A TikTok trend created by Los Angeles creator Olivia Maher, called ‘girl dinner’ is dividing the online TikTok community due to the unhealthy messages behind “girl dinner” that some creators have been promoting.
‘Girl dinner’ is a trend that started circulating in May and it primarily consists of a small portion of a ‘low-effort’ plate of side foods, snacks and leftovers that some women are calling ‘girl dinner’.
Camden teenager Michaela Bonser said she was concerned about how the popular trend could be altering women’s perceptions of what is seen as a healthy dinner.
“The majority of the ‘girl dinner’ trend is coming from that part of society where women share their complex relationship with food,” Ms Bonser said.
“It’s normalising (disordered eating) and promoting continuity of deep rooted issues in society.”
@brookiebarry Girlllll dinnerrrrr #food #macandcheese #dinonuggets #dinnerideas
According to the Butterfly Foundation eating disorders impact 9 per cent of the Australian population, with 63 per cent percent of people impacted by eating disorders being girls and women. Of those who contacted Butterfly National helpline, 57 per cent were adolescents aged 12 to 25 years.
CEO and co-founder of Culina Health and registered dietitian, Vanessa Rissetto, said in an interview with Glamour, that the nature of the trend can lead to a “slippery slope” of disordered eating in women.
“Eating only pickles for dinner, drinking Coke Zero as your meal, this trend can fall into disordered eating territory especially when it comes to people promoting and applauding it,” Ms Rissetto said.
“Remember, it’s all about the messaging and who’s delivering it.”
Ms Rissetto said that young women should make sure they eat a balanced diet and develop healthy eating habits early in life.
