Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a camper
    • ex. Many campers woke up early to watch the sunrise.
  2. saturated fat
    • ex. Butter contains a lot of saturated fat, so it is best to eat it in small amounts.
  3. a dietitian
    • ex. The dietitian explained how to improve my eating habits.
  4. backpacking
    • ex. She spent three months backpacking across Europe.
  5. chop
    • ex. They are chopping fresh fruit for the salad.

Article

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

Font size

Nutrition experts say hikers and campers can make healthier food choices during outdoor trips. Spending time in nature can improve physical and mental health, but foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat may reduce some of these benefits. Experts encourage people to choose nutritious meals and snacks while away from home.

Aaron Owens Mayhew, a dietitian and long-distance hiker from California, said outdoor travelers should try to eat the same kinds of foods they enjoy at home. He noted that some people exercise regularly and eat healthy meals, but switch to less healthy snacks when backpacking. He suggested simple options, such as healthy cereal with powdered milk instead of high-fat cooked breakfasts.

Rashad Frazier, founder of Camp Yoshi, said good meal planning can make outdoor cooking easier. He advises campers to prepare ingredients before leaving home by chopping vegetables or packing meals in advance. This saves time at the campsite and allows people to relax, enjoy nature, watch the sunset, and spend more time with family and friends while still eating healthy meals.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Traveling Outdoors

  • Do you like traveling outdoors? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • When spending time outdoors with family or friends, what kinds of foods do you usually bring? Discuss.
  • Do you think people today spend enough time outdoors? Why do you say so? Discuss.

Meal Planning

  • In the article, Rashad Frazier talked about good meal planning. Do you usually plan your meals? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Frazier said that good meal planning can make outdoor cooking easier. If you could make a meal plan for a camping trip, what food would you make? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what kind of meal plan is good for you and your family (ex. food has lots of vegetables, food doesn't have saturated fat)? Discuss.