How Learning Topic Vocabulary Can Help Improve Your English
This is No. 3 in our series of short posts based on the topic of Smoothie Bowls.
Each post is about a 3-5 minutes read.
Why read in English?
Reading is an important part of learning English as a foreign language.
For example, you may already know the topic well in your native language you just can't express yourself well in English yet.
So reading food, lifestyle or news topics etc. will make reading comprehension easier for you.
Enjoy learning English vocabulary you can use right away.
First, you may want to quickly go through the following list for any unfamiliar words.
A. Vocabulary List - Smoothie Related Words & Phrases (Parts of Speech & Meaning)
Words & Parts of Speech / Meaning
1. add up (phrasal v) =increase gradually
2. keep/bear in mind = to remember an information when doing something 3. though (conjunction) = but
4. fewer calories = small number. (few- used with countable nouns)
5. will likely (adv) = probably
6. healthy fat = substance from plants & animals (e.g. animal fat, vegetable fat)
7. consider (v) = think about
8. per serving (prep) = for each
9. substitute....for (v) = instead of
10. option (n) = ability to make a choice
11. a portion (n) = amount of food served to one person (also serving)
12. in order to do something (idiom) =aim of doing something
13. carbs (carbohydrates) = substance to provide energy for body
14. instead of (prep) = in place of something
Let's learn & review
i) Grammar
- Parts of Speech
- Sentence Patterns
- Verbs in the Imperative form for Giving Instructions, Directions, Advice, Tips, Suggestions
- Practise & Review Your Present Simple Tense
ii) Vocabulary
- New Words & Meanings
- Common Phrases
-Health & Nutritional Related Vocabulary
2. Reading
When you’re making smoothie bowls sometimes it's easy to forget that even though they are healthy it can add up to many calories.
The bowls you see on social media filled with beautiful smoothies and all the toppings are mostly added for show.
Do keep the following tips in mind when you make your own smoothie bowl:
TIP # 1 - Fruit in Your Bowl
Fruit is a wonderful addition to a smoothie bowl, not only for the benefits but you can also add frozen berries to get the creamy texture.
Bear in mind though, making a smoothie bowl with only fruit will have too much sugar.
English Learning Tip!
Read out loud the Sentences. Imagine you are speaking/teaching someone.
Tip 2 - Veggies & Leafy Greens As the Smoothie Base
To get fewer calories and sugar in your bowl - make a green smoothie bowl as the base such as kale or spinach and then add a few fruits for a little sweetness.
Vocabulary Check!
sweet (adjective) >sweetness (noun) >sweeten (verb)
Vocabulary Learning TIP!
-Look out for Parts of Speech/Word Class of a word. You'll learn more words. And always practise making your own sentences with the new words or phrases.
Why not add shredded carrots as a topping? A spot of colour against the greens makes the bowl even more appetising.
Note!
US vs British Spelling Difference
- appetising (UK)
- appetizing (US0
Tip 3 - Pick Low Calorie Toppings
Most people don’t consider the calories in toppings. This is a mistake because calories can add up real quick.
For example: Granola has more calories than fruits and vegetables per serving.
When you’re making a smoothie bowl substitute high calories such as the granola for a low calorie option like coconut flakes.
Only use one serving or half a serving for your toppings. The best idea would be to sprinkle them lightly and only use two or three per smoothie bowl.
Tip 4 - Keep an Eye out for Portion Size
The images you see on social media of smoothie bowls are always in huge bowls that have two to four servings.
To keep the calories down you need to make sure you’re only eating a portion – usually *8 ounces and this is not a bowlful.
Meaning:
- 8 ounce; oz = 1 cup
Everything is super sized now and if you fill the bowl you’ll likely get three or four servings instead of one.
Tip 5 - Right Balance of Ingredient
In order to make the most of your smoothie bowl you’ll need to get the right balance of healthy fats, protein and carbs.
*balance (noun) = equal weight
Healthy fat - like avocados, nuts or spinach could be included to get your nutrients in your bowl.
For protein - add peanut butter or protein powder and then carbs - use fruit like strawberries and peaches.
You want to be creating the perfect smoothie bowl with the benefits, not so much the calories.
Don’t just put everything in the blender and hope the calories are low. ;-)
Tip!
Measure your ingredients and only use a few toppings.
Smoothie bowls are delicious & full of nutrients. It's definitely *worth learning how to make them right.
Grammar Point!
*worth learning = important or useful to be doing
How to form: worth + verb-ing
e.g.
- It's worth going all the way to the farmer's market to get fresh fruits.
- It's really worth spending time reviewing your grammar lessons. ;-)
Related Post:
You can learn more about the Present Simple here:
Compare the Present Continuous vs Present Simple Tense:
Different ways to talk about the Future tense:
Thanks so much for reading. Happy Learning!
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