PERSPECTIVE
Free ESL Conversation Resource · Food Waste

Food Waste ESL Discussion Questions

15 conversation questions about wasting food, household habits, supermarkets, responsibility and when throwing food away can be justified.
A1–A2 BeginnerB1–B2 IntermediateC1–C2 Advanced

Use these food waste ESL discussion questions for pair work, small-group speaking or whole-class conversation. Choose the level that fits your learners, or move through all three sections as the questions become more challenging.

A

Beginner · A1–A2

Start the conversation

  1. 01

    Do you throw away much food at home? What kind?

  2. 02

    What did your family teach you about wasting food?

  3. 03

    Why do you think rich countries waste more food?

  4. 04

    Should shops be allowed to throw away food that is still good?

  5. 05

    Is it ever OK to waste food? When?

Ready for the full lesson?Explore the A1–A2 Food Waste lesson →
B

Intermediate · B1–B2

Explore the issue

  1. 01

    Do you throw away much food at home? What kind, and why?

  2. 02

    How was food treated in your home when you were growing up?

  3. 03

    Why do you think people in wealthier countries waste more food?

  4. 04

    Should supermarkets be allowed to throw away food that is still edible?

  5. 05

    Is it ever acceptable to waste food? Where would you draw the line?

Take the topic further.Explore the B1–B2 Food Waste lesson →

If everyone is partly responsible, who should fix food waste?

One topic. Three levels. Countless perspectives.
C

Advanced · C1–C2

Challenge the idea

  1. 01

    What food do you throw away most often, and whose decision really caused it?

  2. 02

    Should supermarkets be allowed to reject food purely because of how it looks?

  3. 03

    Why might it suit retailers for the public to focus on household waste?

  4. 04

    If your effort is only a drop in the ocean, is it still an obligation?

  5. 05

    Should wasting edible food ever be illegal? For whom, and why?

Push the discussion further.Explore the C1–C2 Food Waste lesson →
Perspective English · Complete lessons

Turn the discussion into a full lesson.

Continue with the complete Food Waste lesson at the level your class needs. Perspective lessons combine reading, vocabulary, discussion and deeper speaking tasks around one conversation-worthy topic.

A1–A2

Accessible language and clear questions for beginner and elementary learners.

View beginner lesson → B1–B2

Develop the issue with richer vocabulary, reading and discussion.

View intermediate lesson → C1–C2

Explore responsibility, systems and competing obligations in greater depth.

View advanced lesson →