Goodbye, girl dinner, and hello, rat snacking.
Back in 2023, the viral ‘girl dinner‘ TikTok trend was all over our feeds. Full of random picky bits like cheese, chips, cold cuts, nuts, jams, or whatever one can find in their fridge, girl dinner was a hit. But now, as we enter a new year, we’ve got another viral gastro phenomenon. Introducing ‘rat snacking.’
[Hero & Feature Image Credit: IMDb Ratatouille, The Pixar Story]
What is rat snacking, the new TikTok trend?
To start, it’s less about rodents and more about random food combinations.
The trend began with the hashtag #ratsnack, where users would raid their kitchens for leftovers or ingredients to put a bunch of random things together. This combo is small, usually bite-sized. Think pickles in a blanket of cheese or hummus and chips. It’s basically an evolution of girl dinner, but instead of a plate of leftovers, it’s creating a small treat with whatever you found. These creations could be unhinged, but it’s all about nibbling on things that taste good to you.
https://www.tiktok.com/@abbeyskitchen/video/7201193212315274502?_r=1&_t=8jEvCg2ETNC&social_sharing=1
For instance, TikTok user Abbey Sharp decides to caramelise some apples with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the microwave. Then she adds this sweet concoction, along with a slice of processed cheese and pecans, on top of her toast. Yes, although this cheesy, apple pie toasty may sound strange, it’s apparently “a crushing combo.” Meanwhile, other TikTokers shared their latest rat snack obsessions, like sprinkling pickles and cheese on top of a Pringle or air-frying cauliflower with cheese and sriracha.
Similar to girl dinner, this new food trend goes against the curated perfection social media likes to portray. It highlights that not every meal needs to be aesthetically pleasing to “hit the spot.” The rat snacking trend also acknowledges that sometimes people can’t be bothered to fully cook a meal, and eating out can be expensive. Therefore, rat snacking is all about finding what you have to create something out of nothing.
Drinking is best during the day, especially when at brunch. If she's not working, catch her at the gym or socializing with friends. An introvert extrovert at heart. She's a Capricorn.
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