TOEFL Speaking

You have agreed to take part in a research study about eating habits. You will have a short online interview with a researcher. The researcher will ask you four questions.

Thank you for speaking with me today. I’d like you to think about your day-to-day eating habits. What do you usually eat in a normal day, and how has this changed in the last few years?

[Michael] In a normal day, I usually eat some yogurt and blueberries and granola for breakfast with some coffee. For lunch, I don't know, maybe some sushi or a hamburger or a sandwich. And for dinner, it changes, but usually some sort of meat with vegetables and a salad and maybe some bread or some pasta or something like that. In the last couple of years, I guess I've started trying to eat a little bit healthier. That means that I've started eating more protein more vegetables, trying to eat a little bit less bread and eat less sugar.

[ChatGPT] In a typical day, I usually start with a breakfast of Greek yogurt, some fruit, and maybe some nuts or seeds. For lunch, I’ll often have a salad or something like grilled chicken and vegetables. Dinner might be a simple homemade dish—like a stir-fry or pasta. In the last few years, though, I’ve cut down on processed snacks and takeout. I try to cook more at home, and I’ve added more plant-based meals for health and sustainability reasons.

If you had to choose, would you rather cook at home most of the time or eat out more often? Why?

[Michael] These days, I would definitely rather cook at home most of the time rather than eat out. There's two reasons. One reason is just I think it's healthier. When you go to a restaurant, you don't know exactly what you're getting. And it tends to be usually carb- and protein-focused with not a lot of vegetables and fruit. But really the main reason is cost. Especially these days, the tipping culture has gotten out of control. So even like a 30-dollar meal when you include tax and tip can be as much as 45 dollars.

[ChatGPT] I would prefer to eat out more often. First, it gives me a chance to experience a wide variety of cuisines that I can’t easily replicate at home. For example, I love trying new international dishes that local restaurants offer. Second, eating out saves time. I don’t have to grocery shop, cook, or clean up afterward, which is convenient when I’m busy. Finally, dining out can be social. Meeting friends at a restaurant lets us relax and enjoy each other’s company without distractions. Just last weekend, I met two friends at a new Thai restaurant downtown. We got to share different dishes, chat for hours, and no one had to worry about cooking or cleaning. It made the whole evening more enjoyable and stress-free.

Many people say they want to eat healthier but find it difficult. What is one thing that makes healthy eating easier?

[Michael] One thing that's made eating healthy easy for me is keeping healthy snacks nearby. In the past, when I got hungry or if I was bored, I would often eat chips or cookies or other types of sweets that were definitely not good for me but were very convenient. Now, I try to keep fruit yogurt and nuts at home and near my desk, so whenever I get hungry, I just reach for something a little healthier rather than some junk food. I also try to do the same thing when I go to the office. So I make sure I at least bring some fruit or some nuts with me when I'm at the office.

[ChatGPT] One thing that can make eating healthy easier is planning your meals in advance. When you know what you’ll eat throughout the week, you’re less likely to grab unhealthy options out of convenience. You can buy fresh ingredients, cook in bulk, and portion meals ahead of time. This way, healthy food is always ready when you’re hungry, reducing temptation. Plus, planning lets you include variety, so eating healthy feels enjoyable, not restrictive. For example, last year I started planning my weekday lunches every Sunday. I’d prep chicken, quinoa, and roasted veggies in batches. By having it ready in the fridge, I avoided ordering fast food. I also felt more energetic and saved money. It really turned into a habit!

Some people think modern eating habits are changing family life. How could this be good and bad? Give one example of each.

[Michael] Yeah, I think it's true that modern eating habits are changing family life. One good aspect of this change is that people get to experience a lot of different types of food. I guess in the past, especially where I grew up in Canada, my parents made pretty much the same type of meal all the time. But modern eating habits, you get to experience a lot of different cuisines. However, the bad aspect is I just don't think families spend as much time together anymore. We order food and we eat separately, but I think in the past, families used to sit down and have at least two meals every day.

[ChatGPT] Modern eating habits can impact family life in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side, food delivery and meal kits allow busy families to eat together more often, even if they don’t have time to cook. For example, a family might gather for a quick meal delivered to their home, creating more shared moments. On the negative side, fewer families cook together, which reduces time spent passing down traditions. For instance, a child might not learn family recipes, weakening cultural ties. Last month, we started using meal kits from HelloFresh. It was great—on weekdays, like Wednesdays, we’d have a quick, easy dinner together. But I noticed my kids were missing out on learning our family’s homemade dumpling recipe from my mom.