‘Boy kibble’ — the male equivalent to ‘girl dinner’ that Gen Z is embracing to load up on protein

Gen Z men are raving about the meal because it is rich in essential nutrients The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Lifestyle‘Boy kibble’ — the male equivalent to ‘girl dinner’ that Gen Z is embracing to load up on proteinGen Z men are raving about the meal because it is rich in essential nutrients Amber Raiken in New York Wednesday 04 March 2026 17:25 ESTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverFor Gen Z and Millennials, the Best Nights Out Are Still the Most SpontaneousYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreWhile the girls are all about the bread, cheese, and fruits — also known as “girl dinner” — the boys are turning their attention to rice and beef to build their strength. And it’s got a new name: “boy kibble.” Back in 2023, TikTok user Olivia Maher coined the term “girl dinner,” describing her ideal meal as bread and cheese. It became a huge phenomenon on TikTok, with young women putting together a platter of cheeses, bread, pickles and fruit as a meal.Gen Z men have now coined their own dinner trend, filled with essential nutrients. In January, a TikTok user who goes by the name @thequadfather introduced the concept of “boy kibble” for dinner, which is simply a bowl of beef and rice. “Y’all may have girl dinner, but I got boy kibble,” he said, showing off the ground beef that’s rich in protein. “We are not the same.” He continued to praise his meal in the text over the video, which has nearly 205,000 views. “Boy kibble > girl dinner,” he wrote. Gen Z men are eating rice and beef for dinner and calling it ‘boy kibble (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The meal has become a viral food trend online, with Gen Z men showing off their bowls of meat and rice. For example, a TikTok content creator named Harry confessed that he eats this meal, which resembles the look of dog kibble, multiple times a week. “So I guess we’re calling this boy kibble now. It’s pretty much a guy’s lunch or dinner,” he said. “I’m not going to lie, it does look like kibble. And I do eat this Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner.” However, instead of ground beef, the content creator opted for ground turkey, served with rice and avocado. Meanwhile, another TikTok user named Erik said that he was using potatoes instead of rice in his “boy kibble” creation. He also chose to add a handful of kale to his beef, since the leafy greens are rich in magnesium, potassium and vitamin K. Although it depends on what brand you buy, ground beef is extremely high in protein. In fact, a three-and-a-half-ounce serving of broiled ground beef, with 10 percent fat, offers 26.1 grams of protein, according to Healthline. The protein option has also become popular among Gen Z men after the U.S. government changed its recommendations for food consumption. The 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, shared by the Trump Administration in January, emphasize red meat, whole milk and other animal sources of protein, while downplaying plant-based offerings. The guidance says adults should consume 1.2 grams to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. This means that some adults, depending on their weight, are recommended have at least 100 grams of protein per day, with half or more coming from animal sources.More aboutProteinGen ZBeefJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesCommentsMost popularPopular videosBulletinRead next