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IELTS Speaking Lesson about Food

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Table of Contents

IELTS Speaking vocabulary: Food

Common Flavours and Tastes

Here are some common flavours and tastes

  • Sour (plums)
  • Sweet (carrots, mandarins) 
  • Juicy (oranges)
  • Salty (anchovies)
  • Savoury (anything that is not sweet)
  • Peppery (flavour of black pepper)
  • Pungent (cardamom)
  • Spicy (Thai red curry)

Adjectives to Describe Food

This dish is ______

  • delicious
  • tasty
  • luscious (= rich and sweet)

This dish looks_______

  • mouth-watering 
  • tempting 
  • appetising 

It tastes_____

  • scrummy    
  • succulent (for meat, meaning juicy, tasty, tender = soft)

Tip: ‘Yummy’ – Don’t use this in IELTS, it is a word normally used by children!

  • It’s perfect 
  • It’s spot on 
  • It’s top notch 
  • It’s nutritious
  • It’s healthy
IELTS Food

IELTS: Food for special occasions

Very often we have special dishes or eat particular food on special occasions. Such occasions may include, 
  • Weddings 
  • Birthdays
  • Anniversaries 
  • National Holidays 
  • Religious festivals 
Here are some different kinds of food we may eat on these special occasions;
  • Party food (sausage rolls, pizza, cakes) 
  • Finger food (open sandwiches, tapas, vol au vents, crisps…)
  • A National dish (fish ’n’ chips – in the UK)
  • A Signature dish (a dish you like to make and are ‘famous’ for)
You can also use these phrases to talk about favourite or popular dishes you may have on a special occasion
An old family favourite of mine is ________ A classic for birthdays is _______ 
Templates for food on special occasions On birthdays, anniversaries _____
… we tend to eat … … we often eat … … we typically eat …
At weddings, Christmas, Easter ____
… we usually to eat … … we will often eat … … we like to eat …

Tip: If you are not sure about which preposition to use for different occasions, then use FOR!  (It works for all occasions.)

For Christmas, Ramadan, birthdays …
… we tend to eat … … we often eat … … we typically eat …

If the name of the dish is not an English word, or may not be commonly known, I suggest you also give a short explanation of the dish.

Food for Special Occasions

For example, 

In my country for birthdays, we often eat ‘Migoreng’ which is a local dish consisting mainly of fried noodles eat …

Find out about other popular dished for special occasions in different parts of the world here:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-and-celebrations

It is very common for people to spend a lot of money on food for special occasions. Here are some useful expressions to talk about that idea.

We forked out more than we should

I forked out a fortune just on drinks.

To fork out (on) = to spend a lot of money on something 

We paid over the odds for that meal

To pay over the odds (for) = to pay too much

We spent a fortune on pricy beverages

To spend a fortune on something = to spend a lot of money 

We paid through the nose for the catering for this event.

To pay through the nose (for) = to pay a lot / too much

Eating habits

Eating habits vary from family to family. In some areas, eating with the family together is really important. For others, just filling up and moving on to do something else is the goal.  

Here are some phrases connected to different ways of eating.

  • Binge eating 

I am a binge eater

I am guilty of binge-eating

This means I eat lots of food in one go, and often I cannot stop. In extreme cases, this can be a medical condition.

  • To have an eating disorder (a medical condition e.g anorexia) 
  • Snacking = when you enjoy eating small amounts of food frequently (this word normally has a negative connotation)
  • Comfort eating = eating to feel good, e.g. eating a chocolate cake

My child is a fussy eater or a picky eater 

This means they only eat the food they like and won’t try new foods

  • To go on a diet = to restrict the intake of a certain kind of food
IELTS Speaking diets

IELTS question and answers on food

Have you ever been on a diet?

  • Yes, I have actually been on a low-carb diet for a few months.
  • I follow the Keto diet 
  • I am following the mediterranean diet at the moment
  • I am a vegetarian, but I consider that a lifestyle, not a diet 
  • I have been a vegan for years now.
  • Yes, but not always, I like to have a cheat day once a week.
  • No, I prefer to eat everything, but I eat in moderation.
  • I wouldn’t say I am on a diet, but I do try to eat the rainbow, and eat a healthy diet. 

IELTS listening task: Food

Watch this short video where Keith talks about people who like to get everyone around a table to eat together. 

Listen and answer the following questions

  1. Who likes to get people around the table to eat?
  2. Why?

Click arrow to open/close answers

1. My mother
2. She saw it a socialising event and a catch up with friends and family.

 

Useful collocations

  • A socialising / social event
  • It’s a chance to….
  • Catch up with others 
  • Having a chinwag (UK) = have a chit chat / conversation
  • Eating is stuffing your face 
  • It’s different courses for different horses = different people like different things

Idioms to talk about food

The proof is in the pudding  = you can only know if something is good by testing or experiencing it

I am not sure whether I should visit Korea or not. Well I guess there is only one way to find out, the proof is in the pudding.

To pig out (on) = to eat too much of something 

I feel too full, I have just pigged out on too much fast food at KFC

To have a sweet tooth = to like sweet stuff 

I can’t resist chocolate, you know I have a sweet tooth 

It melts in the mouth = delicious 

This steak is so tender and delicious, it just melts in the mouth 

It’s the best thing since sliced bread = the best thing ever

This meal is the best thing since sliced bread

To eat like a horse = to eat a lot

After I get home from school, I am so hungry, I eat like a horse

To discover lots more idioms that use food, check out the link below

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-food-idioms.html

More Free Lessons​

If you liked this lesson, leave a comment below!

There are more lessons you can follow in the links below too.

INTELLIGENCE in IELTS Speaking. Learn different kinds of intelligence and some useful phrases.

SHOPPING in IELTS Speaking Learn the essential vocabulary for this topic, as well as how to talk about online shopping.

MONEY in IELTS Speaking Learn how to talk about earning, saving and spending money.

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