This is a very rare 5 paragraph IELTS essay from me – the only one on my site!
I did this because there were 3 areas to deal with in the question prompt so it made sense to have one paragraph for each.
The drawback is that each idea has less development than most of my other essays.
Dave
IELTS Essay: Fast Food, Families, Nutrition & the Environment
Many claim that the fast food industry had a negative effect on the environment, eating habits, and families.
To what extend do you agree or disagree?
Some would argue that the prevalence of fast food in society negatively impacts families, nutrition, and the environment. I am in complete agreement with this sentiment.
Firstly, fast food has destabilized traditional family meals. In the past, it was common for individuals to spend time eating a family meal so that parents and children could share quality time together. Fast food does not make this impossible, however, consumers are more likely to eat fast food while driving, watching television, or outside the home. The impact on families is marginal since fast food meals may be the exception though it is also decidedly negative.
Secondly, few would claim that fast food is healthy. The products at most fast food establishments are extremely high in sugar, fat, calories, and chemical preservatives. For instance, a cheeseburger from McDonald’s contains red meat that has been treated with steroids, salty cheese, and various other ingredients with, at best, doubtful dietary implications. This applies for the majority of fast food and is the main reason many today strive to eat at home or at healthier restaurants.
Finally, the production of fast food has significant environmental repercussions. Firstly, this involves factory farming. In order to supply beef, chicken, and pork there are massive farms that not only occupy land but also produce methane and other gases harmful to the ozone layer. Secondly, the transportation of goods that ensures consistency across franchises requires fossil fuel consumption. The chief culprits here are cars, trucks, and airplanes.
In conclusion, though there may be limited benefits related to convenience, fast food is an overwhelming negative in terms of families, eating habits, and the natural world. Whenever possible, consumers should not opt for fast food.
Analysis
1. Some would argue that the prevalence of fast food in society negatively impacts families, nutrition, and the environment. 2. I am in complete agreement with this sentiment.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Firstly, fast food has destabilized traditional family meals. 2. In the past, it was common for individuals to spend time eating a family meal so that parents and children could share quality time together. 3. Fast food does not make this impossible, however, consumers are more likely to eat fast food while driving, watching television, or outside the home. 4. The impact on families is marginal since fast food meals may be the exception though it is also decidedly negative.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. Secondly, few would claim that fast food is healthy. 2. The products at most fast food establishments are extremely high in sugar, fat, calories, and chemical preservatives. 3. For instance, a cheeseburger from McDonald’s contains red meat that has been treated with steroids, salty cheese, and various other ingredients with, at best, doubtful dietary implications. 4. This applies for the majority of fast food and is the main reason many today strive to eat at home or at healthier restaurants.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
1. Finally, the production of fast food has significant environmental repercussions. 2. Firstly, this involves factory farming. 3. In order to supply beef, chicken, and pork there are massive farms that not only occupy land but also produce methane and other gases harmful to the ozone layer. 4. Secondly, the transportation of goods that ensures consistency across franchises requires fossil fuel consumption. 5. The chief culprits here are cars, trucks, and airplanes.
- In this odd essay with 5 paragraphs, add the last main idea here.
- Begin developing the first part.
- Add more detail.
- In this I have another main idea to develop.
- Make sure there is at least one more sentence of development.
1. In conclusion, though there may be limited benefits related to convenience, fast food is an overwhelming negative in terms of families, eating habits, and the natural world. 2. Whenever possible, consumers should not opt for fast food.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some would argue that the prevalence of fast food in society negatively impacts families, nutrition, and the environment. I am in complete agreement with this sentiment.
Firstly, fast food has destabilized traditional family meals. In the past, it was common for individuals to spend time eating a family meal so that parents and children could share quality time together. Fast food does not make this impossible, however, consumers are more likely to eat fast food while driving, watching television, or outside the home. The impact on families is marginal since fast food meals may be the exception though it is also decidedly negative.
Secondly, few would claim that fast food is healthy. The products at most fast food establishments are extremely high in sugar, fat, calories, and chemical preservatives. For instance, a cheeseburger from McDonald’s contains red meat that has been treated with steroids, salty cheese, and various other ingredients with, at best, doubtful dietary implications. This applies for the majority of fast food and is the main reason many today strive to eat at home or at healthier restaurants.
Finally, the production of fast food has significant environmental repercussions. Firstly, this involves factory farming. In order to supply beef, chicken, and pork there are massive farms that not only occupy land but also produce methane and other gases harmful to the ozone layer. Secondly, the transportation of goods that ensures consistency across franchises requires fossil fuel consumption. The chief culprits here are cars, trucks, and airplanes.
In conclusion, though there may be limited benefits related to convenience, fast food is an overwhelming negative in terms of families, eating habits, and the natural world. Whenever possible, consumers should not opt for fast food.
Answers
argue claim
prevalence how common it is
fast food McDonald’s, KFC, Domino’s, etc.
negatively impacts hurts
nutrition healthy foods
complete agreement 100% on the same side
sentiment belief
destabilized weakened
traditional family meals normal dinners with family
common pervasive
share quality time together have a nice time together as a family
impossible can’t happen
consumers people who buy
outside not indoors
marginal slight
exception not normal
decidedly negative definitely bad
claim argue
establishments places
extremely high in a lot of in it
sugar sweetness
fat from butter, cheese, etc.
calories measurement for how much is in a food
chemical preservatives artificial additives
contains red meat has beef, pork, lamb in it
treated with steroids had a chemical injected into it
salty full of salt
various different kinds
ingredients what’s inside it
at best in the best situation
doubtful dietary implications questionable nutrition
applies is also true for
majority most of
strive try hard
production making of
significant big
repercussions effects
involves factory farming concerns big farms
in order to supply so that they have enough
massive large
occupy land take up the space
produce methane make gas
gases harmful to emissions that hurt
ozone layer atmosphere
transportation cars, trains, etc.
ensures consistency keeps it all the same
across franchises different restaurants all under the same brand
requires fossil fuel consumption needs gas
chief culprits main causes
limited benefits not much help
related to concerning
convenience makes it easy
overwhelming massive
whenever possible if they can
not opt for not choose
Pronunciation
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈprɛvələns
fɑːst fuːd
ˈnɛgətɪvli ˈɪmpækts
nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃən
kəmˈpliːt əˈgriːmənt
ˈsɛntɪmənt
ˌdiːˈsteɪb(ə)laɪzd
trəˈdɪʃənl ˈfæmɪli miːlz
ˈkɒmən
ʃeə ˈkwɒlɪti taɪm təˈgɛðə
ɪmˈpɒsəbl
kənˈsjuːməz
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl
ɪkˈsɛpʃən
dɪˈsaɪdɪdli ˈnɛgətɪv
kleɪm
ɪsˈtæblɪʃmənts
ɪksˈtriːmli haɪ ɪn
ˈʃʊgə
fæt
ˈkæləriz
ˈkɛmɪkəl prɪˈzɜːvətɪvz
kənˈteɪnz rɛd miːt
ˈtriːtɪd wɪð ˈstɛrɔɪdz
ˈsɔːlti
ˈveərɪəs
ɪnˈgriːdiənts
æt bɛst
ˈdaʊtfʊl ˈdaɪətəri ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz
əˈplaɪz
məˈʤɒrɪti
straɪv
prəˈdʌkʃən
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt
ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃənz
ɪnˈvɒlvz ˈfæktəri ˈfɑːmɪŋ
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː səˈplaɪ
ˈmæsɪv
ˈɒkjʊpaɪ lænd
ˈprɒdjuːs ˈmiːθeɪn
ˈgæsɪz ˈhɑːmfʊl tuː
ˈəʊzəʊn ˈleɪə
ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən
ɪnˈʃʊəz kənˈsɪstənsi
əˈkrɒs ˈfrænʧaɪzɪz
rɪˈkwaɪəz ˈfɒsl fjʊəl kənˈsʌm(p)ʃən
ʧiːf ˈkʌlprɪts
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈbɛnɪfɪts
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
kənˈviːniəns
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ
wɛnˈɛvə ˈpɒsəbl
nɒt ɒpt fɔː
Vocabulary Practice
Some would a____e that the p___________e of f___________d in society n_________________s families, n_____________n, and the environment. I am in c_____________________t with this s_____________t.
Firstly, fast food has d________________d t_________________________s. In the past, it was c__________n for individuals to spend time eating a family meal so that parents and children could s___________________________r. Fast food does not make this i______________e, however, c____________s are more likely to eat fast food while driving, watching television, or o___________e the home. The impact on families is m_________l since fast food meals may be the e____________n though it is also d_________________e.
Secondly, few would c_____m that fast food is healthy. The products at most fast food e________________s are e_____________________n s________r, f___t, c_________s, and c_________________________s. For instance, a cheeseburger from McDonald’s c_________________________t that has been t____________________________s, s________y cheese, and v__________s other i________________s with, a_________t, d________________________________s. This a_________s for the m___________y of fast food and is the main reason many today s________e to eat at home or at healthier restaurants.
Finally, the p____________n of fast food has s_____________t environmental r_________________s. Firstly, this i____________________g. I________________________y beef, chicken, and pork there are m__________e farms that not only o________________d but also p_________________e and other g___________________o the o_____________r. Secondly, the t________________n of goods that e____________________________________s r_________________________________________n. The c________________s here are cars, trucks, and airplanes.
In conclusion, though there may be l_______________________s r__________________________e, fast food is an o______________g negative in terms of families, eating habits, and the natural world. W___________________e, consumers should n______________r fast food.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.healthline.com/health/fast-food-effects-on-body
Speaking Practice
Discuss a food that you really like. Include
What it is
Why you like it
When you had it last
How much it costs
Writing Practice
In many countries, fast food is becoming cheaper and more widely available.
Do the disadvantages of this outweigh the advantages?
Its a logically developed lesson .I appreciate this so much
You’re welcome!
No problem, Ranawaka!
There is a statement that fast food is harmful to environmental pollution, diet plans, and family relationships. In my opinion, it may be unfair to blame for fast food.
Firstly, fast food packaging is only a tiny part of the pollution. Some may consider that the packaging of fast food may cause a lot of pollution, because those papers that are used to cover hamburgers and the plastic cups for drinks may result in a large amount of rubbish if people eat fast food a lot. However, there will also be packaging for other food. For example, the meat in the supermarket is covered by plastic, and the cheese may be put in a paper box or covered by metal paper. The restaurants only remove them from the kitchen, but such packaging still exists. Moreover, most packaging is able to be recycled, which means there should not be wasted if the recycling infrastructure is operating.
Secondly, people can select what to eat by themselves. Many claim that fast food leads to addiction, which may be bad for health. We have to know that a lot of people are still poor in terms of money, while fast food is cheap enough for them. Therefore, they may tend to survive and buy fast food to eat. Survival may be more important than health for them. For those who can afford healthy food, fast food can also be a selection. Some of them may like fast food, such as the US former president, Donald Trump, and the responsibility for their own choice should be taken by themselves rather than by the government or anyone else. Furthermore, some sport athelates, such as weigh raising athelates, need high energy food, and fast food is a good selection for them.
Lastly, family relationships should be maintained by family members rather than by food or other issues. Some may say that family members may want to eat fast food outside, and ignore communication with the family. Actually, no one wants to eat alone. For example, a doctor may need to eat fast food in his position because of the number of patients in a hospital. It would be crucial to consider that fast food is the reason for it. Also, fast food restaurants can be a place to gather family. Fast food is rare in many developing countries, so the children there hope to have a fast food meal. Many families there would choose McDonald for a happy moment. Therefore, fast food could be a method to get closer to family members in some situations.
In sum, there are a lot of issues that would be the main reasons for environmental pollution, healthy diets, and family, which cannot be blamed on fast food. In addition, healthy departments should ensure the quality of fast food production is good enough.
Nice work, though a little on the long side – be careful with your timing on the real exam, Gakki!
Nice written,I like it
Thanks!
Many claim that the fast food industry had a negative effect on the environment, eating habits, and families.
To what extend do you agree or disagree?
Growing rates of fast food consumption started to bother not only ecological initiatives and nutritionists, but also due to its consequences on family relationships sociologists as well, since not recycled rubbish, obesity and lack of time spent with family members are becoming the main phenomenon of current century.
Fast food production has increased the pollution rates indirectly since waste caused by not recycling materials used in the production of junk foods leads to the ground pollution. To explain, even ordinary plastic cups used to serve customers` drink needs on average self-destroyed 3000 thousand years, which relatively large period of time. For instance, according to WEO statistics, Mac Donald’s as being the largest magnate of fast food industry in majority of cities, is responsible for 30 percent of ground pollution caused by plastic itinerary.
Conventional food consumption has being altered with junk food led to the increasing number of obesity cases over the world. To explain, potato fries, hamburgers and etc. due to its trans-fat ingredients and high calories difficult to absorption in addition with sedentary lifestyle which is quite extended in present days in modern cities cause the nation of people suffering from obesity or at least from overweight issues. Recent report on the mentioned issues revealed that countries with the most numbers of fast food chains and restaurants showed the highest proportion of obese people among population.
Moreover, the disappearing tradition of cooking times in families in which couples could have spent time together and having conversation while preparing dinner or barbecue in yard started ending up with ordering another bunch of fast food package, which ultimately decreased family time thus making relationship among family members even isolated.
For the reasons mentioned above, I believe that fast food production and consumption should be monitored for the sake of human’s habitat, health and family bond.
Good work, Sarvinoz!
Really strong all around though you might struggle with timing if you write 5 paragraphs.
How long to write it?