Speaking vocabulary
Food and cooking
Use these expressions to speak more precisely about food and cooking. Learn the meaning from context, then make your own example rather than memorising a complete answer.
Original practice material · Draft: editorial review pending
home-cooked meals
- Meaning: meals prepared at home.
- Example: I enjoy home-cooked meals because I can choose the ingredients.
- Context: food and cooking. Use the phrase to describe.
- Use “home-cooked meals” naturally in one sentence about food and cooking.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
balanced diet
- Meaning: a varied way of eating that meets nutritional needs.
- Example: I try to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods.
- Context: food and cooking. Use the phrase to explain.
- Use “balanced diet” naturally in one sentence about food and cooking.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
fresh ingredients
- Meaning: food items that are recently produced or prepared.
- Example: Fresh ingredients make this simple soup taste good.
- Context: food and cooking. Use the phrase to compare.
- Use “fresh ingredients” naturally in one sentence about food and cooking.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
prepare meals in advance
- Meaning: make food before the time when it will be eaten.
- Example: We prepare meals in advance when the week will be busy.
- Context: food and cooking. Use the phrase to give an example.
- Use “prepare meals in advance” naturally in one sentence about food and cooking.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
an acquired taste
- Meaning: something you learn to enjoy after trying it several times.
- Example: Strong black coffee was an acquired taste for me.
- Context: food and cooking. Use the phrase to qualify an opinion.
- Use “an acquired taste” naturally in one sentence about food and cooking.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
eat in moderation
- Meaning: eat without having excessive amounts.
- Example: I enjoy sweets but try to eat them in moderation.
- Context: food and cooking. Use the phrase to discuss effects.
- Use “eat in moderation” naturally in one sentence about food and cooking.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
Practise your answer
Use the existing speaking practice tools, or type instead. This is practice feedback, not an IELTS band score.
up to 45 seconds practice.