Check out my progress on Chick Food
Earlier today, my parents and I were discussing a local restaurant that has the reputation as being a luncheon hot-spot for women in Birmingham. Aside from its flamboyantly feminine decor and abundance of high-chair, perhaps the primary reason for its popularity among females is its menu. Put simply, the restaurant serves what you might call “chick food”—think chicken salad, quiche, and fruit plates.
All this got me thinking about gendered eating patterns—that is, the theory that men and women habitually eat different foods. Stereotypical thinking dictates that men eat meat and potatoes, while women eat rabbit food and chocolate cake. Personally, I think such stereotypes are just that—inaccurate generalizations that do not reflect the diversity of reality. While I like fruit plates, I don’t have a particular predilection for chicken salad, and I’ve never even tasted a quiche.
What do you think of gendered eating patterns? Do you think there is any truth to those stereotypes? What do you consider “chick food?”
Let’s take a look at my version of chick food.
It has been far too long since my last pumpkin fix, so I busted open a can to make pumpkin yogurt for my parfait this morning.
For lunch, I made my Curried Tofu Salad.
I had planned on making Mama Pea’s Thai Veggie Burgers again for dinner this evening, but they kind of fell apart on me. Everything is so much harder without a food processor. Anyway, I improvised and stuffed the burger mixture into a wrap. Still tasted good!
I am off to watch Christmas Vacation 
Good night!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
gendered eating patterns! ohh this is a good topic! i definitely think it exists…i mean imagine a guy out with his buddies ordering a grilled chicken salad as opposed to a hamburger….he’d probably get pretty harassed by his buds. its a shame
While the stereotypes definitely exist, I agree that they should be left at generalizations, and not taken as fact!
That Thai veggie wrap looks yummy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Christmas Vacation. I need to change that!
Hi Caroline, I’m a long-time reader but only first-time commenter. I really like your blog and always look forward to your nutritional advice and healthy meal ideas! Today I came across an article that may be of interest to you and thought I’d share:
Stein L, Cowart B, Beauchamp, G,” The development of salty taste acceptance is related to dietary experience in human infants: a prospective study,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online December 22, 2011
Enjoy the Holidays and time with your family!
BroccoliHut Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Excellent! Thanks! I will definitely be checking out AJCN for that.
i feel like you would like quiche
if made right it is lovely!
BroccoliHut Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Noted! Resolutions 2012 shall include “eat quiche.”
Your food looks so yummy! Hahah Christmas vacation-best movie ever
culturally (especially in america) i feel like women are somewhat pushed into thinking they need to eat only salad and other “light” foods. because we all need to be thin and waif like and constantly worry about calories. it’s just like the phenomenon of most women being afraid to lift heavy weights – because they have been conditioned into thinking they will get “bulky”.
while these eating patterns certainly aren’t true for all..they sadly do exist.
i don’t know..i love meat. i also love quiche and fruit. oh well
I think there is some truth it, like Karina mentioned above… Not many guys order a salad when their friends are ordering hamburgers, and I know of a man who was trying to lose weight after getting a negative health test be mocked a little for ordering a salad. It also seems that the majority of vegetarians I meet are female, on average.
However, I can safely say that, although my bf LOVES hamburgers, he also loves quiche, blackberries, and a pasta salad that may be considered “chick food.”
So I’d never take it too seriously.
BroccoliHut Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Seth is the same way–he orders tofu at restaurants just as often as he does steak!
I just came across your blog today and I love this really unique article! To me, stereotypical “chick food” is dainty, low-carb, delicate foods, while “dude food” is hearty, hot, spicy, filling and greasy!
BroccoliHut Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Welcome to the Broccoli Hut, Faith! Glad you enjoyed the topic of this post