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Imagine, it is one of those rare days when there is no one at home, no partner, no kids, no parents. So, after a long, hard day of work, you come home, grab some bread, cheese, a bit of chocolate and some nuts and savour it all in front of the TV watching your favourite show. This is 'girl dinner,' a food trend that has quickly become a viral TikTok phenomenon.
What Is 'Girl Dinner'?
'Girl dinner' basically means a no-cooking meal and is put together using bread, meats, veggies and leftovers found in the fridge. It is like a miniature charcuterie board, made by one person as dinner for just that one person.
This light meal made up of several different food groups has garnered a lot of attention on TikTok and by nutritionists too, who have been discussing the merits of eating small portions of food to avoid overindulging and overeating, especially at nighttime. However, nutritionists are also recommending the consumption of healthier, low-sodium options that could be put on the snack plate of 'girl dinner.'
All over TikTok, women are showcasing their own versions of this small platter, a trend that began when Olivia Maher, a showrunner's assistant, took to TikTok to post a video of a humble meal comprising simple foods like bread and cheese and described this spread as 'girl dinner.' For women across the internet, it has become a way of enjoying snacks as a meal.
Opting Out Of Cooking
The trend has quickly attracted the attention of many women from whom elaborate dinners with family or partners that are regularly made up of protein, vegetables, some carbs can become a monotonous and repetitive process of cooking and eating each night. ‘Girl dinner’ is easy to put together, requires minimal effort and is perfect as a small, light meal for one.
Simultaneously, ‘girl dinner’ is not about deprivation or having a low-calorie meal to avoid food, rather it is about enjoying simple snacks as a full meal. So, unlike the sophistication of the tapas or the mezze platter, 'girl dinner' is more about embracing those rare moments when women have the choice to opt out of prepping, cooking and cleaning up after a long day of work.
The trend has become popular exactly for this ‘vibe’ of relishing a rustic, no-brainer meal. As Olivia said to The New York Times, it makes one feel pleased about oneself, “You’re like, ‘I barely worked for this and it feels like an indulgence.’ That’s what makes it girl dinner.”
Throw in some chips, crudites and sausages for that added oomph and 'girl dinner' basically becomes something that women choose to eat when no one is at home, when there is no one around they absolutely need to cook for and choose instead to eat something that requires little to no effort to put together. Tell us in the comments below what your version of 'girl dinner' would be and whether you would put cheese, nachos or fruit on your snack plate!
