№1  1.Now let's talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in your family?  2.Do you like cooking? Why (not)?  3.What questions will you ask a friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party?  4.Which national dishes can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?  5.Scientists say that fast food is unhealthy but teenagers can't stop eating it. What do you think about it?

I 1.Now let's talk about food. What can you tell me about eating habits in your family?

Variant I

I prefer to have meals at home. Breakfast is the first meal of the day.As a rule it is quick and light. In my family we all are always short of time in the morning.We have breakfast at 7 o’ clock. The usual breakfast in our family is porridge with a glass of milk, a cup of strong tea or coffee with some sandwiches or boiled or scrambled eggs and sausages.I don’t eat much in the morning but my parents like to have a substantial meal. At the weekends we have a good breakfast of bangers and mash, sometimes a pudding or fish and pancakes. Pancakes are my mother’s and my favourite food. My father prefers pork chop, roast chicken.

As I spend a lot of time at school it is necessary to have a snack at midday. That’s I have to go to the school canteen for lunch. Lunchtime is at 12 o’clock. For lunch we have soup, spaghetti with sausages, fish or cereals with meat and of course salad. I like mixed salads very much. Drinks at lunch time are different: fruit juices, tea, compote, cocoa.My parents take food with them to work.

At about 7 o’clock we have dinner.The main course is often cooked meat, chicken or fish with potatoes,vegetables, sometimes soup. I prefer meat to fish but my mother makes me eat fish from time to time. She says it’s good for my brains. For dessert we have fruit, juice or tea with slice of cake or biscuits. Dinner is the only time of day when we sit down and have a good talk.

On Sundays there is a tradition to have a family lunch. As mother likes to bake there is always something tasty at home.We love our food. In our fridge there is always some fruit and vegetables. The proverb says : “An apple a day keeps the doctor away “.This means that we should eat more fresh vegetables and fruit, because this food is rich in vitamins A,B,C,E and eating more fruit and vegetables can reduce your risk of cancer.

Variant II

My mother is a wonderful cook and her dinners are always delicious and various. To begin with we usually have some salad – tomato and cucumber salad or mixed salad. For the first course we have some soup – noodle, mushroom or cabbage soup, or maybe some fish soup for a change. For the main course we have meat, chicken or fish dishes, for example, steak or fried fish, spaghetti or potatoes (boiled or fried). We also have a lot of vegetables – green peas, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers. I prefer meat to fish but my mother makes me eat fish from time to time. She says it’s good for my brains. For dessert we have some fruit, fruit juice or a cup of tea with a slice of cake. Not very often we may eat out. But it usually happens for special occasions.

Variant III

Perhaps, one of the most pleasant ways to understand the soul of a nation is to start exploring its national cuisine. Tasting of some original dish may tell a foreign visitor a lot about Belarusian traditions. Modern Belarusian cookery is based on old national traditions.

My family also cooks Belarusian dishes very often. Like all Belarusians we like potatoes. Potatoes are called “the second bread” among people. Potato is included into many salads, it is served together with mushrooms and meat. The most popular dish in my family is traditional draniki, thick pancakes, prepared from shredded potatoes.

My dad’s favourite dish is salted pork fat. Salted pork fat is used slightly smoked and seasoned with onions and garlic.

Like all Belarusians we eat a lot of vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, black radish, peas, etc. Belarusian national cuisine also offers fresh, dried, salted and pickled mushrooms and various berries. My family are fond of picking and eating them.

Soups play an important role in Belarusian cuisine. There are two types of soups: hot and cold. All soups have sour tastes. In my family every day we have some soup for the first course.