Things I Eat and Drink – B1/B2 Listening

In this B1/B2 English listening lesson, you will listen to Jade talking about her daily diet. Jade is from the UK, and she speaks quite quickly. She also sometimes uses slang and conversational English phrases. How much of Jade’s talk you can understand?

Read the transcript at the end, after you have finished the exercises.

Listen and understand

Answer the questions about things that Jade likes to eat. Check answers when you have finished all of the questions.

What is Jade’s general attitude toward her eating habits?

She follows a very strict healthy diet

She tries to eat well but often chooses convenience

She eats the same thing every day

What does Jade say about cooking dinner?

She always cooks elaborate meals from scratch

She avoids cooking because it’s time-consuming

She enjoys cooking but sometimes chooses easy meals

How does Jade describe her feelings about food in general?

Food should only be about health and fitness

Eating should be enjoyable and balanced

She doesn’t really think much about food

What does Jade say about her lunch choices at work?

She usually brings homemade meals

She eats quickly and often chooses less healthy options

She always opts for a warm, cooked lunch

When Jade doesn’t feel like cooking in the evening, what does she often do?

She eats leftovers from the night before

She picks something very simple or orders food

She goes out to eat with friends

What kind of meals does Jade actually enjoy preparing?

Meals that are creative but not too complicated

Only traditional recipes with lots of ingredients

Recipes that take over an hour to make

How does Jade describe her tea-drinking habit?

As a way to replace her afternoon coffee

As something she enjoys mostly in the evenings to unwind

As an unhealthy part of her daily routine

What does Jade suggest about having a balanced diet?

It’s okay to enjoy food as long as you include variety

Strict health rules should be followed every day

It’s best to avoid high-carb meals entirely

Train your ear

Listen and complete ONLY the missing words.

I often eating whatever’s easiest

I or porridge

I know some people massive breakfasts

I enjoy cooking

I often something easy

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Dictation and transcript

Listen to the speaker again, and write what you hear. Then check your answers. Pause, replay or restart if you want to.

DRE Dictation

Here are some useful words and expressions from the text about food and eating habits that you might want to learn and use.

Words

a diet (n) – the way a person usually eats
slang (n) – informal words used in casual speech
porridge (n) – a hot breakfast dish made from oats
a nibble (n) – a small amount of food eaten quickly
a pastry (n) – sweet or savoury baked food made from dough
filling (adj) – making you feel full for longer
exhausted (adj) – very tired
a takeaway (n) – food you buy and eat at home
a treat (n) – something special you enjoy, usually not every day
enjoyment (n) – pleasure or satisfaction from something you like
a variety (n) – different kinds or types of things

Phrases

on the whole – generally; in most cases
whatever’s easiest – the thing that takes the least effort
to be bothered (to do something) – have enough energy or interest to do something
super hungry – extremely hungry
find myself (doing something) – realise that I am doing something without planning to
grab something quick – get food fast without much thought
a bit more filling – more satisfying or makes you feel full
look forward to (something) – feel happy about something that will happen soon
knock up something easy – make or prepare food quickly
can’t be bothered – not have the energy or interest to do something
once in a while – from time to time; not often
have a bit of a kick – give energy or a strong taste
take food seriously – think food is important
you’ve gotta enjoy what you eat – you should take pleasure in your food
a bit of everything – a small amount of many different things
try as many different things as you can – taste or experience a variety of foods

Grammar from the transcript

This speaker’s description of their eating habits includes several useful grammar patterns.

Frequency adverbs and phrases

This speaker uses frequency expressions to show how often or when things happen:

I often just find myself eating whatever’s easiest
In the morning I usually have toast with butter and a cup of tea
For lunch, I’ll often have a sandwich or maybe a salad
Sometimes I have a soup, which is nice in winter
I do also like a nice salad from time to time
In terms of drinks, I mostly have water or tea
I like a treat now and then as well

Intensifiers

The speaker uses words like “quite”, to strengthen or soften words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) and statements she uses:

I do try to eat quite healthily
I’m usually super hungry by then
I do actually quite enjoy cooking
I love tea, especially in the evening
It’s definitely a good idea to try as many different things as you can

Complex sentences with “if” and “as long as”

The speaker uses complex sentences with “if” and “as long as”

If I have more time, I might make eggs or porridge
If I’m in a rush, I just grab something quick like a snack or a pastry or something
..if I’m really exhausted, I often just knock up something easy
As long as you eat a bit of everything, I think that’s fine

Noun + to-infinitive

Some noun phrases like “the best way” are followed by infinitives to express a purpose or function:

I find it’s the best way to relax after a long day
it’s definitely a good idea to try as many different things as you can

Non-defining relative clauses

The speaker uses a “which” clause to add extra information in the same sentence.

Sometimes I have a soup, which is nice in winter

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