BOY DINNER Words by Amiyah Golden
Because we’re girls and we truly can’t have anything our own, our viral trend
And with all these labels we are never fully equipped to handle the effects
“girl dinner” has now been infiltrated by the male species with their own ren-
these ideologies foster. With lots of little boys growing up in environments
dition: “boy dinner.”
that prioritize physical strength over mental wellness, it breeds a mindset that physical aesthetics will ultimately move you further along in life — which
If you are reading this with a furrowed brow because you have absolutely no
is not true.
idea what I’m talking about, let me catch you up. I’ve talked to so many men about why they have started their fitness journeys The terms, “girl dinner” and “boy dinner” refer to a “typical” dinner that cor-
and it always leads back to outside validation, feeding a cycle that keeps men
relates with each respective gender. Girl dinner usually consists of a mish-
away from parties because of their fear of going over their macros or filling
mash of various foods that make no sense together, and boy dinner generally
their plates with 3,000 calories (exactly) of chicken and rice — or vice versa
depicts rice and beans, a protein shake and a beer (which also make no sense
and only consuming foods within their calorific deficit. I have heard all ends.
together). Now, there’s nothing wrong with having fitness goals and having to adjust This trend was originally started to incite relatability but has now sparked
some habits to reach your goals but not when it blurs the line of mental
discourse around a troubling issue — eating disorders.
well-being. It’s so important to have the conversation surrounding disordered, but often times not taken as seriously when a man is at the forefront.
As more users began to participate, the shared experience — originally highlighting foods like mac and cheese with dinosaur nuggets — has now turned
It trickles down to breaking down gender “norms” that we have instilled in our
grim, as girls begin to show off a plate of lettuce and a handful of almonds as
communities, that don’t promote healthy thinking but further cater to the idea
their proclaimed dinner. (But you can read more about this in Su’s story.) Even
that all men need to align with this “alpha-male”, body-building lifestyle that
if it wasn’t intentional, most of the accounts sharing their own girl dinners are
everyone is not simply built for.
prominent models or influencers – the majority of them already existing in the realm of social media where they embody the societal beauty standard — lur-
Protein powder, a cigarette and a beer is not sustainable but, neither is 1,300
ing girls and women alike to feel pressured to participate in an eating culture
calories of food every day for an adult male that is 6’5”.
that’s not sustainable or healthy. Attaining 20% body fat is never worth a life of misery. While most people have honed in on the girl side of things, I saw much similarity with the guys’ version. It spiraled me down the path of gym “bros” and
Eating is power, it’s fuel and necessary. Your body exists in so many unique
the daunting silence that surrounds diet culture when it comes to men.
ways and forms and it’s OK for it to change — that’s a part of life.
The discussion surrounding men’s mental health is often swept under the rug
Trends are fun and so is social media, but some things we must take a deeper
— due, in part, to the unrealistic standards society has placed on men:
look into and differentiate if it’s all for laughs and engagement or is it a cry
“Be strong!”
for help?
“Don’t cry!” “Don’t let them strip you of your masculinity!” (whatever that means …)
21
