The demure food trend explained

“Very low key, very mindful” is a phrase that’s spreading like wildfire on TikTok—even if a raging wildfire isn’t the most low key metaphor for this trend. The trend’s creator, beauty influencer and TikTok creator Jools Lebron (aka @joolieannie), would probably opt for a more decorous comparison, like wandering butterflies fluttering around the internet to spread their cutesy mannerisms. Low key is all about being mindful, cute, classy, ​​and simple. No cut-creased eyeshadow or long, false lashes—simple makeup will do.

But modesty isn’t just about your makeup or demeanor; it’s also about what you eat. “I’m not like you other girls. I don’t go to Wingstop after work, I get a nice salad,” Lebron jokingly explained on TikTok. This may sound like another reboot of diet culture, but there’s a subtle humor behind the modesty. In her TikTok, Lebron shows off a dinner of fish, baked potatoes, cheese fries, and buttered shrimp: “Very modest.” In fact, the modest eating trend is about being mindful, and that can be interpreted in many different ways. Modest eating could be reflected in a balanced diet, being grateful for food, or simply being mentally present while eating—after all, we all need to nourish ourselves. “Remember why you went out to eat after work,” Lebron explains in her video.

@joolieannie

Best regards @Longhorn Steakhouse #fyp #züchtig

♬ Original sound – Jools Lebron

There are plenty of food trends that get on our nerves, like unrealistic “What I Eat in a Day” videos, but restraint is a positive practice that can be implemented. This current trend also contrasts with the bold, loud, and party-oriented tendencies of the so-called “Brat Summer” of 2024. (Still, Brat Summer is fun, and we have plenty of cocktail ideas to keep the Brat Summer vibe going well into fall.) If you need a break from all the drinks and partying, restraint is for you. In the context of mindfulness, restrained eating can manifest in many different ways.

If you do happen to drink, maybe take small sips and limit the number of drinks you have that night. This is very mindful. If you decide to have chicken wings for dinner, place a napkin on your lap and use only your thumb and forefinger to eat. Pretty clean and cute, right? Being restrained when eating means using the right cutlery, having napkins ready, and not getting stains on your clothes (after all, proper table etiquette is the epitome of restraint).

This brings us back to Jools Lebron’s (clearly joking) advice to skip the chicken wings and have a salad instead. Healthy eating itself isn’t exactly trendy – instead, Lebron’s low-key philosophy reminds the internet to be balanced. There’s always room to have a little fun and eat what you want.