Cook and eat quickly, cheaply… and with lots of “prota”. This is the philosophy by which many men are now governed, particularly generation Z.
It already has a name — boy kibble — and it’s gaining traction on social media. Experts, however, do not understand why, as not only are there no advantages, but there are risks.
The term “kibble” — used in English to refer to dry animal food — is not casual. In many cases, trendy men’s meals consist of a simple combination of carbohydrates, such as ricewith a source of protein, such as minced meatmixed in a massa unappetizing, like a kind of “porridge” without flavor.
Eating is not a pleasure for these young people, but something that needs to be done for the benefit of their physique. Behind the tongue-in-cheek aesthetic and protein-centric talk, presentation and the pleasure of eating are secondary to a clear goal: ingesting maximum protein with minimum effort.
Although some versions include vegetables, the base of the trend continues to focus on unbalanced mealswith little variety and frequent absence of fruit, whole grains and healthy fats.
According to nutritionists, consuming meals “à la boy kibble” can favor shortcomings of fat-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids and micronutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and iron. THE lack of fiber It is also identified as a problem, as it can affect intestinal transit and compromise the health of the microbiome.
The phenomenon is part of a larger phenomenon: “proteinmaxxing”, the extreme valuation of protein intake, particularly among young men.
Nutritionists and researchers consider that “boy kibble” goes far beyond a food fad. Turning pleasureless meals into a sign of discipline or virility can reinforce a problematic relationship with foodsimilar to that of rigid or obsessive eating patterns.
The note that some already “boy kibble” to the phenomenon “girl dinner” (“girl dinner”), a TikTok trend that advised women to have snacks (small portions of cheese, bread, fruit or leftovers) instead of dinner.
The idea of “suffering” at the table in the name of health or physical performance comes to be seen, on TikTok, as a badge of honor.
