CONTENTS

Sample answers

Sample questions and answers  from speaking part 1, 2 and  3

Key vocabulary

Words and terms frequently used  when talking about work

Word formation

Learn how to use  wide variety of parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives

Collocations

Find out groups of words that usually used together by native speakers

Useful resources

References to teaching and authentic materials related to this topic: IELTS blogs, podcasts, videos and articles

 
 

 

 

Food and Diet: Sample questions and answers for IELTS speaking exam

 

Part 1

  1. Can you cook?

-Oh yes, I love to cook. Honestly, I don’t think I can cook very well but I always try my best. I consider it one of my hobbies.

  1. Who does the cooking in your family?

-My mom does. Sometimes my older sister cooks for dinner. On weekends, I sometimes cook too.

 

  1. What is your main meal in the day?

– Well, I can say, lunch is my main meal. I usually skip breakfast and I just have light dinner.

  1. On what occasions do you eat special foods?

I eat special foods on special occasions like birthday parties, weddings, New Year and etc. Even on small and simple gatherings, there are special foods too

  1. Which foods from your country do most foreign people enjoy?

-I think foreign people are always eager to try local and exotic foods. Tourists and foreigners eat our local and traditional foods in my country.

 

  1. On what occasions do you eat special foods?

-No, not very much. Aside from being unhealthy, I am not fond of salty foods.

 

 

 


Part 2

Talk about your favorite food. You should say:

    • what the food is
    • what it is made of
    • why you like it

and explain why it is your favorite food

There are a lot of foods I like. It is quite difficult to think of one. So, let me talk about a popular menu in my country which is one of my favorite foods also. It is steamed/plain rice and chicken adobo. “Adobo” is the local name. Adobo can be beef, pork, chicken, fish or even vegetables but I like the chicken adobo particularly.

I will talk about how I cook my very own chicken adobo. A small amount of oil is placed in a heated pan. Then, sauté (fried quickly in a little hot fat) garlic until it turns golden brown. Add in onions. Add the chicken and sauté until it turns a little brown. Pour in about 2 cups of water and let it boil. After about 30 minutes, add about 2 spoonful of sugar, whole peppercorns and let it simmer. Then add about one fourth cup of so sauce and let it boil for about 5 minutes. Then it is done and ready to be served. You may also add some vegetables like potatoes or fruits like banana or pineapple.
I like it because it is easy to prepare and it is very delicious. I am not quite sure about its nutritional benefits but I am sure that we can get some nutrients in it too, especially if vegetables are added.
This recipe is common in my country and I eat it about three to four times a week. I like it because it does not require much effort to prepare and it is also not expensive.

 

Part 3

  1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country (What foods are popular in your country?

In my country, the Philippines, rice is a staple food. We eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rice comes with different kinds of viand (piece of food, or a tasty dish) such as pork, beef or chicken cooked with vegetables or fruits and other ingredients. Since my country is located in the tropics, tropical fruits are also popular here especially mangoes. They say that the best mangoes can be found in the Philippines. We also like to eat bread for breakfast or for snacks.

  1. How are the eating habits now in your country different from eating habits in the past?

 

I think people’s eating habits have changed in the past years. Nowadays, there are already a lot of fast food restaurants. Processed foods have become popular as well. I think people these days don’t eat as much healthy foods compared in the past. Also, I think people in the past are more concerned of eating at the right time. However, nowadays, people tend to skip meals because of several reasons such as dieting, busy schedules and etc.

 

  1. How healthy is your country’s food?

 

It is the choice of the people whether to eat healthy or unhealthy food. In my country, there are many choices of healthy food especially vegetables and fruits. However, I don’t think that people eat much healthy foods nowadays because of the presence of fast food and processed foods. Also, many dishes in my country is usually greasy and salty which I think are not very healthy.

 

 

Key vocabulary: Definitions and examples

 


 WORD

 

DEFINITION

 

EXAMPLE


 

dinner

the meal itself, usually eaten at midday or in the evening (typically the largest meal of the day)

 

Sometimes my older sister cooks for dinner.

 

lunch

a meal, usually eaten around the middle of the day (12 – 2pm) and usually not as large or heavy as the evening meal

 

I can say, lunch is my main meal.

 

breakfast

he first meal you have in the morning

 

Breakfast consisted of fresh fruit , yoghurt , home-cooked bread and croissants as well as jams.

 

exotic foods

food from faraway place or striking and unusual in appearance or taste

 

I think foreign people are always eager to try local and exotic foods.

 

staple food

a basic food or product that people eat or use regularly

 

In my country, the Philippines, rice is a staple food.

 

favorite food

preferred to all other

 

Let me talk about a popular menu in my country which is one of my favorite foods also.

 

plain

simply cooked

 

I’d love a nice cup of tea, with a plain biscuit.

 

 

beef

meat from a cow

 

Cut the beef , which must be absolutely free of all fat and gristle.

 

pork

meat from a pig

 

Jews and Muslims do not eat pork.

 

chicken

a domestic fowl (bird) kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one

 

Most of us think we’re familiar with the sounds of the domestic chicken.

 

fish

a limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins and living wholly in water

 

I just had to catch a fish.

 

vegetables

a plant or plant part eaten as food

 

Consider growing your own vegetables – many varieties can be grown in small gardens

 

pan

a container made of metal and used for cooking food in

 

Heat the butter in the same pan, when it has melted add the sugar and leave on heat.

 

onions

an edible bulb (vegetable) with a pungent taste and smell, composed of several concentric layers, used in cooking

 

Place the steaks in a shallow dish with the sliced onion, garlic and red wine.

 

to pour

to cause (a liquid) to flow somewhere from a container

 

Pour the mixture into the two flan dishes.

 

spoon

a utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl at the end of a handle

 

There were three silver spoons placed in a row on the table.

 

to simmer

to cook something slowly, near boiling point

 

After about 30 minutes, add about 2 spoonful of sugar, whole peppercorns and let it simmer.

 

nutritional benefits

an advantage gained from substances that are essential for good health and growth

 

I am not quite sure about its nutritional benefits.

 

doesn’t take long

does not require mush time

 

It doesn’t take long for me to do cook breakfast for myself.

 

roasted vegetables

vegetables (such as potatoes, cabbages, carrots etc ) cooked by prolonged exposure to heat in an oven or over a fire

 

Follow the recipe to make perfect roasted vegetable.

 

balanced portion

an amount arranged in good proportions

 

Every pack is a perfectly balanced portion.

 

canned beans

beans preserved or supplied in a sealed can

 

Canned beans cost about two times more than dried beans.

 

easy to store

easy to collect and put sth somewhere

 

Root crops are pretty easy to store.

 

cereals

breakfast food made from roasted grain, typically eaten with milk

 

I sit down in the armchair and eat my cereals.

 

seasonings

salt, pepper or spices added to food

 

The Brazilian people use a variety of seasonings in their cooking and have many regional signature dishes.

 

sugar

crystalline substances used as a sweetener in food and drink

 

Jam is made from fruit and sugar.

 

fats

a natural oily or greasy substance occurring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs

 

Research now shows that eating enough fat is also important.

 

proteins

proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s cells (sources: beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds)

 

high protein diets, with low vegetable intake, contribute to osteoporosis

 

carbohydrates

provide body with energy (potatoes, grains, cakes and cookies)

 

Be careful not to accompany your chosen carbohydrate with large quantities of fat

 

nutrient

a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life

 

Fish is a source of many important nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals.

 

to get obese

to become grossly fat or overweight

 

People tend to get obese as they get older.

 

health awareness

knowledge or perception of how to maintain the state of being free from illness or injury

 

The global organic food and beverage market has witnessed growth in recent times due to increasing consumer health awareness.

 

prone to addiction

likely to or liable to suffer from condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity

 

You may be prone to addiction to foods with excess sugar.

 

feeling of being full

not wanting to eat any more because you have eaten a lot

 

I have noticed lately though that I enjoy the feeling of being full.

 

high amounts

large quantity of something

 

High amounts of salt are still lurking in everyday foods.

 

addicting effect

a change resulting in being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity

 

Some research suggests sugar may have an addicting effect on the brain

 

to contain additives

to have or hold substance added to something in small quantities, typically to improve or preserve it

 

Low-fat mayonnaise generally contains additives to compensate for the lack of flavor.

 

to resist temptation

to withstand a desire to do something

 

It can be helpful to know the different ways to resist temptation when it comes to food.

 

snack

a small amount of food eaten between meals

 

Buy pre-cut fresh , crunchy vegetables for a quick snack.

 

health consciousness

being aware of how to maintain the state of being free from illness or injury

 

Researchers say global diets are changing to incorporate more plant.”That’s resulting in an increased focus on health consciousness in diet”.

 

to gain a lot of weight

to get obese [fat]

 

It’s not possible to gain a lot of weight over the course of one night.



delicious/tasty

having a good taste

 

Her recipes are gluten, dairy and sugar free and yet are deliciously tasty .



enjoy food

derive pleasure from the act of eating food

 

Research shows that people who enjoy food more eat less because they feel satisfied


delicacy

something that is good to eat

 

The French were the first to consider geese a culinary delicacy.


diet

range of food that is usually eaten

 

Undeniably, fresh fruit is an important part of our diet.


organic food

food that is produced without using harmful chemicals

 

Organic food is much too expensive.


vegetarian food

food that does not contain meat

 

I’m a strict vegetarian right from my birth and I don’t even know the taste of non vegetarian food.


processed food

food that has chemicals in it to make it last a long time

 

The term ‘processed food‘ applies to any food that has been altered from its natural state


junk food

food that is full of sugar or fat, and is bad for your health

 

The less junk food you eat, the less you want


fast food

food such as hamburgers, which is prepared quickly and which you can take away with you to eat

 

For one month, I ate nothing but fast food.


 

Word Formation

 


WORD

PART OF SPEECH

EXAMPLE

 

to digest

verb

We always use a probiotic which helps it digest food properly.

digestive

adjective

Maintaining digestive system health is essential, as it turns foods into nourishment.

 

digestion

noun

There are two main types of protease enzymes involved in human digestion.


nutrient

noun

Fish is a source of many important nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals.

nutritious

adjective

Organic growers deliver safe, nutritious food whilst preserving the environment for future generations.

nutrition

noun

Nutrition and exercise are essential to fitness and health.


fat

noun

Research now shows that eating enough fat is also important.

 

 

fatty

adjective

Eating fatty meat increases your chances of having a heart attack or developing cancer.


to taste 

verb

I notice I can now smell and taste chemical additives in some foods in a rather unpleasant manner.

 

taste

noun

Smell and taste must be employed to help you judge what you’re buying

tasty

adjective

Her recipes are gluten, dairy and sugar free and yet are deliciously tasty


diet 

noun

Undeniably, fresh fruit is an important part of our diet.

 

 

dietary

adjective

Only in more recent years have our dietary habits changed

to diet

verb

Most people who actively diet usually end up piling weight back on.

 


Collocations

 


good

delicious

tasty

fresh

healthy

nutritious

plain

spicy

salty

exotic

fatty

adverb+

food

 

consume

eat

have

enjoy

like

be off

go off

avoid

cut down on

cut out

offer

verb+

food

 

balanced

good

healthy

sensible

adequate

bad

poor

unhealthy

staple

adjective+

diet

 

eat

have

live on

survive on

verb+

diet

 

strict

slimming

weight-loss

weight-reducing

low-calorie

restricted

special

gluten-free

high/low-fibre

high/low-protein

low-fat

salt-free

adjective+

diet

 

good

perfect

sure

delicious

tasty

favourite

basic

easy

simple

complicated

classic

old

original

traditional

secret

special

vegetarian

adjective

recipe

 

 

cook

make

read

follow

stick to

use

discover

find

verb+

recipe

 

green

leafy

root

salad

cooked

raw

fresh

frozen

tinned

organic

early

seasonal

spring

summer

adjective+

vegetable

 

eat

have

boil

cook

overcook

steam

stir-fry

chop

peel

verb+

vegetable

 

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