Food from Childhood – Simple & Practical

Review from Dinner Party English 

If you throw a dinner party, then you are called the _____, and your friends are called the _______.

If someone at the dinner party asks for food, you could say “oh yes, please ______ to some salad.”

After everyone has already eaten, people who want to eat more can go back for _______. 

Another word for one portion of food: “I’ll have one more ______.”

GRAMMAR FOCUS: Used To

We use used to to talk about things that were true in the past but are not true now.

Forms: 

used to + base verb

did (not) + use to + base verb

• I used to eat cereal every morning.

• Negative: I didn’t use to like vegetables.

• Question: Did you use to eat sweets every day?

1. My family  __________ have dinner parties on weekends.

2. We didn’t  __________ travel much.

3. Did you __________ go hiking a lot?

FIXED PHRASES

Back in the day… (Back in the day, we used to eat dinner together every night. ) 

Use: when talking about the past in a nostalgic way. 

SK: Kedysi / Za starých čias)

Those were the days. (We used to get dessert every Sunday. Those were the days.)

Use: when remembering something positively.

 SK: To boli časy.

 I couldn’t get enough of… (I couldn’t get enough of my grandmother’s cake.)

Use: when you really loved something. 

SK: Nevedel/a som sa toho nabažiť. 

CHILDHOOD FOOD VOCABULARY

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS (WITH EXAMPLE ANSWERS)

1. What did you use to eat for breakfast as a child?

I used to eat bread with jam or cereal before school. It was simple but filling.

2. Did your family use to eat home-cooked meals?

Yes, we used to eat home-cooked meals almost every day because my mother enjoyed cooking.

3. Did you use to have a sweet tooth?

Yes, I definitely used to have a sweet tooth. I loved chocolate and cake.

4. What was your favorite comfort food as a child?

My comfort food was soup because my grandmother used to make it when I was sick.

5. Did you eat much processed food when you were young?

No, we didn’t use to eat much processed food. Most meals were homemade.

6. Were portion sizes different when you were a child?

Yes, portion sizes were smaller, and we didn’t snack as much as people do today.

7. Who used to cook in your family?

My mother used to cook during the week, and my grandmother cooked on Sundays.

8. Was there a food you couldn’t get enough of?

I couldn’t get enough of my grandmother’s cake. It was my favorite dessert.

9. Did your eating habits change as you got older?

Yes, my eating habits changed a lot. I eat more vegetables now and fewer sweets.

10. Do you ever think, “Those were the days” when you remember childhood meals?

Yes, sometimes I do. Family dinners felt more relaxed and special back then.

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS (FOR COPYING)

1. What did you use to eat for breakfast as a child?

2. Did your family use to eat home-cooked meals?

3. Did you use to have a sweet tooth?

4. What was your favorite comfort food as a child?

5. Did you eat much processed food when you were young?

6. Were portion sizes different when you were a child?

7. Who used to cook in your family?

8. Was there a food you couldn’t get enough of?

9. Did your eating habits change as you got older?

10. Do you ever think, “Those were the days” when you remember childhood meals?