Simran from Shimla described changing eating habits in her Part 3 practice. She repeated “fast food” and “healthy food” and had nothing else to say.

Learn IELTS food and diet vocabulary as phrases with their usual partners, not as single words. The 15 phrases below sit in two groups, with three Task 2 questions and three Part 3 questions to practise on.

Fast, Convenience or Processed: What Is the Difference?

Oxford Learner’s and Longman define fast food as hot food prepared and served quickly. Convenience food is food you can prepare very quickly and easily, and processed food has substances added before it is sold. The three overlap, so choose the one that fits your point.

Home-cooked meals, tiffins, street food, food delivery apps and vegetarian diets give you everyday examples.

Food Words: Eating Habits

Word or phrase Meaning Example
processed food Food that has substances added to it before it is sold. Processed food may contain added sugar, salt or preservatives.
fast food Hot food, such as burgers, that is prepared and served quickly. Fast food is quick and cheap, but can be high in fat.
home-cooked meals Meals that are prepared and cooked at home. Home-cooked meals let you control what goes into your food.
eating habits The kinds of food you usually eat and when you eat them. Long working hours can change a family’s eating habits.
portion size The amount of food that is served to one person. Reducing portion size is one way to eat less.
sugar intake The amount of sugar that a person eats or drinks. Parents can monitor their children’s sugar intake.
convenience food Food that you can prepare and cook very quickly and easily. Busy families may rely on convenience food during the week.
street food Food cooked and sold in the street, to be eaten at once. Street food is cheap and quick, but hygiene can vary.

Diet Words: Food and Society

Word or phrase Meaning Example
balanced diet A diet with the right kinds and amounts of food. Children need a balanced diet to grow and stay healthy.
nutritious Containing substances that help the body to grow and stay healthy. A school lunch should be tasty and nutritious.
vegetarian Not eating meat or fish (also a noun for such a person). My cousin is vegetarian, so she avoids meat and fish.
organic produce Fruit and vegetables grown without artificial chemicals. Some shoppers pay extra for organic produce.
local produce Food that is grown in the area where it is sold. Farmers’ markets sell local produce directly to customers.
food waste Food that is thrown away instead of being eaten. Households and restaurants can reduce food waste by planning meals.
food security Reliable access to enough healthy food that you can afford. Poor harvests can threaten a country’s food security.

How to Avoid Vocabulary Mistakes

Incorrect: “Supermarkets now stock many organic produces.”

Correct: “Supermarkets now stock a wide range of organic produce.”

Longman lists produce as uncountable, with organic produce as an example.

Incorrect: “Pulses and whole grains are very nutrition.”

Correct: “Pulses and whole grains are very nutritious.”

Nutritious is the adjective; nutrition is the noun.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Food and Diet Practice Questions

Give yourself five minutes to plan each answer, which is our advice, not an IELTS rule. Then write it using at least four phrases from the tables.

Practice question 1 (written for this post)

Some people believe that unhealthy food and drinks should be taxed more heavily to encourage healthier eating. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

  • A tax can make sugary drinks and snacks more expensive and may cut sugar intake.
  • The money raised could pay for public health campaigns.
  • Taxes may hit low-income families hardest if they buy cheaper convenience food.
  • Education and clear labels might change habits without extra taxes.

Practice question 2 (written for this post)

Some people now eat fast food more often than home-cooked meals. Why is this, and is it a positive or negative development?

  • Busy schedules and delivery apps make fast food quick and easy.
  • Fast food can be high in fat, salt and sugar.
  • It can save time for working parents and create jobs.
  • Families may share fewer meals together.

Practice question 3 (written for this post)

A lot of edible food is thrown away by households, shops and restaurants. What problems does this cause, and what can be done about them?

  • Wasted food means the water, energy and labour used to grow it are wasted too.
  • Throwing away food while some people go hungry raises questions about fairness.
  • Shops and restaurants could donate unsold food to charities.
  • Households can plan meals and store food properly.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Food and Diet Questions and Sample Answers

Part 3 is a discussion of general, abstract issues linked to your Part 2 topic, so practise extended answers on abstract topics and language for giving reasons.

How have eating habits changed in your country?

Sample answer (illustrative Band 7)

I think busy lives have changed our eating habits. Families used to cook at home more, but now people in cities often order fast food or buy convenience food. At the same time, more people are interested in organic produce and a balanced diet.

Is home cooking disappearing?

Sample answer (illustrative Band 7)

I wouldn’t say it’s disappearing, but younger people may cook less than their parents did. Some live alone in cities and find convenience food cheaper and quicker. But at weekends and festivals, many families still enjoy home-cooked meals together.

Should schools teach cooking?

Sample answer (illustrative Band 7)

Yes, I think so. If pupils learn to cook simple, nutritious meals, they can understand portion size and sugar intake better. It might also make them rely less on processed food when they start living on their own.

Tip

Sort this week’s meals into home-cooked, street food, convenience food and fast food, then describe one aloud.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn food phrases with their usual partners, not as single words.
  • Produce is uncountable; nutritious is the adjective, nutrition the noun.
  • Keep fast food, convenience food and processed food apart.

The bottom line: Replace “healthy food” and “fast food” with a more exact phrase, such as balanced diet or convenience food, and say why.