Lesson 7  Eating

My mother radically changed her eating habits a few years ago. In the past, she ate a lot of junk food (food that is not nutritious/healthy) and was overweight. Sometimes she would try to go on a diet (eat less food and healthier food), but it would never last. But now she understands how unhealthy  processed foods are – they’re full of food additives (chemicals added to food) that contribute to weight gain and heart problems.

Nowadays, she eats a balanced diet including a lot of nourishing meals (meals that are healthy and nutritious) that she prepares herself. She doesn’t buy organic food because she thinks the prices are outrageous (really expensive), but she stocks up on fresh produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) so that she can grab an apple or some veggies when she wants a quick snack (something small and fast to eat). She has also learned to eat in moderation ( enough for body) and watch her portion sizes (how much food you take).

I often stop by her house when I’m in the mood for a home-cooked meal. The other day she made a hearty stew (a thick soup with lots of flavors and ingredients) that was full of beans and vegetables. My brother, who has a healthy appetite (the capacity to eat a lot), had a second helping (a second  portion)

– but I found the stew so filling that I could barely finish my bowl.

My mother recently told me that she’d like to try some international cuisine. I was surprised to hear that, because a few years ago she had a bad experience after getting food poisoning (when you get sick because of contaminated food) at a Japanese restaurant. So tomorrow I’m taking her to a Brazilian steakhouse. I told her to eat light meals (small meals) during the day so that she doesn’t spoil  her appetite for dinner (“spoiling your appetite” means eating food earlier, and then not being hungry for a meal later)

Lesson 7 Eating
Quiz

Complete the sentences with the following words.

cuisine / diet / fresh / helping / junk / moderation / nourishing / poisoning / processed / snack

1. During the summer, our kids eat a lot of food – popcorn, candy, ice cream, cookies, etc.

2. He got food after eating some seafood from a street vendor.

3. I buy produce at the farmer’s market.

4. I drink in ; I don’t like getting drunk.

5. I’m not a huge fan of Mexican . It’s too spicy for me.

6. I’ve lost ten pounds so far while on this new .

7. Spinach is one of the most vegetables – it’s full of vitamins and minerals.

8. That lasagna is delicious; I think I’ll have another .

9. The food at this restaurant is all natural – they don’t use any type of food.

10. We stopped driving to grab a quick at a roadside cafe.