Choosing Dinner

This lesson helps learners practice a conversation between a mom and her child about deciding what to have for dinner. It focuses on expressing preferences, making choices between different foods, and trying new dishes.

Mom: “What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?”
Child: “I’m not sure. What do you think we should have?”
Mom: “How about pasta? I can make spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs.”
Child: “Yum! But I think I want something with cheese. Can we have pizza instead?”
Mom: “Pizza sounds good! Do you want it with just cheese, or should we add some veggies like mushrooms and bell peppers?”
Child: “I like cheese pizza, but I’ll try mushrooms.”
Mom: “Great choice! I’ll get the ingredients for a cheese pizza with mushrooms.”
Child: “Can we also have some garlic bread on the side?”
Mom: “Sure, garlic bread will go really well with the pizza.”
Child: “Yay! I can’t wait to eat!”
Mom: “Me too! It will be ready in a little while.”
Child: “Next time, can we have spaghetti?”
Mom: “Definitely! Next time, we’ll have spaghetti with meatballs.”

Vocabulary List

    • Pasta [ˈpɑːstə] (noun) – A type of Italian food made from flour, water, and sometimes eggs, shaped into various forms (e.g., spaghetti, penne).
      • Example: “Pasta is a quick and easy meal.”
    • Spaghetti [spəˈɡɛti] (noun) – A type of long, thin pasta that is commonly served with sauce.
      • Example: “Spaghetti with tomato sauce is my favorite.”
    • Tomato sauce [təˈmeɪʊ sɔːs] (noun) – A sauce made from tomatoes, often used in pasta dishes.
      • Example: “Tomato sauce adds flavor to the pasta.”
    • Meatballs [ˈmiːtbɔːlz] (noun) – Small, round pieces of ground meat, usually served with pasta or in sandwiches.
      • Example: “I love meatballs with my spaghetti.”
    • Pizza [ˈpiːtsə] (noun) – A flat, round bread topped with cheese, sauce, and various toppings like vegetables or meats.
      • Example: “Pizza is great for sharing with family.”
    • Cheese [ʧiːz] (noun) – A food made from milk that is often used as a topping for pizza or pasta.
      • Example: “I like cheese on my pizza.”
    • Mushrooms [ˈmʌʃruːmz] (noun) – A type of vegetable that grows underground and is often used as a topping in various dishes.
      • Example: “Mushrooms add a nice flavor to pizza.”
    • Bell peppers [bɛl ˈpɛpəz] (noun) – A type of vegetable that comes in various colors, such as red, yellow, and green, often used in pizza or salads.
      • Example: “Bell peppers are crunchy and colorful.”
    • Garlic bread [ˈɡɑːlɪk brɛd] (noun) – Bread topped with garlic butter, often served as a side dish with pasta or pizza.
      • Example: “Garlic bread is a delicious side dish.”
    • Try [traɪ] (verb) – To attempt or taste something new.
      • Example: “I want to try mushrooms on my pizza.”

    Grammar Tip: Use “How about” or “What do you think we should have” to suggest food options: “How about pizza?” “What do you think we should have for dinner?”
    When agreeing to try something new, use “I’ll try”: “I’ll try mushrooms.”
    For expressing future intentions or plans, use “Next time”: “Next time, we’ll have spaghetti.”
    When adding extra items, use “Can we have”: “Can we have garlic bread?”
    To make a suggestion, use “Do you want”: “Do you want it with just cheese?”

FILL IN THE BLANK

Story with Missing Words

Mom: "What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?"
Child: "I’m not . What do you think we should have?"
Mom: "How about ? I can make spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs."
Child: "Yum! But I think I want something with . Can we have pizza instead?"
Mom: "Pizza sounds good! Do you want it with just , or should we add some veggies like mushrooms and bell peppers?"
Child: "I like cheese pizza, but I’ll try ."
Mom: "Great choice! I’ll get the ingredients for a cheese pizza with mushrooms."
Child: "Can we also have some bread on the side?"
Mom: "Sure, garlic bread will go really well with the pizza."
Child: "Yay! I can’t wait to eat!"
Mom: "Me too! It will be ready in a little while."
Child: "Next time, can we have ?"
Mom: "Definitely! Next time, we’ll have spaghetti with meatballs."

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