Please note that this article will discuss eating disorders and disordered eating. If this triggers you, I highly advise that you don’t read this article. Take care :)
“I call this girl dinner”
If you’re a Tik Tok guru and know the ins and outs of the social media platform, you probably have heard of the trend called “girl dinner.” Now, you may ask: what the hell is a girl dinner? Well, the trend was created by Olivia Maher, who would feature her dinners and explain why she tends to eat light for dinner. These “dinners” are shown to be charcuterie boards and other snacks that are thrown together to make up a meal. Since then, the trend skyrocketed and it has caught attention from those who have started to draw concern.
A can of soda with a plate of crackers may sound like a snack to most people, but the girl dinner trend portrays it in a way that can be consumed as your dinner of the day. What’s problematic about this is that this trend depicts disordered eating habits. The lack of balance within these meals spark red flags due to little or no value of nutrition. Another thing that I find frustrating is that most of the girls that partake in this trend seem to lack knowledge around it and how harmful it can be for them.
What is considered healthy eating?
Knowing what’s right to eat and how much you should eat is very important for one’s health, especially if you’re recovering from an eating disorder. The trend does a terrible job at depicting healthy eating and focuses too much on the “beauty” of the food that are featured in these videos. To me, healthy eating is all about balance and consistency. As someone who had eating issues in the past, I will admit that experiencing disordered eating is one of the worst things in the world. Encouraging this type of behavior will only lead to a dangerous road path of unhealthy eating and exhibiting a toxic mindset.
If you’re wanting to eat mindfully and healthy, think about the elements that you need to incorporate into your diet. For example, protein is one of the most important food groups that we need to incorporate into our diets. Protein foods like hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken, and greek yogurt can help you stay on track within your eating habits. Another important thing is to make sure that you’re consuming fruits and vegetables, as these can help you maintain good health. If you want to go as far as managing your portion sizes, make sure you’re doing it in a way that is not going to cause any issues with your weight and physical health.
The bottom line is knowing what is right for you.
This trend is yet another example of showcasing the dangers of eating disorders and heavily romanticizing them. Diet culture has impacted the way that one may consume their food and the negative feelings that they may harbor towards the value of nutrition. The takeaway from this is knowing what is going to be right for you, both mentally and physically, is the most important aspect that you need to incorporate into your life. The glorification of this trend seems to display a woman’s weakness, which is a common thing that is seen among women in today’s society. What we need to realize is that we’re worth more than our weaknesses. No, dieting doesn’t make you weak. But, society wants to make you believe in that type of way.
Thinking of what your body needs is one of the many mindful things that you can do for yourself. A trend shouldn’t tell you what to do or not to do with your body. If you’re like me who treats themselves to a well-deserved ice cream or a wonderful meal at a restaurant after a long week of studies, then do it girl! If you feel like you need a change within your life, make sure that it’s something that is going to help you out in the long run.