Speaking Follow-Up Questions: Describe a special meal you have had
Question: Describe what you think is a healthy diet.
A healthy diet is one which has the proper balance of micro and macronutrients. Macronutrients are proteins carbohydrates and fats, whereas micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.
Question: Are there many vegetarians in India?
Yes, there are many vegetarians in India.
Question: Why do you think some people choose to be vegetarians?
Some people choose to be vegetarians because they realize the importance of vegetarian food. Some people are vegetarians on religious grounds.
Question: Is the food that people eat today in India different to the food that people used to eat in the past? (If yes, in what ways has it changed?)
Yes, today, people eat a lot of fast food. Earlier, they ate only traditional food.
Question: How do you think the way we eat will change in the future?
No one can tell what the future holds in store for us, but as far as I can see, I feel that ready-to-eat food will become more popular. Eating out in restaurants will also become more popular.
Question: Is American-style ‘fast food‘ popular in India? (Why? Popular with whom?)
Yes, fast food is very popular especially among the youngsters.
Question: What do you think of this popularity – is it a good thing?
I think this popularity is not a very good thing. Fast food is very rich in fats and salts, which is the leading cause of obesity among youngsters.
Question: More and more people are becoming overweight nowadays. What do you think might be the causes of this?
There are two main reasons for obesity. One is a sedentary lifestyle, and the other is the fast food culture.
Question: Do meals have any special meanings in your culture?
Yes, meals are very significant in my culture. People give special importance to the family meal in which all family members sit together and eat. The lady of the house serves the meal with great warmth. This is also the time for the family to talk about the day’s happenings with each other.
Question: Do meals change from one region to another in your country?
India is a diverse country. There is diversity in meals also. North Indian and South Indian meals are poles apart. In North India, the staple diet is wheat, whereas in South India, it is rice.
Question: Do you think eating habits have changed? In what ways?
Eating habits have changed in many ways. Earlier, people used to sit together and share all the meals of the day. Now, breakfast is very hurried, and lunch is also taken at the workplace. Earlier traditional foods were preferred, but now fast food culture is very popular. Ready-to-eat foods are also available, and people don’t cook like they did in earlier times.
Some positive changes can also be seen. People are turning to organic foods, which are much healthier as they don’t have any fertilizers, insecticides, or pesticides. People have also become more aware of their health and are using low-cholesterol oils and fewer salts in their diets.
Question: Do you think what we eat is healthy?
It is hard togive answer. Home-cooked food is definitely healthier as we use the best oils and fewer salts. Fast foods are not good for health. Therefore, not everything we eat nowadays is healthy.
Question: Do you think that governments should control food production?
Yes, the governments should do so ideally. However, it is very difficult for the governments to do so because most farmers would like to grow cash crops.
The governments can give special aid to those farmers who grow crops suggested by the government.
Question: Is eating healthy important?
Yes, healthy eating is very important because most of the diseases today are caused by unhealthy diets. Obesity is a very common problem nowadays. It is the root cause of many other problems. Healthy eating means good quality food and also hygienic food. We should eat less fat and we should avoid junk food which is rich in fats.
Question: How do we get the message about healthy eating out to the community?
We can get the message about healthy eating out to the community through media such as the TV, Internet and newspapers.
