IELTS Speaking Lesson about Healthy Food
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Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Healthy Food
Food (n. U / C)
‘Food’ is usually uncountable, but can be countable when referring to specific kinds of food.
I’ve eaten too much food (Uncountable)
I should eat fewer fatty foods (Countable)
Fast food (n.)
= Easily prepared processed food served as a quick meal or to be taken away.
Eating fast food everyday is not good for you
Similar words
- Junk food
- Processed food
- Pre-prepared food
- Convenience food
Learn more about Ultra-processed food
Learn more about Ready-made meals
Additives = sugar, fat, salt, e-numbers, acid (things that preserve the food)
Flavourings = things that add flavour
A diet (n. C / U) /ˈdaɪət/
- The food and drink usually eaten by a person or group (U)
The mediterranean diet is said to be very healthy.
- A special course of food to improve health or lose weight (C)
She switched to a plant-based diet to improve her health.
He went on a special diet after his heart attack.
Collocations
- to go on a diet
- to stick to a diet
- a balanced diet
- a healthy diet
- a crash diet = a quick diet (done in a short period of time)
I go on a diet every summer
It’s hard to stick to a diet
I try to eat a balanced diet
To take off (v) /ˈteɪk ˌɒf/
= To become suddenly successful or popular.
Plant-based diets have really taken off in recent years.
My business has taken off these last 2 months.
Similar Words
- To boom
- To soar
- To explode (in popularity)
Veganism is booming
Veganism is exploding in popularity
A nutrient (n.) /ˈnjuː.tri.ənt/
= A substance we need to consume to live and grow
(E.g. protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins)
A healthy diet should give you all the nutrients you need.
Fruit and vegetables are full of essential nutrients.
Collocations
- essential nutrients
- rich in nutrients
- nutrient deficiencies
This food is rich in fat / protein / vitamin D
Nutritional (adj) /njuːˈtrɪʃ.ən.əl/
Sugar has no nutritional value
Nutrition (n U). /njuːˈtrɪʃ.ən/
= things you eat as food
Good nutrition is essential for babies
A nutritionist (n. Person)
= a person who specialises in nutrition
To cut down on (v.) /ˈkʌt daʊn ɒn/
= To reduce the amount of something (especially food, drink, or habits).
Many people are trying to cut down on sugar to live healthier lives.
Similar Words
- To reduce
- To limit
- To scale back (on)
Collocations
- cut down on meat/sugar/caffeine
- cut down on screen time
I need to cut down on meat
You should cut down on smoking
Listening Activity about Healthy Eating
Listen to someone talk about a new food trend and discover the collocations below.
- It’s a growing _________
- The ______ impact of what they eat
- Reduce your carbon ________
- Plant-based ________
- Lead to some _________ deficiencies
- It is gaining _______ in many countries
Idioms about FOOD and HEALTHY EATING
To watch what you eat
= To be careful about your diet for health or appearance.
I’ve started watching what I eat since I turned thirty. I feel better already!
You are what you eat
= Your diet impacts your physical health
Don’t eat so much junk food – you are what you eat!
My eyes are bigger than my stomach
= I have eaten too much!
I shouldn’t have eaten all that dessert. My eyes are bigger than my stomach.
To pig out
= To eat a lot, often in an uncontrolled way.
I try to eat healthily during the week, but I pig out on Saturdays.
To wolf down (something) = to eat quickly
You wolfed down that sandwich so quickly, you must have been very hungry.
To eat like a horse = to eat a lot
After jogging for 2 hours I could to eat like horse.
Food for thought
= Something that makes you think carefully.
Learning about the environmental impact of meat really gave me food for thought.
Song about Food and Healthy Eating
The Celebration
I’ve been cutting down, no rich foods, no wine,
But tonight we’re celebrating, so everything seems fine,
Tim sat calm, then Mark rushed in, hunger in his eyes,
“Just what the doctor ordered!” he said to the other guys.
CHORUS
Cut down on this, cut down on that,
But tonight, there’s no looking back.
Raise your glass to the days ahead,
For the future is ours, that’s what I said.
Sarah bolted her burger down, but Tim took his time,
Oysters, such an acquired taste, so don’t eat mine.
Mark made a toast, with a grin so bright,
To adventures and dreams, let’s enjoy tonight!
CHORUS
Cut down on this, cut down on that,
But tonight, there’s no looking back.
Raise your glass to the days ahead,
For the future is ours, that’s what I said.
One for the road, they stayed a while,
Laughing and dreaming, in their own style.
The night was theirs, the bonds held tight,
A memory to carry through the darkest night.
CHORUS
Cut down on this, cut down on that,
But tonight, there’s no looking back.
Raise your glass to the days ahead,
For the future is ours, that’s what I said.
Learning Vocabulary Effectively
If you find it hard to use all these words in conversations or the IELTS test, this is for you
A simple system to learn words effectively
- Repeat and Pronounce Correctly
- Make phrases
- Hear in different contexts (stories)
- Test
- Review (stories, songs, visualisations, podcasts)
You can get this ready-made system for 22 topics in
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