Food is an essential part of our lives, and it’s very important to be able to discuss it. In English, there are several words related to things we eat that are sometimes confused: food, dish, meal, and cuisine. So, let’s clarify the distinctions between them.

Food

🍲 Food is a variable noun, which means it can be both countable and uncountable depending on the context. When referring to it as a substance or concept, it is considered uncountable. For example: 1) Food is essential for life (talking about food in a general sense). 2) I love Chinese food (referring to food as a category). When referring to specific types or instances of food, we consider it to be a countable noun. For example: 1) We had three different foods at the buffet (foods = specific types/dishes). 2) There were many foods to choose from at the festival (foods = menu items).

Let’s practice! Complete the sentences below with (a) food/foods and the suitable verb form. The answer key is given below.

1. ___ important for maintaining health.
2. You can buy processed ___ in this part of the supermarket.
3. ___ (+ Japanese) is known for its fresh ingredients.
4. The restaurant offers a variety of ___, including pasta and sushi.
5. Fruits and vegetables are healthy ___ that provide essential vitamins.
6. Reading is ___ for the soul.
7. ___ brings people together at gatherings.
8. We need ___ (+ enough) for the picnic.
9. He has to avoid ___ (+ certain) due to allergies.
10. Chocolate cake is ___ (+ comfort) for many people.

Answer key 🔑

1. Food is
2. foods/food (foods = foodstuffs; food -category)
3. Japanese food
4. foods
5. foods
6. food
7. Food
8. enough food
9. certain foods
10. a comfort food

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Meal

🍳 Meal (countable noun) is an occasion when food is served/eaten (especially breakfast, lunch or dinner) (1), or the food that is eaten on such an occasion (2). For example:

1. There should be three proper meals per day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. (1)
2. I prefer a light meal in the evening. (2; = I prefer to eat something light in the evening)
3. Come over for a meal someday. I’ll be happy to see you! (1)
4. Enjoy your meal! (2)

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Dish

🍝 A dish is food prepared in a particular way as part of a meal. For example: 1) Sushi is a Japanese dish. 2) I like vegetarian dishes because they are usually low-fat. 3) your What is your favorite dish?

Besides, dish can mean a container, flatter than a bowl and sometimes with a lid, from which food can be served or which can be used for cooking (related: “Vocabulary Booster: Kitchen Utensils“). For example: 1) This dish is ceramic, so it is oven-proof. 2) My housework is to wash the dishes.

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Cuisine

🍱 Cuisine /kwɪzˈiːn/ is a variable noun, which means it can be both countable and uncountable, depending on how it’s used. Examples:

1. London offers a wide variety of international cuisines. (= styles/types of cooking)
2. Italian cuisine is known for its use of fresh ingredients. (= the culinary tradition in a broad sense)
3. There are many cuisines around the world, including French, Chinese, and Mexican. (= styles/types of cooking)
4. Asian cuisine encompasses many flavors. (= this culinary tradition in a broad sense)

Let’s practice! Click the link here and choose the best option to complete the text.

Do you want to practice a bit further? Here’s a little challenge for you: make a sentence of your own using all 4 words—food, meal, cuisine, and dish—and post it in the comments section below.