IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic:

Traditional food is undergoing great changes and being replaced by new diets. What do you think are the reasons and what do you think about this phenomenon?

Outline

Identifying the essay type: Give the reasons and your opinion
Structuring the essay:

INTRODUCTION

refer to the statement

BODY

Paragraph 1: Give the reasons for this issue

[1] family size is the proper explanation for this change

[2] this dietary shift is also attributable to recent leaps in technology.

[3] the enormous penetration of transnational cartels throughout the developing world is also inextricably linked to this transition.

Paragraph 2: Give your opinion about this issue => Negative consequences

[1] the demise of cultural norms

[2] various ailments such as obesity, cardiovascular and diabetes are exacerbated

CONCLUSION:

Restate your point.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

Our contemporary society has been apparently characterised by the hustle and bustle of our life’s tempo, coinciding with the shift in dietary consumption and energy expenditure. Accordingly, artisanal foods and culinary traditions have been left with little room to cater for modern people’s requirements to their satisfaction. This essay aims to indicate some rationales behind this phenomenon.

First, family size is the proper explanation for this change. Formerly, the large size of families frequently leads to economic sense for one person to devote himself or herself to time-consuming domestic tasks. Yet, an increasing amount of family planning and a following decrease in the fertility rate have paved the way for numerous nuclear families with fewer members, but with higher demands for a better life, compared to the past. Understandably, parents have to earn their living more industriously, and processed foods, therefore, are no doubt substituting decent meals with conventional foods to save their time. Second, this dietary shift is also attributable to recent leaps in technology. Daily tasks that were once laborious engagements are presently far easier with the help of technological advancements, with examples being appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and stoves. Therefore, new diets are taking the place of long-established ways of handling food by a simple press of a button. Further, technology has rendered our lifestyles more sedentary and convenience food is an optimum choice of white collars who are frequently chasing after the clock. Third, the enormous penetration of transnational cartels throughout the developing world is also inextricably linked to this transition. In fact, the liberalisation of foreign investment, the commercialization, and the saturation of Western markets have pushed domestic companies into other foreign locales. Also, improvements in the logistics and procurement systems employed by supermarkets have allowed them to compete, on cost, with the more typical outlets in locals – the small mom-and-pop stores and wet markets for fruits, vegetables, and all other products.

There are myriad of negative consequences. First, the demise of cultural norms will be inevitable. Specific techniques and practices would die out with our ancestors as they have no one in the younger generations to take up their craft. Moreover, various ailments such as obesity, cardiovascular and diabetes are exacerbated in our society.

Overall, I reckon that this phenomenon is triggered by many factors and has put our modern society in jeopardy. However, we should take full advantage of each kind of food, and to grasp all negative impacts of new diets to ensure our better life.

Useful vocabulary

• The hustle and bustle of our life’s tempo
• Dietary consumption and energy expenditure
• Artisanal foods and culinary traditions
• Economic sense for one person
• Paved the way for
• The enormous penetration of transnational cartels
• The liberalisation of foreign investment
• Commercialization
• The demise of cultural norms

Hope you can find this post intriguing. Try to practice writing every day to improve your writing skills. You can find more tips and lessons about the IELTS test on ieltsmaterial.com. Don’t forget “Practice makes perfect”.