Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Food” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Personal Tastes
1. What is your favorite food?
2. Are there any foods you don’t like?
3. Do you prefer sweet or savory snacks?
4. What is your favorite fruit?
5. What is your favorite vegetable?

II. Cooking at Home
6. Do you enjoy cooking?
7. What is the last meal you cooked at home?
8. Can you bake a cake?
9. What is your favorite recipe?
10. Do you prefer homemade food or restaurant food?

III. Eating Out
11. How often do you eat out?
12. What type of restaurant do you like the most?
13. Do you have a favorite fast-food restaurant?
14. What do you usually order in a restaurant?
15. How do you choose a restaurant when you want to eat out?

IV. Healthy Eating
16. Do you think you have a healthy diet?
17. What does a healthy meal look like to you?
18. How important are organic foods to you?
19. Do you count calories when you eat?
20. What is your favorite healthy snack?

V. Cultural Foods
21. Have you ever tried food from another country?
22. What is a traditional dish from your country?
23. What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
24. Would you like to try any international cuisines?
25. What is your favorite international dish?

VI. Food and Social Life
26. Do you like to share meals with friends or family?
27. How often do you have dinner parties?
28. Do you think food is an important part of celebrations?
29. What food do you eat on special occasions?
30. Do you bring food when you visit someone’s house?

VII. Food Shopping
31. Where do you usually buy your groceries?
32. Do you prefer fresh food or frozen food?
33. How do you decide what to buy when you go grocery shopping?
34. Do you make a shopping list before you buy food?
35. Have you ever been to a farmer’s market?

VIII. Food and Technology
36. Have you ever ordered food delivery using an app?
37. Do you use any apps or websites to find recipes?
38. What do you think about cooking shows on TV?
39. Have you ever posted a picture of your food on social media?
40. Do you think technology has changed the way we eat?

IX. Food and the Environment
41. Do you think about the environmental impact of the food you eat?
42. What do you know about sustainable eating?
43. How can we reduce food waste?
44. Do you think vegetarian or vegan diets are better for the environment?
45. How does food packaging affect the environment?

X. Food Preparation and Safety
46. How do you keep food safe to eat at home?
47. Do you wash fruits and vegetables before eating them?
48. How do you know if food is still good to eat?
49. What is the best way to store leftovers?
50. Have you ever had food poisoning?

XI. Food Education
51. Did you learn about cooking at school?
52. Do you think children should be taught how to cook?
53. What is the most important thing to know about food?
54. How can someone learn to cook better?
55. Should nutrition be a mandatory subject in schools?

XII. Food and Holidays
56. What food do you eat during the holidays?
57. Is there a special dish you prepare only on holidays?
58. How does food contribute to the holiday spirit?
59. Do you have any family recipes for holiday meals?
60. What is your favorite holiday dessert?