Here are the most common vocabulary relating to the topic ‘Food’. These words are collected from different sources and can be used in both productive sections of IELTS. They can also help you better understand the Reading section of the test.
- takeaway (noun) – a meal cooked and bought at a shop or restaurant but taken somewhere else, often home, to be eaten, or the shop or restaurant itself.
– We were too tired to cook so we ordered takeaway.
– We decided to get a takeaway. - famine (noun) – a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens.
– Another crop failure could result in widespread famine.
– There were reports of refugees dying of famine. - undernourishment (noun) – the condition of not eating enough food to continue to be in good health.
– Chronic undernourishment, poor hygiene and the harsh weather threatened the lives of everyone.
– Maternal undernourishment can result in fetal growth retardation and underweight babies. - staple (adj) – basic or main; standard or regular.
– The staple diet here is mutton, fish and boiled potatoes.
– Prices of staple foods such as wheat and vegetables have also been increasing. - ready-made (adj) – bought in a finished form and available to use or eat immediately.
– Their range of quality ready-made meals has improved substantially.
– I didn’t sew the curtains – they came ready-made. - scarce (adj) – not easy to find or get.
– Food and clean water were becoming scarce.
– In wartime, food is often scarce. - nourishing (adj) – food that is nourishing makes you strong and healthy.
– A simple chicken soup is both nourishing and delicious.
– And you can use these more unusual varieties to cook up some tasty and nourishing dishes. - organic (noun) – not using artificial chemicals in the growing of plants and animals for food and other products.
– Cheap organic food is still difficult to come by.
– Supermarkets have recognized the increasing popularity of organic food.
– The restaurant only uses organic ingredients.
– Sales of organic food have increased dramatically in recent years. - additive (noun) – a substance that is added to food in order to improve its taste or appearance or to keep it fresh and stop it from decaying.
– This margarine is full of additives – just look at the label!
– Additives keep certain foods fresh. - craving (noun) – a strong feeling of wanting something.
– I have a craving for chocolate.
– Parents should try to control their kid’s cravings for fat-laden junk food. - cuisine (noun) – a particular style of cooking
– Venetian cuisine is based on seafood and rice.
– In an ideal world, most people would prefer gourmet cuisine, but it is costly and difficult to prepare.
– Cleveland is noted in the world of haute cuisine. - convenience food (noun) – food that is partly or completely prepared already and that is sold frozen or in cans, packages etc, so that it can be prepared quickly and easily.
– We eat too little fresh food, relying instead on convenience foods.
– Convenience foods let you spend more quality time with your family. - malnutrition (noun) – physical weakness and bad health caused by having too little food, or too little of the types of food necessary for good health.
– Many of the refugees are suffering from severe malnutrition.
– Many of the children showed signs of malnutrition. - intake (noun) – the amount of a particular substance that is eaten or drunk during a particular time.
– It says on the packet that four slices of this bread contains one half of your recommended daily intake of fibre.
– Try to reduce your intake of fat. - dairy products/produce (noun) – milk, butter, cheese and etc.
– I’m trying to cut down on dairy products, which is difficult because I adore cheese.
– The shop doesn’t stock much dairy produce – only fresh milk, actually. - well-balanced diet (meal) – a well-balanced meal or diet contains all the different things you need to keep you healthy
– Protect your teeth and gums by eating a well-balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly.
