Since the social media app really took off around 2020, TikTok has become a source for much more than mastering the latest dance routine. It launched style trends (Barbiecorewe’re looking at you!), music stars (you’ve heard of them Alex Benjaminright?) and has even skyrocketed recipe developers into television and cookbook-worthy territory.
TikTok has also launched countless recipe trends, of course, as well as some restaurant movements in general. The latest on the latter front is something called a “girls’ dinner.” Read on to find out what this actually means and whether it’s a healthy choice. Next, we’ll explain how to host a “girls dinner” that covers your nutritional bases if you want to try the trend.
What exactly is a “girls’ dinner”?
This meal concept seems to have really gained traction thanks to a very lively post from Los Angeles-based micro-influencer Olivia Maher (AKA @Livie Maher) which she originally posted on May 11, 2023. This video alone now has over 1.3 million views, and the TikTok hashtag #dinner now spreads faster than a shaken bottle of Champagne. As of today, #girldinner has over 61.7 million views (and as of writing this story, that number has increased from 61.6, so it’s growing quickly).
“I can’t find the TikTok at the moment, but a girl came here and told me about how in medieval times peasants only had to eat bread and cheese, and how horrible that was …and she said to me, ‘This is my ideal meal.’ This is my dinner,” Maher said, turning to his spread that included a bunch of grapes, a piece of cheese, butter, a jar of pickles and a glass of red wine. I call it “girls’ dinner” or “medieval peasant”.
Maher posted this while standing at her kitchen counter, where she usually hosts this snack fest. Commentators have intervened to consider it similar to charcuterie without board, and others refer to similar eating strategies as “provisioning because I feel like I’m on the Oregon Trail.” Others thought it was far too sparse to qualify as a supper; “I call it ‘Mouse Meal,’ because I feel like it’s what a little mouse in a storybook would eat for dinner,” they add.
Is this a meal? Or a snack? It depends on the portion size and number of items.
But this is far from the first time humans have eaten their last meal of the day this way. “Girls’ dinner” is similar to some common no-cook, multi-faceted eating styles around the world. (See: Middle East mezze plates, Italian cicchetti or tagliere, Spanish tapas, etc.)
Are “girls’ dinners” healthy?
Using #girldinner, millions of other TikTok users have used the app to share their own variations on the theme, as well as their feelings about philosophy in general. @siennabeluga, for her part, shares that this could potentially serve to normalize restrictive eating trends. She notes in her video response to the trend, “some of these ‘girls’ dinners’ seem a little surprisingly low-calorie to me.”
@Sorrelaylakinton actions that she fears it will make those who are undereating feel good by calling “a ‘difficult’ dinner.”
TikTok certainly has a reputation for glorifying unnutritious eating habits, particularly through “what I eat in a day” recaps. (For a more real, reasonable and actually healthy look at the world, don’t miss this menu from one of our RD editors: I’m a dietitian on a limited budget: here’s what I eat per day.)
That said, we don’t always have the motivation to concoct a Sunday dinner-worthy of streaming every night of the week, and let’s admit that we are fans of turning to no-cook appetizer boards as a simple option for an entertaining appetizer or snackable meal. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, if you construct your allocation wisely.
How to Create a Healthy “Girls’ Dinner” If You Want to Try the Trend
Perhaps the branding of “girls dinner” leads some people to view it as a way to skimp when your partner isn’t around. (Why do we need to gender mealtime anyway? Marissa Mullen, creator of That Cheese Plate and author of This cheese plate wants to partyEast on a mission to make #BrosWhoBoard such a big thing to show that anyone can get on board with the trend, by the way.)
Individual calorie needs vary, but we recommend aiming for at least 500 calories to ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs for the day.
If you include enough food and are able to view it as a fun way to treat yourself (rather than a disappointing eating occasion), a pasture-a-palooza can actually be a way to express self-care. He/she can save time and energy by preparing a simple-to-prepare meal that allows them to take their time enjoying each meal.
Plus, because it has multiple components, a “girls dinner” can check all the boxes for your current cravings and nutritional needs. And at the same time, this strategy can help you reduce food waste. (Simply add several of your favorite pieces from the fridge, à la @anyanutr!)
Several designers shared colorful and creative ways to embrace the #girldinner trend in an enriching way. Here are a few more Eat well Dietitian-approved ideas:
Taking very little time to execute and with no dishes to clean up afterwards, this trend can actually be quite tasty and satisfying if you go from the “farmer fare” and “mouse food” scenario to the “magnificent pasture feast” scenario.
