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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. rack up (something)
    • ex. She is racking up points in the game by answering questions correctly.
  2. staple
    • ex. In Italy, pasta is a staple dish that families eat regularly for lunch or dinner.
  3. a nutrient
    • ex. To grow big and strong, children need to eat foods rich in nutrients every day.
  4. fiber
    • ex. Eating foods high in fiber, like apples and beans, helps keep our stomachs healthy.
  5. hydrated
    • ex. After jogging for 30 minutes, Anne drank plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Cucumbers have always been a popular food. And now, they are even more famous thanks to social media. Many cucumber recipes became very popular online last year, racking up millions of views. And cucumbers became a staple food in salads and other dishes. But many people wonder if cucumbers are really healthy and if it’s okay to eat them often.

According to Dr. Matthew Landry, a professor at the University of California, cucumbers are a good choice for most people. He says that it’s great when people eat more fruits and vegetables, and cucumbers are a healthy, low-cost snack. They can be a good replacement for chips or other snacks. Although cucumbers are not very high in nutrients, they do have some important nutrients, like vitamin K.

Cucumbers also have small amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A. They have some fiber too, about 1.5 grams in a whole cucumber. Cucumbers can help keep you hydrated since they are mostly water. They are low in calories, with only 45 calories in one cucumber. This means you can eat a lot of cucumbers without getting too many calories.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Healthy Snacks

  • Do you agree that cucumbers are a good alternative to chips or other unhealthy snacks? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What are some healthy snacks in your country that you like to eat? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what makes a snack truly healthy (ex. low calories, many nutrients)? Discuss.

Staple Food

  • What is the staple food in your country (ex. rice, bread)? Discuss.
  • Do you think staple foods are usually affordable and easy to find? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Imagine you’re traveling to another country. Would you try their staple food? Why or why not? Discuss.