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It’s been stuck in my head all week: “Girl dinnerrrrrr. Girrrrrl diiiiinner.” It’s all over my FYP (For You Page) on TikTok - plates, boards, blates (bowl plates), spreads of food that women and girls eat when they are alone. The original video discusses how medieval peasant meals were mostly bread and cheese, and the creator shares that that is her ideal meal, which…SAME babe. On behalf of the women of the Deep North, we strongly co-sign bread and cheese - it is the basis of so many meals of my childhood.
An IMPORTANT point: You don’t have to identify as a girl to love and partake in Girl Dinner. It really is a meal style. It’s charcuterie / snack plate adjacent. It can be arranged beautifully or be a combo of random leftovers from takeout or it can be a bag of chips or popcorn in a huge bowl. The POINT of Girl Dinner is that it’s something that is easy to assemble, requires little to no heating up or cooking, and brings some joy. Like any food trend, there are people jumping to hate on it, and as usual, there are some excellent points to be made and some that are reaching. I am first and foremost a hater, but I’m going to let the girlies (me) have this one.
One video I saw this week said that we need to think about Girl Dinner in contrast to Boy Dinner. In the video she talks about what her boyfriend ate while she was on a trip and it was just steak. He sent her pictures of his dinner every day and that’s all he sent - not a side in sight, just steak. When I’m on trips away from home, my husband takes the opportunity to eat to his heart’s delight and his Boy Dinners look nothing like my solo meals but are filled with just as much joy and freedom of just having to consider your own needs to feed and nourish yourself.
As I think about Girl Dinner, I can’t help but think of another comfort meal category: depression dinners. They are meals that are reliable, take little effort to prepare, and give a little sustenance when you’re not well. There are times in my life when I’ve been emotionally low, and have had little stamina, motivation, and/or cash so the reliable bowls of cereal, simple buttered pasta, and a box of salty Cheez-Its sustained me. While this is not as happy of a picture as Girl Dinner, the moment that I decided to feed myself and to care for myself is a significant one, whether that is a depression dinner or Girl Dinner.
Every meal is an opting into edible self care, whether that’s buttered toast or a mezze board carefully arranged for the ~*aesthetic*~.
No matter the effort level you have in you for Girl Dinner, I think the best meals hit all taste buds. The five tastes are sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami. Inspired by
’s extremely useful charts, here is my Girl Dinner chart for your next solo meal.
Things I Like
Honestly, Costco lately - I’ve been 3x in the last two weeks
Rolling my neck on a foam roller - lay on your back with the foam roller under your head and move your head back and forth to get lil knots out
A Little to the Left - an organizing / puzzle video game
Playing Gin Rummy while listening to the Normal Gossip podcast
Herb simple syrup with bubble water - made a 🌱 basil 🌱 one this week and it is 💯 (Combine 1:1 sugar and water, bring to boil, take off heat. Then add herbs and let sit for 30 mins. Strain and store in the fridge for 1 month. Use in bubble water, mocktails, or cocktails!)
Sound off in the comments about your favorite recent Girl Dinner. I’m always looking for new combos.
May your week be gentle and may you eat well. 🌲🥣
I need to start making herb infused simple syrups cause I make mocktails for myself all the time at home and this would just allow my little straight edge heart to soar 😂
i LOVE doing it with basil and sage the most! basil with a limeade and sage with apple cider in the fall is *chef’s kiss*