Talking about Diets

Vocabulary Chart

Word / Phrase	Pronunciation	Slovak Translation
diet (diéta / strava)	/ˈdaɪ.ət/	diéta / strava
go on a diet / diet (verb)	/ɡəʊ ɒn ə ˈdaɪ.ət/ /ˈdaɪ.ət/	držať diétu
a balanced diet	/ə ˌbæl.ənst ˈdaɪ.ət/	vyvážená strava
a bad diet	/ə bæd ˈdaɪ.ət/	nezdravá strava
a waste of time/money	/ə weɪst əv taɪm/ˈmʌn.i/	strata času/peňazí
junk food	/ˈdʒʌŋk fuːd/	nezdravé jedlo
fizzy drink	/ˈfɪz.i drɪŋk/	sýtený nápoj
cut down on sth	/kʌt daʊn ɒn ˈsʌm.θɪŋ/	obmedziť niečo
healthy / unhealthy	/ˈhel.θi/ /ʌnˈhel.θi/	zdravý / nezdravý
small portion	/smɔːl ˈpɔː.ʃən/	malá porcia
wholegrain	/ˈhəʊl.ɡreɪn/	celozrnný
low-fat food	/ˌləʊ ˈfæt fuːd/	nízkotučné jedlo
put on weight / lose weight	/pʊt ɒn weɪt/ /luːz weɪt/	pribrať / schudnúť
keep a diet up	/kiːp ə ˈdaɪ.ət ʌp/	udržať si diétu
nutritional value	/njuːˈtrɪʃ.ən.əl ˈvæl.juː/	výživová hodnota

Conversation Questions & Sample Answers

Do you think you have a balanced diet? Why or why not?
I think I have a balanced diet because I eat vegetables, fruit, and wholegrain bread every day.

Have you ever gone on a diet? How long did you keep the diet up?
Yes, I went on a diet last year and kept it up for about three months.

What’s an example of a bad diet you’ve seen people follow?
My friend once ate only crisps and chocolate for a week — that was a very bad diet.

Do you believe dieting is a good idea, or is it a waste of time or money?
I think some diets are a waste of time, but healthy eating is always worth it.

How often do you eat junk food or drink fizzy drinks?
I eat junk food maybe once a week and drink fizzy drinks only at parties.

Have you ever tried to cut down on sugar or snacks? How did it go?
Yes, I cut down on sugar last year and felt much healthier.

What are some healthy foods you enjoy? What about unhealthy ones?
I enjoy salads and grilled fish, but I also love pizza — even though it’s unhealthy.

Do you often choose wholegrain bread or low-fat food? Why or why not?
Yes, I usually choose wholegrain bread and low-fat cheese because they are healthier.

Have you ever put on weight during a holiday? How did you lose weight afterwards?
Yes, I put on weight last Christmas, so I walked more and cut down on desserts to lose it.

Do you think it’s easy to keep a diet up when travelling?
No, it’s difficult because there are many new foods to try.

The Different Meanings of “Diet”

• diet (noun – diéta) – a special way of eating to lose weight or for health reasons.
Example: I’m on a diet because I want to lose weight.

• diet (noun – strava) – the kind of food you usually eat.
Example: A balanced diet includes fruit, vegetables, and proteins.

• diet (verb – držať diétu) – to eat less or in a special way to lose weight.
Example: She’s dieting before her wedding