Earlier this month, the term ‘white people food’ (白人饭 báirénfàn) gained significant attention in English-language media after it became a trend on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.

“White people food” mainly refers to simple meals that are easy to prepare, prioritizing convenience over taste. Examples include crackers and cheese, celery with dip, boiled egg with cucumber, ham sandwiches, or pasta with tomatoes.

Mocking unappetizing, cold, and barely seasoned ‘white people food’ became popular among overseas Chinese posting photos on Xiaohongshu and others criticizing the bland lunchboxes brought to work by white colleagues.

Although the ‘white people food’ term itself is not new, it became particularly popular in late May of 2023 when a Chinese netizen posted a video of a white woman in Switzerland preparing her lunch on a train with just lettuce and ham.

The video symbolized the significant cultural differences between China and many Western countries, particularly in terms of food and lunch habits. A typical office lunch box consisting of bread, cheese, fruit, and a granola bar is not considered a ‘real’ meal by many Chinese — they argue it lacks warmth, spices, ginger, garlic, rice, noodles, veggies, etc.

As a response to the trend, an online challenge emerged where people attempted to recreate their own version of a white people lunch. This mini-trend caught the attention of English-language media outlets, including Buzzfeed, after a viral tweet by Ya Fan (@yanarchy) went viral.

Not all Chinese social media users criticize the quick and uninspiring lunch style commonly seen in the West. What started as a trend to ridicule the food eventually took on a positive note, with many young Chinese professionals praising the simplicity and convenience of these meals.

For busy office workers, preparing a homemade lunch and sitting down for a larger, warm meal can be time-consuming. Opting for a sandwich or salad is quick, efficient, and leaves more time and energy after lunch or at the end of a workday.

One Xiaohongshu user wrote about her salad with mozzarella, nuts, berries, and ham, stating, “After work, this can be prepared in just three minutes, no need to wait, it can be finished extremely quickly.”

Hashtag “White people food is really not bad at all.”

In this sense, ‘white people food’ also aligns with the concept of a ‘worker’s lunch’ (打工人午餐).

The phrase and hashtag “White people food is also food” (#白人饭也是饭) emerged in response to this trend. It carries a pun that references the Chinese translation of “Black Lives Matter” (“Black people’s lives are also lives 黑人的命也是命”) and the controversial phrase “White Lives Matter,” which gained attention in the context of the BLM movement and further garnered attention in China and beyond when Kanye West wore a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt (translated as “White people’s lives are also lives 白人的命也是命”).

The notion that “White people food is also food” is not solely sarcastic, as some social media users interpret it in a different light. They express a preference for incorporating these simple meals into their daily diet, not just due to a busy work schedule, but also because it aligns with a lifestyle that involves consuming smaller meals, exercising, and trying out new things.

 
“They discovered the white people food trend”
 

Now that the trend has extended beyond Xiaohongshu to foreign platforms, this very aspect has sparked further online discussions.

Chinese media outlet Phoenix News has also gathered opinions and comments from foreign users on social media regarding this trend, with the majority of them finding the trend amusing and humorous. They titled their post “The White People Food Popular Among Chinese Young People Has Been Discovered by White People” (“中国年轻人流行“白人饭”，被白人发现了”), hashtagged “White people food has been discovered by white people” (#白人饭被白人发现了#).

Although many Chinese netizens find it funny that the Chinese trend of eating style has gained popularity overseas, there are still those who question whether Western people truly enjoy this way of eating.

“It’s really how it is,” one Xiaohongshu user wrote. “I remember the first time my ‘homestay mom’ prepared lunch for me [as an exchange student]. When she gave me a ham sandwich, I thought she was teasing me, but later I found out that the entire family ate like this. It’s important to note that they were actually a Black family.”

Meanwhile, on TikTok (the foreign version), another trend called ‘Girl Dinner’ is gaining momentum. This trend refers to simple dinner plates featuring ingredients like cheese, cucumber, ham, pickles, olives, and other items. Although they are not labeled as such, these plates align with what is called ‘White People Food’ on Chinese social media. Many TikTok users praise these meals for their simplicity and view them as a form of luxury and indulgence.

“Girl Dinner” on Tiktok is just like “White People Food” on Xiaohongshu.

For many Chinese individuals, the latest ‘White People Food’ trend may be a convenient way to eat, but they do not perceive it as a form of indulgence. “White people food is truly magical. Just four pieces of sliced bread with some veggies, fruits, and meat sauce, and I already feel full after eating two. I have white people food for lunch every day to save time, but it doesn’t bring me any joy. It’s merely a survival-oriented way of eating.”

 
By Manya Koetse 

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