Pre-reading questions:
- What kinds of flavors do you enjoy in your everyday meals?
- Have you ever heard of “functional foods”? What do you think they might be?
Vocabulary:
- unique /yoo-NEEK/
- influence /IN-floo-uhns/
- convenience /kuhn-VEEN-yuhns/
- increasingly /in-KREE-sing-lee/
- transparency /trans-PAIR-uhn-see/
[adjective] – being the only existing one of its type or, more generally, unusual, or special in some way
The museum features a unique collection of ancient artifacts.
[noun] – the power to have an effect on people or things, or a person or thing that is able to do this
The artist’s style was shaped by various influences from different regions.
[noun] – the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty
The supermarket offers the convenience of home delivery for busy customers.
[adverb] – to a greater degree or more often
The community is increasingly involved in local environmental initiatives.
[noun] – the quality of being clear, open, and honest
The company has committed to transparency in its financial reports.
Article reading:
Another key trend is the rise of functional foods, driven by a growing focus on health and sustainability. Foods with adaptogens, functional mushrooms, and plant-based proteins are becoming more common for those looking to improve their health through diet. Salama also mentioned the rise of non-alcoholic drinks with mood-boosting ingredients. Sustainability is increasingly important, with consumers asking for more transparency in food production and packaging. New ideas, like using seaweed in snacks and sea moss in drinks, show how creativity is tackling food waste. Other trends include chili-infused products, pistachio innovations, and crunchy snacks, all shaping the future of food.
Comprehension questions
- What has made Asian cuisine more popular in recent years?
- What Southeast Asian flavors are now common in cooking and fine dining?
- What new food trend is being driven by a focus on health and sustainability?
- What is one example of a non-alcoholic drink mentioned in the article?
- What type of food is becoming more popular because people want authentic flavors with convenience?
Discussion questions
- Do you enjoy trying new food from different countries? If so, what food from another country have you tried recently? If not, what is a food from another country you would like to try?
- Do you like cooking at home with new ingredients? If so, what ingredients do you enjoy using? If not, why do you prefer eating out instead?
- Do you agree that sustainability is becoming more important when choosing food?
- What do you think is more important when it comes to food: taste or health benefits? Why?
- Why do you think more people are interested in trying new flavors from different cultures?