Navigating Dietary Restrictions
One or more colleagues mention specific dietary restrictions or allergies (e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free, no spicy food), and the group tries to find options that accommodate everyone.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
starving
This means extremely hungry, often used casually to express strong hunger in everyday conversations like planning meals.
gluten intolerance
A condition where someone cannot eat foods containing gluten, a protein in wheat, barley, and rye; common in discussions about dietary needs.
vegetarian
Someone who does not eat meat or animal products, but may eat dairy or eggs; useful when suggesting food options for friends.
gluten-free
Food or products without gluten, important for people with allergies or intolerances; check labels or ask restaurants for this.
tofu
A plant-based protein made from soybeans, often used in vegetarian or Asian dishes as a meat substitute.
spicy
Describes food with strong, hot flavors from peppers or spices; people mention this to avoid discomfort in group meals.
pickup
When you order food to collect from the restaurant yourself, instead of delivery; common for quick group lunches.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hey everyone, any thoughts on lunch today? I'm starving!
This is a casual way to start a group discussion about plans; 'any thoughts on' asks for suggestions politely, and 'I'm starving' expresses hunger emphatically. Use it to initiate meal planning with friends or colleagues.
Me too! I was thinking about that new Mediterranean place, but I heard Emily has a gluten intolerance, right?
'Me too' agrees with someone quickly; 'I was thinking about' suggests an idea softly. This sentence shows considering others' needs by checking facts. Useful in group decisions to include everyone.
That's right, Michael. And John, I know you prefer vegetarian options.
'That's right' confirms information; addressing by name makes it personal. 'Prefer' indicates a choice without strong obligation. Great for acknowledging dietary preferences in conversations.
Okay, so gluten-free and vegetarian. What about the Thai place down the street?
'Okay, so' summarizes points clearly; 'What about' proposes an alternative politely. This structure recaps needs and suggests a solution, ideal for accommodating group restrictions.
That's a good idea! Emily, can you usually find something safe there?
'That's a good idea' shows positive agreement; 'can you usually find' asks about past experiences. Use this to check if a place works for someone's allergies or preferences.
Sounds good to me. As long as it's not too spicy, I'm in.
'Sounds good to me' expresses approval; 'as long as' adds a condition with 'if'; 'I'm in' means I agree to join. Perfect for conditional acceptance in group activities.
Perfect! I'll call in an order for pickup then. Does everyone want to just meet there in about 15 minutes?
'Perfect' shows enthusiasm for a decision; 'I'll call in an order' offers to take action; 'Does everyone want to' seeks final confirmation. Use to wrap up plans and organize logistics.