What is a ‘girl dinner’ and why has it sparked controversy?

The phenomenon is based around celebrating the low-effort meals a woman might cobble together and enjoy alone, but with eating disorder content still rife on TikTok — where the latest food trend has taken off — many have raised concerns over its ties to diet culture.

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok as of late, then you’ll know that new food trends are as commonplace as GRWM’s, the beige flag discourse, and morning routines.

Of the most recent to take the app by storm, Olivia Maher’s ‘girl dinner’ phenomenon is at the forefront.

Since the creator posted her original viral video explaining the meaning behind it — which is, in short, to celebrate the low-effort meals (often comprising a selection of picky bits) a woman might cobble together and enjoy alone — the hashtag has racked up almost 300 million views.

On the back of this exposure, a debate has been sparked surrounding the potentially controversial repercussions of yet another online obsession that subtly endorses diet culture.

‘Girl dinner does not mean under-fed dinner. Girl dinner does not mean disordered…