Lower to Upper Intermediate Activity: Organic Food, No More Nutritious?

Dear all,

Well, after the Easter holiday, and the amount of chocolate I believe most of us have consumed (LOL!), how about talking about our eating habits?

This is an intriguing discussion I believe impact us all, as it raises the question whether or not organic food is better than the conventional one.

Let's start off by a little reflection on our eating habits:

1) What’s your opinion about the following food?

 1.1) What’s your favorite food?

Indian French Thai

Japanese Italian Mexican

Lebanese  American

2) Listen to the following passages (1 and 2) where I describe Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangle opinion on the issue. While listening, you can try to fill in the missing words.

After that, you can answer the questions proposed in the comment box following this post. This way, your virtual friends can read and also share their opinions too.

2.1)   Article on Organic Food - Listening Part 1

Scientists ___________________ organic and non-organic food contain pretty much the same amounts and kinds of vitamins __________________________. This might be surprising news for those of us who choose to buy organic  ______________________ healthier. Researchers from America's Stanford University concluded that there might not ______________________ benefits to buying organic, thus people might _____________________ their money and buying non-organic produce. Lead researcher Dr Crystal Smith-Spangle said there was no difference in  ___________________ fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products in organically- and conventionally-produced food. She said the only difference was slightly more phosphorus in the organic products.

2.2) Article on Organic Food - Listening Part 2

Dr. Smith-Spangle's__________________________different reports on organic food suggests people_____________their shopping choices, based on the levels of pesticides. Smith Spangler said both organic and conventional foods rarely exceeded______________ pesticides in the USA. She said the evidence wans't too clear on whether the difference in pesticides would ________________________ health. She concluded by saying consumers should know there is __________________ that eating fruit and vegetables is good for your health, so people should eat more fresh produce, whether it is________________________. Organic foods accounted for $ 31 billion in sales in the USA last year, up from $ 3.6 billion in 1997.

3) Choose some of the following questions and write your answers on the comment box. We will also comment in class.

3.1) Are these sentences TRUE or FALSE according to the listening?

a) Scientists have found that non-organic food is no longer nutritious            T/F
b) The article suggests people shouldn't waste money on organic food.          T/F
c) Research says vitamine content in organic/non-organic food is the same. T/F
d) The researcher said there was more phosphorus in non-organic food.       T/F

3.2) Organic Food Discussion

a) Are you surprised by this news?
b) Do you think organic food could be a marketing trick?
c) Why does everyone believe organic food is healthier?
d) Do you think organic food tastes any different to "conventional" food?
e) Do you worry about how healthy the food you eat is?
f) Are you happy with food controls and regulations in your country?
g) Which country's cuisine do you think is healthiest?
h) Do you think more of us should grow our own food?

4) Compare this discussion with Bhutan experience by watching this video:

  and article: BUTHAN set to plough lone furrow as world's 1st wholly organic country

Really hope to have your live participation both in class and here.

Let's practice English!!

Flávia