What are Meals? Basic English Food Words

Hello! Welcome to our English lesson about food and cooking. Today, we will learn some very important words to talk about the food we eat every day. These are basic English vocabulary words, perfect for beginners (A1 level).

We eat meals every day. Meals are times when we eat food. Let’s learn the names of the main meals:

• Breakfast: This is the first meal of the day. We eat breakfast in the morning. For example, you might eat cereal or toast for breakfast.
• Lunch: This is the meal we eat in the middle of the day. We usually eat lunch between 12 pm and 2 pm. Maybe you eat a sandwich or soup for lunch.
• Dinner: This is the last main meal of the day. We eat dinner in the evening. Dinner is often the biggest meal. You might eat pasta or rice with vegetables for dinner.

Sometimes, we also have snacks between meals. Snacks are small amounts of food we eat when we are a little hungry. An apple or some crackers can be a snack.

Knowing these meal names is very useful in English. People often ask, “What did you have for breakfast/lunch/dinner?”

Basic Cooking Words: English Vocabulary for Cooking

Now, let’s learn some words about cooking. Cooking words are verbs that describe what we do to food to prepare meals. These are very common English words for food preparation.

• Cook: This is a general word for preparing food using heat. We cook food to make it ready to eat. Example: “I cook dinner every evening.”
• Boil: To cook something in hot water. Example: “We boil eggs for breakfast.”
• Fry: To cook food in hot oil or fat. Example: “Let’s fry some potatoes.”
• Bake: To cook food in an oven with dry heat. Example: “I like to bake cookies.”
• Grill: To cook food over direct heat, often on a barbecue. Example: “We will grill chicken for dinner.”
• Roast: To cook food in an oven or over a fire, often meat or vegetables. Example: “We are roasting a chicken for Sunday lunch.”
• Chop: To cut food into small pieces with a knife. Example: “Please chop the onions.”
• Slice: To cut food into thin, flat pieces. Example: “Slice the bread, please.”
• Peel: To remove the outer skin of fruits or vegetables. Example: “Peel the potatoes before you boil them.”
• Wash: To clean food with water. Example: “Remember to wash the vegetables before you cook them.”
• Mix: To combine ingredients together. Example: “Mix the flour and eggs in a bowl.”
• Stir: To mix food with a spoon or other utensil in a circular motion. Example: “Stir the soup while it’s heating.”
• Add: To put something into food. Example: “Add some salt to the soup.”
• Eat: To put food in your mouth and swallow it. Example: “Let’s eat dinner now.”
• Drink: To swallow liquid. Example: “I want to drink some water.”
• Serve: To give food to someone to eat. Example: “I will serve dinner in five minutes.”

These are just some basic cooking verbs. Learning these words will help you understand and talk about cooking and meals in English. This is great for improving English vocabulary and spoken English practice!

Let’s Practice! Food and Cooking Vocabulary Exercises

Now, let’s practice what you have learned! Complete the sentences below using the correct word from the box. Choose from: breakfast, lunch, dinner, cook, boil, fry, bake, chop, wash, eat, drink.

1. I always _________ my vegetables before I _________ them.
2. We _________ eggs in hot water to make hard-boiled eggs.
3. For _________, I usually have toast and coffee.
4. Can you _________ the onions for the soup, please?
5. We _________ pizza in the oven.
6. What are you going to _________ for _________ tonight?
7. I am thirsty. I need to _________ some water.
8. Many people _________ sandwiches for _________.
9. Don’t forget to _________ your hands before you _________.
10. They like to _________ potatoes in oil.

Answers to Practice

1. I always wash my vegetables before I cook them.
2. We boil eggs in hot water to make hard-boiled eggs.
3. For breakfast, I usually have toast and coffee.
4. Can you chop the onions for the soup, please?
5. We bake pizza in the oven.
6. What are you going to cook for dinner tonight?
7. I am thirsty. I need to drink some water.
8. Many people eat sandwiches for lunch.
9. Don’t forget to wash your hands before you eat.
10. They like to fry potatoes in oil.

Speak English about Food with Lingofrnd

Great job practicing your food meals cooking vocabulary! Now you know some very important words to talk about food in English. To improve your spoken English practice even more, you need to speak!

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