Do You Eat the Right Food?
What do we mean by a well-balanced diet? This is a diet that contains daily servings from each of the basic food groups: meat, vegetable and fruit, milk, bread and cereals. There’s no doubt that food tastes and preferences are established early in life. No one is born a “sugar freak” or a salt craver. An incredible statistic is that between 30 and 50% of all the calories eaten each day are consumed in the form of between-meal snacks. Unfortunately, the usual between-meal foods are low in nutritive value and too high in calories and refined sugar. Some excellent snacks that should always be available are plain yogurt, carrots, pieces of apple, cheese and natural fruit juice. Eating yogurt as a snack food is far healthier and more nutritionally sound than eating so-called “junk” foods, which are less nutritious and too high in sugar and calories. Salted peanuts seem to be the least popular snack today.
People who diet know that if they stick to a low-fat, high-fibre intake they will be able to eat well without putting on weight. Instead of going on crash diets they are learning to educate their stomachs by eating sensible food. They can still enjoy chocolates and cream cakes once a week or so, but they know they have to cut down their intake slightly the next day.
Research is indicating that “we are what we eat.” Recent work shows that Italians, who tend to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables that contain vitamins C and E, have low levels of heart attacks. The Scots however, tend to have a diet that is high in animal fat and low in fibre. Heart disease is a widespread problem in Scotland.
In the following dialogue examine some unfinished pieces of argumentation and select among of the given arguments the one that can be added in full accordance with the speaker’s viewpoint.
1)A:I’m awfully thirsty.
B:Would you like a glass of orange juice?
A:Thanks, I’d love one. I like orange juice very much.
B:And I prefer apple juice.
C:Tastes differ. …
a) You know, but some of juices are very dangerous for people’s life. They can provoke heart disease.
b) All juices are good for health: tomato, apple, apricot and, of course, pine apple juice. All of them contain many vitamins.
c) I don’t drink juices at all. I think they are not useful.
2)A:What shall we have?
B:The three-course meal, I suppose.
A:Well, you choose.
B:Let’s start with smoked herring.
A:But I prefer to start with vegetables. …
a) I’m on a slimming diet. It allows me a little boiled meat or fish, a few hard-boiled eggs, some cheese and a lot of vegetables: lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers; and a lot of fruits. No cakes, no chocolate and very little salt.
b) I’m vegetarian. I need a lot of vegetables: lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes and cucumbers. Vegetables are an essential part of my diet as they contain a lot of nutrients. And then, for the main course I’ll take grilled chicken.
c) And for the main course I’d like good pork. It contains a lot of fat. It is good for my figure.
3) A:How many meals a day do you usually have?
B:I have four meals a day: a light breakfast, lunch, dinner – the heaviest meal, and supper.
A:As for me I have only three meals a day: breakfast, just a snack during my working day and supper, which is the most substantial meal of my day.
B:I think it’s not very healthy. …
a) I think that substantial supper in the late evening means slimming for you.
b) After heavy supper you always have sweet dreams.
c) Go to bed with full stomach is harmful for our organism.
4) A:Have you ever tasted Mexican dishes?
B:I’ve never been to Mexico. What do youthink of spicy food?
A:I avoid it. …
a) Spicy food reduces the appetite.
b) I prefer everything natural. Not every person can stand spicy food.
c) It is the favourite food of children.
5)A:Are you vegetarian?
B:I think none of us is vegetarian. I must confess I like good food, the occasional beer, cheerful people, theatres and a lovely music.
A:Is it your keep-fit programme?
B:Yes, it is. My motto is …
a) “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
b) “After dinner sleep a while, after supper walk a mile.”
c) “Eat at pleasure, drink with measure and enjoy life as it is.”
The illustrations, names and nationalities for four dishes have been mixed. Which name goes with each of those dishes? And which photo illustrates each dish? Characterize each of these dishes using the box given below.
| Pizza | ||||
| Cheeseburger | ||||
| Draniki | ||||
| Porridge |
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C. 
D.
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B.
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A. a. English b. Italian c. Belarusian d. American
| high/ low quality; fat; tasty; (un)healthy; to be high in calories; low in vital nutrients; bitter; spicy |
14. Work in pairs. You want to go to the restaurant with your friend tonight. You are to book a table at the restaurant. Continue the dialogue between you (A) and the restaurant’s manager (M) according to the logical scheme offered below. The given table will help you.
A:Greeting.
M:Greeting. Offering to do something.
A:Asking for information.
M:Regretting.
A:Asking for new information.
M:Agreeing. Asking the time.
A:Replying.
M:Suggesting.
A:Agreeing.
M:Asking the name.
A:Certainly. My name is … .
M:And your phone number, please?
A:The number is … .
M:I’ve got your order, Mr. … . That’s a table for two for tomorrow, at seven o’clock.
A:Thank you.
| May I help you? Can I help … ? Could I … ? Can I … , please? May I … ? I’m sorry … I think you’ve phoned too late … | What about … I’d like to know, (please) about … I suggest … I’d like to suggest … May I suggest … That’s quite right. Could you tell me … |
15. Work in pairs. You are at the restaurant. Look through the menu and continue the dialogue between you (A) and a waiter (W) according to the logical scheme offered below. The given table will help you.
| MENU | |
| Starters Tomato soup Chicken broth Vegetable soup Mushrooms in cheese sauce Vegetables French fried potatoes French beans Tomatoes Peas Mushrooms Main Course Roast beef Grilled chicken Roast chicken with special stuffing Veal escalope Lamb chop Roast lamb | Desserts Apple pie and cream Fruit salad Cheese and biscuits Strawberries and cream Ice cream Drinks Orange juice Wine (red, white) Coke Coffee Tea |
W:Good afternoon, sir. Do you have a reservation?
A:Yes, the name is … . I booked a table by telephone.
W:Would you like this table by the window?
A:Thanking.
W: Offering menu.
A: Asking for advise.
W: Offering starters.
A: Making a choice.
W:Suggesting the meat course.
A: Making a choice.
W: Suggesting vegetables.
A: Making a choice. Asking for dessert.
W: Asking about likes.
A:Expressing likes. Making a choice of drinks.
W: Approving.
| Fine, thank you. Thank you very much. Here is … . What would you advise? What do you recommend? Do you think I should …? I’d like … You could … How about … ? I propose … May I suggest … , then? Would you like … ? Won’t you have … ? Can I offer you … ? What about … Do you like … ? I like … That’s fine. That’s all right. |
16. Work in groups. Look at the photos. Think of what each place looks like, what type and quality of food is served in these restaurants, what kind of service you would expect, and what prices they charge. Continue each piece by adding a few sentences using the word combinations from the box given below.
A.
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B.
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| to be not very healthy; not to wait for a waiter; to be of very high quality; few/a lot of items on the menu; to be popular; to be very quick; to stay and talk with friends; friendly and quick service; polite but slow; to dance |
Many people have supper at home, but some of them like to go to the restaurant or visit their friends. Ask your partner where he/she prefers to have supper. Let him/her explain why he/she does so. Use the following formulas from the table.
1. I like to go to the restaurant.
2. I prefer home-made dishes.
3. I’m fond of visiting my friends and having supper with them.
| I think; However; In spite of the fact that; Moreover; I believe; In my opinion; As a matter of fact; As for me |