Dinners" being shared by young women are not nutritionally fulfilling and might promote disordered eating. "Girl Dinners" received extensive media coverage in July 2023. TikTokers also began a Boy Dinner trend in response to videos about Girl Dinners, typically showing an unhealthy meal consisting of junk food.

Origin

On May 11th, 2023, TikToker^[1] @liviemaher coined the phrase "Girl Dinner" by posting a clip describing how she saw someone describe an average medieval peasant's meal. Maher commented on how she was struck by the similarities with her own "ideal meal." Maher then shared a clip of her dinner, comprised of bread, pickles, grapes and cheese, calling it "Girl Dinner." The post gathered over one million plays and 180,000 likes in two months (seen below).

Spread

Various TikTokers shared their versions of "Girl Dinner" in subsequent weeks, with TikToker^[2] @avocadale posting a video on June 19th, 2023, that gathered over 2 million plays and 200,000 likes in a month (seen below, left). On June 26th, TikToker^[3] @thecrustiestsack posted a clip showing their attempt at "Girl Dinner," adding that it made them feel more like a gremlin than a girl. The post gathered over 600,000 plays and 50,000 likes in three weeks (seen below, right).

On June 24th, TikToker^[4] @yagirllaners posted clips of their "Girl Dinners," gathering over 1 million plays and 130,000 likes in three weeks (seen below, left). On June 26th, TikToker^[5] and nutritionist @kathrinekofoed posted a video discussing why people are drawn to the charcuterie board-style assortment of items in a "Girl Dinner," noting that the different textures and flavor palates in such a meal can be satiating and satisfying for many people. The post gathered over 700,000 plays and 30,000 likes in three weeks (seen below, right).

Criticism

After gaining viral attention in late June and early July 2023, the "Girl Dinner" trend was criticized by some people who felt that the meals being shared on TikTok were not nutritionally fulfilling for the average adult woman and instead promoted disordered and calorie-deficient eating.

For example, TikToker^[6] @nickicox posted one such video on June 28th, 2023, gathering over 540,000 plays and 40,000 likes in two weeks (seen below, left). On July 11th, TikToker^[7] @gracestamariaa showed their preferred dinner, pasta, sarcastically calling it ✨Girl Dinner✨. The post gathered over 3.9 million views and 500,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

Boy Dinner Trend

In mid-July 2023, male TikTokers then began sharing their Boy Dinners in response to the "Girl Dinner" trend, with TikToker^[8] @arkaneskye posting a video on July 10th in which he scavenges for old pizza in his room, gathering over 1.6 million plays and 290,000 likes in two days (seen below, left). On July 11th, TikToker^[9] @kaideboodro posted a similar video, gathering over 1 million plays and 180,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).