Unit 7 - RECIPES AND EATING HABITS
Lesson 5: SKILLS 1
1. Work in pairs. Answer the questions.
1. What can you see in each picture?

2. Have you ever tried the dishes in the pictures?
If so, how did you find them?

different types of sushi
miso soup
a bowl of rice
sliced cucumber
3. Components in a typical Japanese meal
2. The habit of having raw food and simple sauces
1. The art of arranging dishes
3. Read the article again and answer the questions.
1. What is the most important feature of Japanese eating habits?

2. How do they make sashimi?

3. What sauce can both sashimi and sushi be served with?

4. How many components are there in a typical Japanese meal?

5. How is rice important in Japanese meals?

6. Why do people say that the Japanese eat with their eyes?


- They like raw food and do not use sauces with a strong flavour.
- They cut fresh fish.
- Both can be served with soy sauce.
- There are four (rice, miso soup, main dish(es), pickles).
- Rice is the staple food and is very nutritious.
Because the dishes are presented in different bowls and plates,
and are arranged carefully according to a traditional pattern.
4. Work in groups. Discuss the eating habits of Vietnamese people. You can use the following questions as cues.
1. What is the most important feature of Vietnamese eating habits?

2. What are the typical components in a Vietnamese meal?

3. What is the staple of our country?

4. How are the dishes arranged?

5. Are there any other characteristics of our eating habits that you know?

6. In general, do Vietnamese people have healthy eating habits?
5. Imagine that you take part in an international
competition in which competitors talk about the
eating habits of their own country. Present your
group’s ideas about Vietnamese eating habits.
Vietnamese eating habits
Vietnamese food is varied and distinctive. It is considerably low fat and high in carbohydrates. Traditional Vietnamese cooking usually uses fresh ingredients, little dairy and oil, and various herbs and vegetables. Different sauces such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, and soya sauce are quite popular in various regions.
There is no concept of ‘ courses ’ in a Vietnamese meal. A meal consists of various dishes: main dish (meat, fish, egg or tofu), vegetable, soup and rice. Rice is the staple in Viet Nam. In many families, people eat around a tray of food with a small bowl of fish sauce in the middle. Around this bowl are the dishes. If people place the food on a table, a similar arrangement is followed. Dishes are served communally.
Usually there is a big dish/bowl of each dish, and people use chopsticks and spoons to get their share.
In general, Vietnamese food is considered healthy and is popular in other countries.