Let’s be honest, everyone loves talking about food! Whether it’s sharing a recipe, discussing a favourite restaurant, or debating the merits of a vegetarian diet, food is a universal topic. And that’s exactly why it pops up so often in the IELTS exam.

In Speaking Part 1, you might be asked about your favourite dish or cooking habits. In Part 2, you could describe a memorable meal. And in Writing Task 2, topics like healthy eating, fast food, and agricultural practices are incredibly common.

But here’s the thing: saying your dinner was “delicious” or “good” won’t get you a Band 7+. To impress the examiner, you need precise, varied vocabulary that shows you can express nuances of taste, texture, and nutrition.

In this guide, I’ve compiled 50 essential words and phrases related to food and nutrition that will help you sound natural and sophisticated. Let’s dig in!

1. Describing Taste and Flavour

Don’t just stick to “tasty”. Use these adjectives to describe exactly how something tastes.

• Savoury (adj): Food that is salty or spicy, rather than sweet.
  Example: “I prefer savoury snacks like cheese and nuts over sweets.”
• Tangy (adj): A sharp, piquant taste, often acidic like lemon or orange.
  Example: “The lemon tart has a lovely tangy flavour that refreshes the palate.”
• Rich (adj): Food that contains a lot of butter, cream, or eggs and fills you up quickly.
  Example: “I couldn’t finish the chocolate cake; it was too rich for me.”
• Bland (adj): Lacking strong flavour; tasteless.
  Example: “Hospital food is often criticised for being bland and uninspiring.”
• Bitter (adj): A sharp, sometimes unpleasant taste, like black coffee or dark chocolate.
  Example: “I love the bitter taste of dark chocolate paired with coffee.”
• Zesty (adj): Having a strong, pleasant, and somewhat spicy flavour (often citrus).
  Example: “The salad dressing had a zesty kick thanks to the lime juice.”
• Rancid (adj): (Of foods containing fat or oil) smelling or tasting unpleasant as a result of being old and stale.
  Example: “The butter had gone rancid after being left out in the heat.”
• Mouth-watering (adj): Smelling, looking, or sounding delicious.
  Example: “The smell of freshly baked bread is absolutely mouth-watering.”

2. Describing Texture

Texture, or “mouthfeel”, is just as important as taste.

• Crispy (adj): Firm, dry, and brittle surface (usually pleasant).
  Example: “The skin of the roast chicken was perfectly crispy.”
• Crunchy (adj): Making a loud noise when bitten or crushed.
  Example: “I add nuts to my salad for a bit of crunchy texture.”
• Chewy (adj): Requiring a lot of chewing (can be good or bad).
  Example: “The steak was overcooked and incredibly chewy.”
• Tender (adj): Easy to cut or chew; not tough.
  Example: “The meat was so tender it fell off the bone.”
• Greasy (adj): Covered with or full of fat or oil.
  Example: “I try to avoid greasy fast food as it makes me feel sluggish.”
• Crumbly (adj): Breaking easily into small fragments.
  Example: “The cheese has a crumbly texture and a sharp flavour.”
• Succulent (adj): (Of food) tender, juicy, and tasty.
  Example: “We enjoyed a succulent roast lamb for Sunday lunch.”

3. Cooking and Preparation Vocabulary

Knowing your cooking methods is vital for describing recipes or processes.

• To roast (v): To cook food (meat/veg) in an oven or over a fire.
  Example: “My mother roasts a chicken every Sunday.”
• To steam (v): To cook over boiling water. (Healthy method!)
  Example: “Steamed vegetables retain more nutrients than boiled ones.”
• To sauté (v): To fry quickly in a little hot fat.
  Example: “Sauté the onions and garlic until they are soft.”
• To marinate (v): To soak food in a seasoned liquid before cooking.
  Example: “You should marinate the chicken overnight for the best flavour.”
• To grate (v): To reduce to small shreds by rubbing on a grater.
  Example: “Grate some parmesan cheese over the pasta before serving.”
• Cuisine (n): A style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country.
  Example: “I’m a huge fan of Italian cuisine, especially their pasta dishes.”
• Ingredients (n): Any of the foods or substances that are combined to make a particular dish.
  Example: “Fresh ingredients are the secret to a great meal.”

4. Healthy Eating and Nutrition

This section is gold for Writing Task 2 essays on health, obesity, and diet.

• Balanced diet (n): A diet that contains the proper proportions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
  Example: “Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for long-term health.”
• Nutritious (adj): Efficient as food; nourishing.
  Example: “Avocados are highly nutritious and packed with healthy fats.”
• Processed food (n): Food that has been altered from its natural state, often with added preservatives.
  Example: “Eating too much processed food can lead to health issues like diabetes.”
• Preservatives (n): Chemicals added to food to prevent it from decaying.
  Example: “I try to buy organic food to avoid artificial preservatives.”
• Calorie intake (n): The number of calories a person consumes.
  Example: “Athletes need a higher calorie intake to fuel their training.”
• Dietary requirements (n): Special needs regarding food (e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free).
  Example: “Please let the restaurant know if you have any dietary requirements.”
• Obesity (n): The state of being grossly fat or overweight.
  Example: “Childhood obesity is a growing concern in many developed countries.”
• Fad diet (n): A diet that is popular for a time, similar to fads in fashion, often promising quick weight loss.
  Example: “Fad diets rarely work in the long term; lifestyle changes are better.”

5. Idioms and Phrases

Idioms are the spice of language. Use these in Speaking Part 1 and 2 to sound more native-like. (Avoid them in Academic Writing Task 2).

• To have a sweet tooth: To love sweet foods.
  Example: “I have a terrible sweet tooth; I can’t resist chocolate.”
• To eat like a horse: To eat a lot.
  Example: “After the marathon, I was so hungry I could eat like a horse.”
• A piece of cake: Something very easy.
  Example: “The cooking exam was a piece of cake.”
• Cup of tea: Something one likes or excels in (usually negative: not my cup of tea).
  Example: “Spicy food isn’t really my cup of tea.”
• Food for thought: Something to think about.
  Example: “The documentary on sugar consumption gave me a lot of food for thought.”

Sample Answer: Speaking Part 2

Topic: Describe a memorable meal you have had.

“I’d like to talk about a dinner I had while visiting Thailand. It was at a small, family-run restaurant by the sea. The cuisine there is famous for being both spicy and zesty.

We ordered a whole steamed fish with lime and chili. The fish was incredibly tender and succulent, falling apart as soon as you touched it. The sauce was the perfect balance of tangy and savoury. It was honestly mouth-watering.

What made it memorable wasn’t just the fresh ingredients, but the atmosphere. It was simple but authentic, far removed from the bland, processed food you might get in a fast-food chain. It really gave me food for thought about how much better simple, fresh cooking tastes compared to complex, heavy dishes.”

See how the bolded words elevate the answer? It paints a clear picture for the examiner.

Practice Tip: Next time you sit down for a meal, try to describe it using at least three of the words from this list. Is it crunchy? Is it rich? Is it nutritious? Small habits like this make a big difference in your score.

For more vocabulary tips, check out our guide on 100 Essential Vocabulary for IELTS. And if you’re preparing for the speaking test, don’t miss our top speaking tips to help you practice.