Plan this positive or negative essay about food with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
People today eat more snacks and ready-made meals and fewer family meals than in the past.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Compared with the past, people now eat more snacks and ready-made meals and fewer meals together as a family. I think this is a mainly negative development, although it has some practical advantages.
The benefits are related to modern working life. Ready meals and snacks save time, which is important for people who work long hours or study in the evenings and have little energy to cook. The wide choice available, from salads in a box to frozen dishes from every part of the world, means that busy people can eat quickly without being limited to a few options. For many individuals living alone, a prepared meal is simply a realistic solution.
Nevertheless, there are significant drawbacks. First, processed food tends to contain more salt, sugar and fat than home cooking, and constant snacking between meals can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Second, the decline of family meals means that members of a household spend less time talking together. Mealtimes were traditionally a moment when parents could find out about their children's day and teach manners, and without them relationships may weaken. Studies even link regular family dinners to better school results and fewer behavioural problems among teenagers. Finally, ready meals come with a great deal of plastic packaging, which adds to waste and pollution.
This trend does not need to be accepted as unavoidable. Families can aim to eat together a few times a week, perhaps at weekends, and prepare simple fresh meals in advance, while keeping snacks as occasional extras. Even small changes can restore some of the benefits of the past.
In conclusion, the move to snacks and ready meals suits busy lifestyles, but the harm to health, family relationships and the environment makes it more negative than positive.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ready meal | food bought already cooked |
| snacking | eating small things between meals |
| packaged food | food in packets |
| time-saving | reducing time spent |
| nutrient | substance needed for health |
| unhealthy habits | bad routines |
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