8.Discuss these questions.

1.Do you think your national diet is a healthy diet?

2.Which ‘unhealthy’ foods do you enjoy eating?

3.When do people in your country usually eat the biggest meal of the day? Do you think it’s the best time to eat it?

9.Project.

Choose one of the following ideas.

a.Prepare a short talk about another country’s cuisine. Compare it with your national cuisine and say what you like or dislike about it.

b.Work in groups. Your company wants a new staff restaurant. Discuss your ideas for an interesting, healthy menu and write your suggestions under headings, e.g. Starters, Hot dishes, Cold dishes, Desserts, Snacks, Drinks. Present your ideas to the other groups.

10. Monique and James are in a restaurant.

W=Waiter, M=Monique, J=James

W Good evening.

M Good evening. I booked a table for two. The name is Bresson.

W Oh, yes, madam. Your table is over here.

J This is a wonderful surprise, Monique. How did you know it was my birthday?

M Oh, that’s a secret. Anyway, I would like to discuss the trip to Hungary with you. You need an interpreter?

J Yes, I do.

M Well, let’s order first.

J It’s a difficult choice. What do you recommend?

M Well, the fish is usually excellent here. Let’s see. I recommend the Dover sole, or if you prefer meat, the Normandy pork.

W Are you ready to order?

M James?

J Yes, I’ll have king prawns as starter, and then grilled Dover sole.

M And I’d like smoked salmon and the Normandy pork.

W Certainly, madam. And what would you like to drink?

M You choose.

J OK. A bottle of Sancerre, please.

M This wine is very good, isn’t it? Do have some more, James.

J Yes, it’s very good, and the fish is delicious.

M Good. I’m pleased you like it. Now, how about a dessert?...

11.Answer the questions.

- Who do you think pays the bill?

- Why does James ask Monique about her birthday?

Healthy Eating for Diabetics

1.Most of the functions in the human body are controlled by hormones, in a hormones produced by the pancreas, controls the amount of sugar in the blood which is then used by the body to generate energy. The efficient production of insulin leads to common disorder called diabetes.

2.Having diabetes does not mean giving up your favourite foods and eating differently from family and friends. However, a sugar-free diet still remains the cornerstone of the treatment of diabetes. Nowadays, doctors recommend that people with diabetes should continue their lives as usual, should follow a well-balanced and healthy diet.

3.The British Diabetic Association has published guidelines to assist people who need to follow a special diet. The BDA recommends controlling bodyweight, reducing fat consumption and eating more fruit, vegetables and starchy food. If there is a need to lose weight, realistic short-term targets are most helpful. Aiming for a slow but steady weight loss of one kilogram per week is ideal, until the desired weight is achieved. Including more exercise in your daily routine, and checking your weight once a week are also recommended.

4.It is also advisable to avoid cooking meals using large amounts of fat - choose lean meat or low-fat items instead. Removing the skin from chicken and using fat-free milk are also good ways of reducing fat in the diet. Moreover, cutting down on the amount of butter and cheese by using the low-fat versions is recommended. Biscuits and cakes are also high in fat content.

5.Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is highly recommended. Beans and lentils contain a considerable amount of a certain type of fibre which helps to slow down the rise of blood sugar lev­els after meals. Choosing brown bread and flour instead of white, and high-fibre breakfast cereals, is also appropriate.

6.Foods like sweets, chocolate, cakes and biscuits should be avoided as they usually contain high amounts of sugar and fat. Also, less sugar must be used in cooking, and “diet” drinks are preferable. Using an artificial sweetener instead of sugar also helps a great deal. It is also important to be careful with the sugar content of packaged food items by reading the labels and preferably deciding on a “diet” alternative.

7.Diabetics should be able to enjoy nor­mal and healthy lifestyles once they decide to follow the B.D.A. guidelines. The experts at the Association are always available to provide further information on this matter.

TASKS: Choose from the list (A-H) the sentence which best summarises each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

A There is no reason why diabetics should not enjoy a normal life.

B The B.D.A. is at the public's disposal.

C Weight control and regular exercise play an important role in a diabetic’s life.

D Diabetics should be careful with foods which contain a lot of sugar.

E Insulin injections are widely used, but they are not very helpful.

F Diabetes is the result of inadequate insulin being produced.

G Some foods help to keep blood sugar down.

H High-fat foods should be avoided.