Listening

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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. dietary
    • ex. The doctor gave him dietary advice to improve his health.
  2. whole food
    • ex. Eating more whole foods can give you more energy throughout the day.
  3. grains
    • ex. Grains, such as rice and wheat, are basic foods in many countries.
  4. dairy
    • ex. She avoids dairy in her diet because it gives her a stomachache.
  5. obesity
    • ex. Eating too much fast food may increase the risk of obesity.

Article

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

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U.S. health officials released new national dietary guidelines in January, advising Americans to eat more whole foods and cut back on processed foods and added sugar. The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The document guides school meals, food programs, and other nutrition policies across the country.

The health officials continue to support eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein, and dairy. They also shared a new food picture that replaces the old food pyramid. It shows protein, dairy, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables at the top. Whole grains appear at the bottom, showing they should be eaten in smaller amounts. This design aims to make healthy choices easier to understand for everyone.

The guidelines warn against highly processed foods like chips, cookies, and candy. They also say Americans should limit unhealthy fat to 10 percent of daily calories. Whole-food sources such as meat, whole-fat dairy, and avocados are preferred. Experts say the changes aim to reduce obesity and diabetes while improving long-term public health. Officials hope the advice helps families build better eating habits nationwide today.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Making Healthy Choices

  • What healthy practices are you doing in your life right now? Discuss.
  • Do you think it’s easy to make healthy choices? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Describe what you think is a healthy diet for you (ex. no processed food). Discuss.

Obesity and Unhealthy Diet

  • How often do you eat foods with added sugar, like candy, soda, or desserts? Discuss.
  • Why do you think some people prefer unhealthy foods over healthy ones? Discuss.
  • The new national dietary guidelines in the U.S. aim to reduce obesity and diabetes while improving long-term public health. What do you think of the public health in your country? Discuss.