Here are the most convenient bites to add to your “girl dinner” when you’re too lazy to cook
A new food trend is in town, and it’s called “girl dinner”—a name that has inevitably invited much debate and many lingering questions. What exactly is a girl dinner, and why is it gaining so quickly in popularity?
The idea of a girl dinner is simply a platter of snacks that are uncooked or minimally cooked. Think of a charcuterie board, but with the freedom of putting anything you want on your plate, including things you need to clear out from the fridge. Put simply, a girl dinner is the perfect low-effort dinner for those with busy schedules or are too lazy to cook. No, the concept is not new. It’s only been given a new lease of life, thanks to the power of virality in the age of social media. And like every viral topic, the rise of the girl dinner has also raised some eyebrows. Some say the meal of snacks is insubstantial and promotes disordered eating (it is also unfortunate that it is named after a gender that disproportionately suffers from eating disorders).
But the trend’s creator Olivia Maher says that girl dinner is in fact all about the freedom and joy of eating whatever you want to eat, and a liberation from preconceived notions of what a meal is supposed to be. Of course the girl dinner is not representative of every meal you should have, and anyone—not just girls—can enjoy a lazy dinner thrown together for convenience’s sake.
In that spirit, here are some ideas for your very own girl dinner, that will not only bring joy and excitement, but also free you from the pressure of planning and cooking an elaborate meal on days where you could really use a break.
Don’t miss: Are Butter Boards the New Cheese Platters? Here’s How to Make Your Own
1. Cheese
This is a no-brainer. Girl dinners are direct descendents of the charcuterie board, and there’s something utterly satisfying about nibbling bits of cheese for dinner. Besides, cheese on your plate is a good way to cover your calcium needs for the day. You can be as adventurous or as specialised as you want, with an array of hard and soft cheeses or just one of your favourites. Comté, gouda, brie, and camembert are some cheeses that never disappoint. For those with a taste for funky cheeses, a good blue cheese like a gorgonzola or a Bleu d’Auvergne will go perfectly with bread or crackers.