02 | Meal Planning

Today you will learn 5 new English words related to "Meal Planning"

Author

SEWT Team
August 19, 2025

There’s an advanced English lesson waiting for you

Understanding “meal planning” is a crucial topic for you, an ESL learner, because it directly impacts your health, time management, and budget—especially when adapting to life in a new country. Knowing how to talk about ingredients, portions, schedules, and preparation methods helps you make informed choices at the grocery store, follow recipes, and communicate dietary needs. Mastering today’s vocabulary will empower you to organize meals effectively and confidently discuss food-related topics in English. Let’s jump right in!

5 TERMS

  1. Grocery list (Noun): A written or digital list of food items and household supplies to buy.

  2. Portion (Noun): The amount of food served for one person.

  3. Ingredients (Noun): The individual foods or items used to prepare a meal.

  4. Prep (Verb): Short for "prepare"; to get food ready to cook or eat.

  5. Leftovers (Noun): Food remaining from a previous meal, usually saved to eat later.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  1. Grocery list

    • I always make a grocery list before going shopping.

    • Her grocery list includes fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

    • He forgot his grocery list at home and had to guess what to buy.

  2. Portion

    • A healthy portion of rice is about half a cup.

    • The recipe serves four portions, so we had leftovers.

    • She reduced her portions to help manage her weight.

  3. Ingredients 

    • The soup needs only five simple ingredients.

    • Always check the ingredients before cooking a recipe.

    • He forgot one of the main ingredients, so the dish didn’t taste right.

  4. Prep

    • I like to prep my meals for the week on Sundays.

    • She prepped the vegetables by washing and cutting them.

    • We need to prep dinner early because guests are arriving soon.

  5. Leftovers

    • We had leftovers from last night’s dinner for lunch today.

    • Don’t throw away the leftovers—we can use them tomorrow.

    • He packed the leftovers in containers to bring to work.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH

Meal planning becomes easier when you start with a clear grocery list and know exactly what ingredients you’ll need for the week. By managing your portions, you can eat healthier and avoid wasting food. Many people like to prep meals ahead of time, saving effort during busy weekdays. Plus, using leftovers creatively can help reduce food waste and save money.