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Discover what's in a typical “Boy Dinner”
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You’re probably familiar with the “Girl Dinner” trend taking over TikTok, but what the heck is “Boy Dinner?” This viral term refers to any low-effort meal a guy eats for dinner, whether it’s frozen pizza, instant noodles, or an entire rotisserie chicken. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about “Boy Dinner,” including its meaning, origins, and differences to “Girl Dinner.”

Things You Should Know

  • “Boy Dinner” is any quick and easy meal a guy makes for dinner. It’s usually a piece of protein, like chicken breast or ground beef, without any sides.
  • The term “Boy Dinner” was coined by TikTok user @bryaninheelee in July 2023, as a funny response to the viral “Girl Dinner” trend.
  • “Boy Dinner” is all about consuming the requisite amount of calories, while “Girl Dinner” focuses on the ambiance of the meal. Girl dinners also include more variety in foods.
Section 1 of 3:

What is “Boy Dinner?”

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  1. It’s typically unhealthy or protein-packed, but it’s always easy to toss together. Think frozen pizza, a protein bar, or an entire steak with no sides—in other words, anything that lacks significant variety. [1]
    • Other popular boy dinners include: instant ramen, scrambled eggs, a bowl of ground beef, a whole chicken breast, and a random mishmash of snacks (like potato chips paired with beef jerky, washed down with a Baja Blast).
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Section 2 of 3:

Origin & Spread

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  1. On July 2, 2023, TikTok user @bryaninheelee uploaded his hilarious response to the “Girl Dinner” trend. In the video, Bryan says “Boy Dinner” is what you imagine a single guy has in his grocery basket—frozen pizza, deli meats, potato chips…and no vegetables. His TikTok went viral in just 12 days, gaining roughly 1.7 million views and 230,000+ likes. [2]
    • Over the next few weeks, TikTok users began posting their own videos about “Boy Dinner” vs “Girl Dinner,” and the trend quickly moved to X, too.
  2. On July 11, 2023, TikTok user @arkaneskye posted a video of his “Boy Dinner,” with a song he made about the trend playing in the background. The video features Skye panning over his messy bedroom, before lifting his comforter to reveal a half-eaten box of pizza. He gained about 2.2 million views and 382,000 likes in just 10 days. [3]
    • After his video went viral, “Boy Dinner” evolved from showcasing a lazy meal to showing off how lazy and messy guys could be. Many users began posting videos of where they were eating their boy dinners—over the kitchen sink, in front of the TV, or on top of a pile of laundry.
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Section 3 of 3:

“Boy Dinner” vs “Girl Dinner”

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  1. According to TikTok, “Boy Dinner” is all about getting the requisite amount of calories in one meal, using as little time and effort as possible. “Girl Dinner,” on the other hand, also involves preparing a low-effort dinner, but most girls take the time to make it look cute and presentable. Both are grab-and-go meals, but “Girl Dinner” pays extra attention to the ambiance. [4]
    • For instance, a typical “Boy Dinner” might be chicken breast eaten off a fork, while “Girl Dinner” might look like instant mac and cheese served in a wine glass.
  2. For most girls, “Girl Dinner” is an assortment of different snacks and leftovers, sort of like having a bunch of mini meals in one sitting. “Boy Dinner” is usually a single piece of protein without any sides, and according to TikTok users, there’s no variety in flavor or texture. This makes “Boy Dinner” more boring than “Girl Dinner,” and boy dinners are generally not as balanced either.
    • On “Girl Dinner” vs “Boy Dinner” TikTok videos, there’s also a running joke on how many guys seem to be “allergic to leftovers”—they’d rather grab a granola bar than heat something up in the microwave.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I estimate the amount of calories that I'm consuming?
    John Diaz
    Personal Trainer
    John Diaz is a personal trainer and exercise professional with over 35 years of experience, based in Los Angeles, CA. John was first certified as a personal trainer in 1984 and later in 1989 co-founded Ultimate Health Medical Exercise Center with his sister Joanne. He creates prescriptive exercise programs designed specifically for his clients’ needs ranging from chronic pain relief, sports injury recovery, weight loss goals, and more. John has a degree in Exercise Science, is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is certified through the National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT). He also holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in martial arts and is a certified self-defense instructor.
    Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    First, you need to understand portion sizes and general calorie content for most common foods. Familiarize yourself with what a typical serving looks like. Maybe a handful of nuts, a piece of fruit, a serving of meat the size of your palm—and learn their approximate calorie counts. This way, you can mentally tally your intake throughout the day. If you’re having meals at home, measuring your food a few times can help you get a sense of how many calories you’re adding to your plate. For example, one cup of cooked rice has around 200 calories, while a tablespoon of oil adds about 120 calories. Estimating portions this way helps you gauge your intake even when you’re not measuring precisely. When eating out, use visual cues to make educated guesses, but sometimes they include calorie content on their menu. Going back, a restaurant portion of pasta might be two or three standard servings, so consider how that impacts your estimate. If you’re eating something more calorie-dense, like pizza or desserts, keep in mind that a slice or piece may pack more calories than expected. Also, be mindful of sauces and dressings—they can quickly add your calorie intake without you realizing it.
  • Question
    I'm a trans guy, can I still have boy dinner?
    Bookteanblanket12
    Community Answer
    Yeah, totally don’t let gender choose what you eat even a girl could have boy dinner
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