Talking about drinks and food in English

Food is not just a part of our everyday life. We are literally surrounded by a vast number of gastronomic conversations: delicious breakfasts, business lunches, romantic dinners, cooking shows, movies, cartoons, video games, books and songs. So, you see, learning English vocabulary about food is an essential step on the path to fluency in the language.

Contents

1. Main categories of drinks and food in English
    1.1. Drinks: non-alcoholic and alcoholic
    1.2. Food in English: main dishes, snacks, desserts
2. Phrases for inviting to the table and offering treats
3. How to describe healthy and unhealthy food in English
    3.1. Vocabulary for describing tastes
    3.2. Describing food texture in English
4. Diets and food restrictions
5. Practice exercise
6. FAQ

Main categories of drinks and food in English

Just as borscht wouldn't be complete without beets, you won't be able to fully express your thoughts in English without knowing the basics of food, drinks, healthy and unhealthy food. So let's dive into what might be included in our culinary essentials: from water to cocktails, from single ingredients to flavor masterpieces.

Drinks: non-alcoholic and alcoholic

The English words “beverage”/“drink” represent not just a way to quench your thirst, but also an important part of any meal. So, what words should you know?

— Would you like still or sparkling water?
— Oh, you know, I’d love a glass of fresh orange juice.

— If I want to have an alcoholic drink, I can allow myself one glass of dry red wine. Among all hard beverages, it's the best choice.
— I wouldn’t mind a glass of craft beer in good company, slowly sipping it and chatting about life.

Food in English: main dishes, snacks, desserts

It's time to talk about food in English. Let's learn some words that make up main dishes, snacks and desserts. Bon appétit!

Food and dishes that can be found in our grocery basket, refrigerator, or on the table for a delicious meal. Let's look at the main meals in English.

• Would you like whipped cream on top of your hot chocolate?
• Do you want a slice of chocolate cake?

Phrases for inviting to the table and offering treats

We are not born etiquette experts, and we're certainly not fighting for the right to be considered one. However, knowing a few simple phrases for inviting someone to a treat or meal in English is something that will definitely help create an atmosphere of hospitality and friendliness at the table.

To describe hunger or thirst, the following phrases will be useful:

• I’m hungry.
• I’m starving.
• I’m thirsty.
• I could eat something.

If you are the host or hostess of a party, or simply a participant in a friendly gathering, here are a few phrases to invite guests to the table:

• Dinner is ready, please, take your seat.
• Come to the table, everything is served.
• Should we sit down to eat?
• Help yourself to the food on the table.
• Feel free to grab anything you like.
• Don’t be shy, there’s plenty for everything.
• Make yourself at home and try some appetizers / cake.

If you want to offer a treat, you can say something like:

• Would you like something to eat / drink? 
• Can I get you a drink?
• Have some snacks while you wait.
• Try this dish, it’s my favorite.

Well, you've eaten very well and deliciously, but now you're being offered to try “just this little piece of something.” You can say:

• I’m full / I’ve had enough.
• I'm stuffed!
• I’m full to the brim!
• That was a great meal!
• I couldn’t eat another bite.
• That was a feast!
• I’m so satisfied!

How to describe healthy and unhealthy food in English

As you might have guessed from the title of this section, we'll talk about food preferences. When sharing your impressions of dishes, it's important not just to say that you enjoyed the food. It’s worth specifying what exactly impressed you. For instance, you could say, “This dish is bursting with flavor” or “The seasoning in the dish is perfectly balanced.” Yes, by using the right vocabulary, you can clearly convey your impressions of the food.

Vocabulary for describing tastes 

The taste of food is a universal language understood by everyone, regardless of culture or country. Every dish, as well as healthy and unhealthy food in English, has its own character that can be described through five basic tastes:

• salty;
• sweet;
• spicy;
• sour;
• bitter. 

These words about food in English are quite popular, but let’s explore even more interesting vocabulary:

Describing food texture in English

The texture of food is one of the key characteristics that influence our impressions of its taste. It is determined by how the food looks, feels in the mouth, and how we respond to the process of chewing it. Here are some essential terms for describing food texture in English.

• The cheese is firm and perfect for slicing.
• A bread has a soft, spongy texture which allows it to be easily torn.
• The chocolate mousse has a velvety texture.
• I love eating crunchy carrots with hummus.
• Сaramel is rich and chewy, sticking to teeth with every bite.

Diets and food restrictions

Nowadays, more and more people choose different diets or avoid unhealthy food, which in English is defined as dietary restrictions. This can relate to allergies, food sensitivities, or religious and ideological beliefs. Let’s explore the key vocabulary that will help you confidently discuss the topic of healthy and unhealthy food in English.

1. Vegetarianism — this dietary practice is based on excluding meat, poultry, and fish from consumption. However, this group may include variations that allow the consumption of certain products.
2. Lacto-vegetarianism — the consumption of dairy products is allowed..
3. Ovo-vegetarianism — the consumption of eggs is allowed.
4. Pescetarianism — the consumption of dairy products and eggs is allowed.
5. Veganism — this is a stricter form of vegetarianism that excludes the consumption of any animal-derived products, including gelatin, honey, fish sauces, and so on.
6. Fruitarian — it is based on the consumption of fruits, nuts, seeds and some vegetables.
7. Lactose intolerance — it is the inability of the body to digest lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products.
8. Gluten intolerance — a general term that encompasses disorders related to gluten, excluding cereal-based products and their derivatives from the diet.
9. Coeliac disease (BrE) or celiac disease (AmE) — an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own tissues in response to gluten.
10. Halal — food, drinks and actions that comply with the laws of Islam.
11. Kosher — kosher refers to dietary principles established by Jewish law.
12. Keto — a diet high in fats and low in carbohydrates.
13. Paleo diet — a diet based on foods available to our ancestors during the Paleolithic era: meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds; excludes processed foods, dairy products, grains, and legumes.
14. Dairy-free — a dairy-free diet, unlike a lactose-free diet, excludes the consumption of all dairy products, including cheeses, yogurts, creams, butter and other fermented products.

• This grocery store has a section dedicated to halal-certified products.
• I follow a lactose-free diet, so I drink plant-based milk.
• My best friend is on a gluten-free diet due to her celiac disease, so she can't eat anything containing wheat or barley.

Practice exercise

Divide the words from the table according to their taste:

FAQ 

1. Which is correct: fruit or fruits?

In English, most food items are uncountable nouns. Therefore, the word “fruit” is uncountable when we talk about it in a general sense. For example: I eat fruit every day.

However, if we want to show the variety or quantity of fruits, we need to use the word “fruits”. For example: Many fruits are in the basket, including apples, cherries, peaches and apricots.

2. How to talk about food preferences and food in English? 

If you like something, you can use phrases like:

• I love;
• I enjoy;
• I’m a big fan of.

If you don't like something, you can say:

• I’m not fond of;
• I can’t stand;
• I try to avoid.

E.g. I love grapes and plums, but I can’t stand dried fruit.

3. What do “sweet tooth”, “meat eater”, “gourmet” mean?

To describe food preferences in English, here is some useful vocabulary:

• sweet tooth — a person with a strong liking for sweets;
• carnivore — a meat-eater;
• foodie — a gourmet, someone who loves trying new dishes.

Another interesting word is — snackaholic — a person who really loves snacks.

E.g. He's a snackaholic and can't stop munching on chips. He eats a whole large pack every day!

4. What is Nutritional Information or Nutritional Value?

When talking about balanced nutrition and, of course, healthy and unhealthy food, in English, the term refers to the balance of calories, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. In English, it is called Nutritional Values or Nutritional Information. Specifically:

• calories;
• proteins;
• fats;
• carbohydrates.

5. How to describe the taste of food in English?

To describe the taste of food in English, you can use adjectives such as:

• sweet;
• sour;
• bitter;
• salty;
• spicy.

For more specific descriptions, you can use words like:

• rich;
• tangy;
• savory;
• bland;
• mild;
• umami (a Japanese word meaning a well-balanced, pleasant taste).