Food Groups
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Fruit | apple, banana, strawberry, mango, grape, peach, pear |
| Vegetables | carrot, broccoli, spinach, onion, potato, tomato, pepper |
| Grain / Carbohydrates | bread, pasta, rice, oats, cereal |
| Protein | chicken, beef, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu |
| Dairy | milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, cream |
| Fats / Oils | olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado |
| Sweets | chocolate, cake, biscuits, ice cream, sweets/candy |
Describing Flavours and Textures
| Word | Meaning / Example food |
|---|---|
| sweet | sugar, chocolate, honey |
| salty | crisps, pretzels, soy sauce |
| sour | lemon, vinegar, yoghurt |
| bitter | dark chocolate, coffee |
| savoury | cheese, meat, herbs |
| spicy | chilli, pepper, curry |
| bland | plain rice, unseasoned food |
| crunchy | crisps, raw carrots |
| creamy | ice cream, mashed potato |
| chewy | gum, toffee, steak |
| tender | well-cooked meat |
Cooking Methods
| Method | What happens |
|---|---|
| boil | cook in boiling water |
| fry | cook in hot oil |
| bake | cook in the oven (dry heat) |
| roast | cook in oven, often meat/vegetables |
| grill | cook over or under direct heat |
| steam | cook with steam from boiling water |
| stir-fry | fry quickly in a little oil, stirring |
| simmer | cook gently in liquid (just below boil) |
Meals of the Day
| Meal | Timing | Typical foods |
|---|---|---|
| breakfast | morning | cereal, toast, eggs, fruit |
| lunch | midday | sandwich, salad, soup |
| dinner / supper | evening | main course, vegetables, dessert |
| snack | any time | fruit, biscuits, crisps |
Real world: reading a restaurant menu
"Pan-seared salmon fillet with a creamy lemon sauce, served with steamed seasonal vegetables and a side of fluffy mashed potato." Understanding words like pan-seared (fried briefly in a very hot pan), steamed, creamy, and fluffy is essential for ordering confidently in a restaurant or understanding a menu in English.
Real world: following a recipe
"Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and simmer for 10–12 minutes until tender but not overcooked. Meanwhile, fry the onions and garlic until golden. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and let the sauce simmer for 15 minutes." Cooking instructions are full of technical food vocabulary. Understanding cooking method verbs (boil, simmer, fry, stir in) is a practical life skill.
Real world: describing a meal to a friend
"I had this amazing Thai curry last night — it was slightly spicy but not too hot, with tender chicken, creamy coconut milk, and a savoury, fragrant broth. We had it with steamed jasmine rice." Using precise flavour and texture vocabulary makes food descriptions vivid and helps communicate preferences clearly — in everyday conversation, travel, and writing.
Practice Problems
Describe your favourite meal using at least four vocabulary words from this lesson.
Show answer
What is the difference between 'frying' and 'baking'?