By J1 Reporter Elli Jones

“You are what you eat” is a common phrase that shows a human connection to food. This phrase can show our physical and mental journey with what we eat. Teen girls are a typical example of this, especially on social media. 

“Girl dinner” is a popular term used on TikTok that went viral for the type of food girls eat at dinner. Girl Dinner was created for girls to show their cravings or an easy meal put together in small or different portions. It can show a handful of Goldfish, pieces of fresh fruit, random cheese, etc. 

Girl dinner, believe it or not, can help teens with their eating habits. Instead of stressing about the food you eat, it opens up a range of foods. Mrs. Melissa Brusnahan is the head athletic trainer at Marian. “Just eating only one thing on a diet is never good,” she said.

This is not a diet, but it does help girls with the societal pressures of what their bodies should look like and give them a break from the stress of dieting. 

While dieting has its benefits it can also be harmful for teen girls. Dieting as an adolescent becomes more of a psychological issue since their brains aren’t fully developed yet. 

“It’s not a physical issue. It’s a psychological issue so again that’s where it’s important to consult with a professional,” Brusnahan said. Social media influences teens into thinking that they need a perfect body and sets people to unrealistic expectations. 

Anorexia and Bulimia are the two most common eating disorders among teens. “Eating disorders may have impacts on the brain and bone development when lacking various nutrients,” Matthew Stark, a registered dietician nutritionist at Hy-Vee, said. 

“Creating a need to be skinny or always on a diet at a young age will cause many issues with that child as they mature into adulthood,” Stark said.

Girls who have experienced a journey with eating disorders will tell you it is hard but with the right support you can persevere.

If you ever think about dieting, always be sure to contact your doctor or a dietician.