This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of convenience foods from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Convenience Foods

Convenience foods will become increasingly prevalent and eventually replace traditional foods and methods of preparation.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many feel that convenience foods will one day completely replace traditional cuisine. In my opinion, though these products are inexpensive and convenient, there will always be a meaningful place for traditional food products.

The threat of convenience foods is based in their value. Prepared foods that can be found in supermarkets and small shops such as TV dinners and junk food are cheap and require little initiative. There is appeal in this for both single individuals and those with families. Most people come home tired after a long day at work or school and do not want to spend too much money or invest a lot of time in preparing a meal. Therefore, it is logical that companies produce ready-made meals that target this particular segment of market demand. In the future, there is a strong chance that companies will make these products healthier and convenience foods will become more prevalent.

Nonetheless, there will always be appreciation for traditional meals. At the moment, this is because these meals taste better and are healthier than convenience foods. Shoppers tend to consume unhealthy prepared meals as a last resort and when they have surplus time, money, or energy will opt for more wholesome meals that they can remember from their childhood. This is the reason that most cities have vibrant food scenes. Additionally, even if convenience foods can later be manufactured to a higher standard, it is unlikely individuals will ever want to relinquish the atmosphere of a more traditional dining experience. Traditional food is therefore an antidote to increasingly insular and sedentary modern lifestyles.

In conclusion, despite the utilitarian benefits of convenience foods, individuals will always prefer the better quality and experience of eating more traditionally. This is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future.

Analysis

1. Many feel that convenience foods will one day completely replace traditional cuisine. 2. In my opinion, though these products are inexpensive and convenient, there will always be a meaningful place for traditional food products.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. The threat of convenience foods is based in their value. 2. Prepared foods that can be found in supermarkets and small shops such as TV dinners and junk food are cheap and require little initiative. 3. There is appeal in this for both single individuals and those with families. 4. Most people come home tired after a long day at work or school and do not want to spend too much money or invest a lot of time in preparing a meal. 5. Therefore, it is logical that companies produce ready-made meals that target this particular segment of market demand. 6. In the future, there is a strong chance that companies will make these products healthier and convenience foods will become more prevalent.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Stay focused on the same main idea.
6. Finish with the full result.

1. Nonetheless, there will always be appreciation for traditional meals. 2. At the moment, this is because these meals taste better and are healthier than convenience foods. 3. Shoppers tend to consume unhealthy prepared meals as a last resort and when they have surplus time, money, or energy will opt for more wholesome meals that they can remember from their childhood. 4. This is the reason that most cities have vibrant food scenes. 5. Additionally, even if convenience foods can later be manufactured to a higher standard, it is unlikely individuals will ever want to relinquish the atmosphere of a more traditional dining experience. 6. Traditional food is therefore an antidote to increasingly insular and sedentary modern lifestyles.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Continue developing it…
5. as fully as possible!
6. Vary long and short sentences.

1. In conclusion, despite the utilitarian benefits of convenience foods, individuals will always prefer the better quality and experience of eating more traditionally. 2. This is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many feel that convenience foods will one day completely replace traditional cuisine. In my opinion, though these products are inexpensive and convenient, there will always be a meaningful place for traditional food products.

The threat of convenience foods is based in their value. Prepared foods that can be found in supermarkets and small shops such as TV dinners and junk food are cheap and require little initiative. There is appeal in this for both single individuals and those with families. Most people come home tired after a long day at work or school and do not want to spend too much money or invest a lot of time in preparing a meal. Therefore, it is logical that companies produce ready-made meals that target this particular segment of market demand. In the future, there is a strong chance that companies will make these products healthier and convenience foods will become more prevalent.

Nonetheless, there will always be appreciation for traditional meals. At the moment, this is because these meals taste better and are healthier than convenience foods. Shoppers tend to consume unhealthy prepared meals as a last resort and when they have surplus time, money, or energy will opt for more wholesome meals that they can remember from their childhood. This is the reason that most cities have vibrant food scenes. Additionally, even if convenience foods can later be manufactured to a higher standard, it is unlikely individuals will ever want to relinquish the atmosphere of a more traditional dining experience. Traditional food is therefore an antidote to increasingly insular and sedentary modern lifestyles.

In conclusion, despite the utilitarian benefits of convenience foods, individuals will always prefer the better quality and experience of eating more traditionally. This is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

convenience foods junk foods and prepared foods

one day eventually

completely replace take over 100%

traditional cuisine food from the past of a country

products foods

inexpensive cheap

convenient cheap and easy

meaningful place important space

traditional food products culturally important foods

threat risk

is based in has its foundation in

value importance

prepared foods meals made ahead of time

can be found in can be located in

TV dinners prepared meals you can microwave

junk food unhealthy foods like chips, etc.

cheap inexpensive

require little initiative need not much effort

appeal attractiveness

single individuals unmarried people

tired without energy

invest put money, time into

logical rational

ready-made meals already prepared foods

particular segment certain area

market demand consumers wanting it

strong chance good likelihood

healthier better for you

prevalent very common

nonetheless regargless

appreciation caring about

meals foods

at the moment right now

taste better better flavor

healthier more nutritious

consume eat

last resort final option

surplus extra

wholesome meals good foods

childhood when you were a kid

vibrant food scenes flourishing restaurants

additionally also

later in the future

higher standard better quality

relinquish give up

atmosphere feeling in the restaurant

more traditional less modern

dining experience atmosphere

antidote cure

increasingly more and more

insular isolated

sedentary less active, more passive

modern lifestyles way people live now

utilitarian benefits actual effects for a person

prefer desire more

quality how good something is

remain the case still true

foreseeable future as far as we can see in the future

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

kənˈviːniəns fuːdz 
wʌn deɪ 
kəmˈpliːtli rɪˈpleɪs 
trəˈdɪʃənl kwi(ː)ˈziːn
ˈprɒdʌkts 
ˌɪnɪksˈpɛnsɪv 
kənˈviːniənt
ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl pleɪs 
trəˈdɪʃənl fuːd ˈprɒdʌkts
θrɛt 
ɪz beɪst ɪn 
ˈvæljuː
prɪˈpeəd fuːdz 
kæn biː faʊnd ɪn 
ˌtiːˈviː ˈdɪnəz 
ʤʌŋk fuːd 
ʧiːp 
rɪˈkwaɪə ˈlɪtl ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪv
əˈpiːl 
ˈsɪŋgl ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz 
ˈtaɪəd 
ɪnˈvɛst 
ˈlɒʤɪkəl 
ˈrɛdɪˈmeɪd miːlz 
pəˈtɪkjʊlə ˈsɛgmənt 
ˈmɑːkɪt dɪˈmɑːnd
strɒŋ ʧɑːns 
ˈhɛlθɪə 
ˈprɛvələnt
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
əˌpriːʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n 
miːlz
æt ðə ˈməʊmənt
teɪst ˈbɛtə 
ˈhɛlθɪə 
kənˈsjuːm 
lɑːst rɪˈzɔːt 
ˈsɜːpləs 
ˈhəʊlsəm miːlz 
ˈʧaɪldhʊd
ˈvaɪbrənt fuːd siːnz
əˈdɪʃənli
ˈleɪtə 
ˈhaɪə ˈstændəd
rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ 
ˈætməsfɪə 
mɔː trəˈdɪʃənl 
ˈdaɪnɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈæntɪdəʊt 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli 
ˈɪnsjʊlə 
ˈsɛdntəri 
ˈmɒdən ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz
ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteərɪən ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
priˈfɜː 
ˈkwɒlɪti 
rɪˈmeɪn ðə keɪs 
fɔːˈsiːəbl ˈfjuːʧə

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many feel that c____________________s will o_________y c__________________e t_____________________e. In my opinion, though these p___________s are i_______________e and c_____________t, there will always be a m________________________e for t_______________________________s.

The t________t of convenience foods i________________n their v_______e. P________________s that c_________________n supermarkets and small shops such as T______________s and j___________d are c________p and r_____________________e. There is a___________l in this for both s________________s and those with families. Most people come home t________d after a long day at work or school and do not want to spend too much money or i_________t a lot of time in preparing a meal. Therefore, it is l__________l that companies produce r__________________s that target this p_______________________t of m_________________d. In the future, there is a s_________________e that companies will make these products h______________r and convenience foods will become more p___________t.

N________________s, there will always be a________________n for traditional m________s. A___________________t, this is because these meals t____________r and are h_____________r than convenience foods. Shoppers tend to c___________e unhealthy prepared meals as a l_________t and when they have s__________s time, money, or energy will opt for more w____________________s that they can remember from their c____________d. This is the reason that most cities have v______________________s. A_____________y, even if convenience foods can l________r be manufactured to a h________________d, it is unlikely individuals will ever want to r____________h the a_____________e of a m_______________________________________e. Traditional food is therefore an a___________e to i_____________________r and s_____________________________s.

In conclusion, despite the u_________________s of convenience foods, individuals will always p_________r the better q________y and experience of eating more traditionally. This is likely to r_________________e for the f_____________________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210521-which-processed-foods-are-better-than-natural

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Food

1. What kinds of foods do you like to eat?
2. How different is food in your country today from when you were younger?
3. Which foods do you dislike?
4. What foods do people in your country buy at the market?

Writing Practice

Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. Sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar.

Do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Cambridge 16: Manufactured Foods and Sugar