IELTS food vocabulary: words and phrases for diet, cooking and health questions
Useful IELTS food and diet vocabulary for Speaking Part 1–3 and Writing Task 2, with collocations, example sentences and practice ideas.
By English Grader study guides · AI-assisted educational content · Official sources linked below
The short answer
Learn food words in phrases—'processed food', 'a balanced diet', 'home-cooked meals'—so you can use them in both Speaking and Writing.
Where food questions appear
Food is a common Part 1 topic ('Do you like cooking?'), a Part 2 cue card ('Describe a memorable meal'), and a Task 2 theme (fast food, obesity, food prices).
Related guide: Pair with health vocabulary
Useful words and phrases
Group vocabulary by use.
- Everyday: home-cooked meals, a quick bite, a takeaway, a staple food
- Diet: a balanced diet, cut down on sugar, nutritious, portion size
- Issues: processed food, junk food advertising, obesity rates, food waste
- Describing taste: savoury, bland, rich, spicy, mouth-watering
Task 2 sentence
Governments could reduce obesity rates by taxing sugary drinks and restricting junk food advertising aimed at children.
Use it in Speaking
Answer 'What do you usually eat for breakfast?' with one precise phrase and one reason, not a list of foods.
Practise a food question out loud →Learn actively
Test yourself on the list, then write three sentences using new phrases.
Open vocabulary practice →Put this into practice
Open the food and diet topic list, check translations, then test yourself with flashcards or matching.
Guest AI tries are limited to one use per feature per day. Sign in for saved progress. AI feedback and band estimates are practice guidance, not official IELTS results.
Official sources and further reading
Practice examples and study routines are illustrative advice, not official band-scored answers or predictions of exam questions.