Introduction
Neil and Georgie have a real conversation in easy English about chocolate – the delicious sweet treat that many of us love! Learn to talk about cravings, cutting down and giving up.
Vocabulary
lots of/a lot of
a large amount of
loads of
a very large amount of
give up (a food)
stop eating (a food) forever, or for a prolonged period of time
cut down on
reduce
craving
stong desire or feeling of needing something like food
Transcript
Neil
Hello and welcome to Real Easy English. In this podcast, we have real conversations in easy English to help with your listening. I’m Neil.
Georgie
And I’m Georgie. Remember, you can watch a video version of this podcast on our website, www.bbc-story.com.
Neil
Hi Georgie. How are you?
Georgie
I’m very well thank you, Neil. How are you?
Neil
I’m pretty good.
Georgie
And what are we talking about in this episode?
Neil
So today, Georgie, we’re talking about chocolate.
Georgie
Ooh, I love chocolate.
Neil
I know, that’s my next question. Do you like chocolate?
Georgie
I do. I think you and everyone else in the office knows that I like chocolate a lot. My dad always jokes when I go home that if they have any chocolate in the house, it will disappear if I go home, because I’m always looking in the fridge and the cupboards to find it. What about you? Are you a chocolate fan?
Neil
I do like chocolate, yeah. I don’t think about chocolate all the time, or I don’t feel like I need to have chocolate, but I do like it and when I have it, I really enjoy it.
Georgie
Mmm. What kind of chocolate do you like?
Neil
Well, I like really dark chocolate – the one that’s kind of bitter.
Georgie
Yeah.
Neil
Almost too bitter. I think that’s a really, really nice one. You can have a… you only need a really small amount. So, you are famous in your house for eating chocolate, but how often do you eat chocolate?
Georgie
Well, I have a terrible habit of eating chocolate after most meals. Maybe breakfast, I avoid chocolate…? That’s a lie actually! This morning, I had a chocolate croissant, so forget that! After something savoury, I usually want something sweet and so I usually have a chocolate bar after lunch. Then after dinner, the same thing happens. I get a sugar craving and need something sweet. A sugar craving means that you really want it. You really need it. Your body is telling you that you want it.
Neil
So, it sounds to me like you couldn’t give up chocolate.
Georgie
Hmm. I think about it sometimes – giving up chocolate, which means to stop eating it completely. But I think a more realistic option for me would be to cut down on chocolate – so eat less of it, reduce my chocolate consumption. I just can’t imagine not eating chocolate. It would take away so much enjoyment from my life. And Neil, life is short.
Neil
There was actually a really sad look in your eyes when you were talking about giving up chocolate, so…