Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever tried frozen or ready-to-eat meals? If so, how often do you eat them? If not, what food do you usually eat?
- Do you usually check the labels when buying food? If so, what do you look for? If not, why not?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- ultra-processed /UHL-truh-proh-sest/
- additive /AD-i-tiv/
- obesity /oh-BEE-si-tee/
- fiber /FAI-ber/
- label /LEY-buhl/
[adjective] – describes food made with many changes, including added sugar and chemicals
Chips and candy are ultra-processed foods.
[noun] – substances added to food to improve taste, color, or life span
Some foods have many additives to stay fresh longer.
[noun] – the state of being very overweight in an unhealthy way
Doctors are worried about the rise in obesity.
[noun] – the parts of food that help the body digest well
Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber.
[noun] – the act of putting information on products about what they contain
The food’s label shows how much sugar it has.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
In August 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared a report about food habits in the United States. The report showed that over half of the calories in the average American diet come from ultra-processed foods, such as burgers, sweet baked goods, and frozen meals. These foods contain a lot of sugar, salt, and additives. The CDC looked at data from August 2021 to August 2023. It found that adults get 53% of their calories from ultra-processed foods, while children and teenagers get about 62%. Low-income adults were found to eat more of these foods than people with higher incomes.
Experts warned that eating too many of these foods may cause serious health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. A study published in Nature said that people who eat less processed food lose more weight. Experts said ultra-processed foods are hyperpalatable, low in fiber, and made without whole ingredients. The CDC hopes this report will catalyze new health programs. Some Americans are becoming more conscientious about eating healthy, but changing habits is still a transformative challenge. The government also plans to create a uniform meaning of “ultra-processed food” to make food labels clearer.
Experts warned that eating too many of these foods may cause serious health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. A study published in Nature said that people who eat less processed food lose more weight. Experts said ultra-processed foods are hyperpalatable, low in fiber, and made without whole ingredients. The CDC hopes this report will catalyze new health programs. Some Americans are becoming more conscientious about eating healthy, but changing habits is still a transformative challenge. The government also plans to create a uniform meaning of “ultra-processed food” to make food labels clearer.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What group shared the report in August 2025?
- What types of food were studied in the report?
- What are examples of ultra-processed foods?
- What do these foods often contain?
- When was the food data collected?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you eaten too much junk food before? If so, how did you feel after? If not, why do you avoid it?
- Have you ever tried to eat more healthy food? If so, what did you change? If not, would you like to try?
- Do you agree that food labels should be easier to understand?
- Why do many people still choose to eat unhealthy food even if it is harmful?
- What can be done to help low-income families eat healthier food?