蔬菜对健康有益 — 这是一个众人皆知的道理。然而，我们有时候会因为偏爱其它食物的口味而对吃青菜感到很不情愿。本集《随身英语》探讨一项旨在提倡人们多吃青菜的研究，并介绍一些商家用来吸引顾客购买蔬菜的销售技巧。

课文内容

Vocabulary: food 词汇: 食物

As a child, I was always told to 'eat my greens'. These were the unappealing vegetables that sat on the edge of my plate. Peas, broccoli and green beans, all looked and tasted disgusting. Let's face it, when there were so many other edible treats to enjoy, why eat boring veg?

Since then my taste buds have developed and I'm also fully aware of the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables. But we still need reminding of the amazing goodness these green superfoods give us. In the UK, a campaign based on advice from the World Health Organization has been running for several years to encourage us to eat our '5 A Day' – five portions of fruit and vegetables. That's because evidence has shown there are significant health benefits to getting at least five 80g portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. 

But I struggle trying to fit these five portions into my daily diet, partly because I have a sweet tooth and vegetables are, well, tasteless. Researchers have been looking at how to make eating vegetables more attractive. They analysed the psychology behind our food choices and found that most of us are motivated by taste. Brad Turnwald from Stanford University says that "studies show that people tend to think of healthier options as less tasty for some reason."

His team carried out an experiment in the university cafeteria where they gave vegetables seductive names and found sales increased by 25 per cent. They got rid of healthy labels such as 'wholesome' and gave identical dishes names like 'sizzlin' beans', 'dynamite beets' and 'twisted citrus-glazed carrots'. It seems that these indulgent names tempted diners to fill their plates. Brad Turnwald says that "labels really can influence our sensory experience, affecting how tasty and filling we think food will be." 

In Europe, a project called VeggieEAT has also been trying to find ways to get people to eat more veg. Project leader, Professor Heather Hartwell believes in "health by stealth", subtly nudging people into eating the right things. One idea has been to put a picture of a tasty looking fruit on a supermarket trolley as a hint about buying something from the fruit aisle. She says, "Choice is a really complex thing. But this study suggests that giving vegetables an indulgent tag can help raise their hierarchy."

Certainly, eating 'twisted citrus-glazed carrots' does sound tempting, even if it just tastes like a carrot, but if it makes us eat more vegetables then that can only be a good thing for our health.

词汇表

greens 青菜、绿叶菜（多用作复数）
edible 可食用的，可以吃的
taste buds 味蕾（多用作复数）
benefit 好处
superfood 对健康有益的“超级食品”
'5 A Day' “每天五份果蔬”，这是由世界卫生组织为增强健康饮食意识而发起的每日至少食用400g（相当于）水果或蔬菜的宣传活动。
significant 非常重要的，效果显著的
diet 日常饮食
sweet tooth 爱吃甜食
psychology 心理
motivated 被…驱使
seductive 诱人的
wholesome 对健康有益的
indulgent 任由（消费者）放纵的，易上瘾的
sensory 感官的
stealth 不知不觉的行动，隐性手段
nudge 劝说
hierarchy 等级，地位

测验与练习 

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. Name one of the greens mentioned in the article.   

2. Why have people in the UK been encouraged to eat five portions of fruit and vegetable every day?   

3. In the research at Stanford University, what encouraged students to eat more vegetables?   

4. According to research, in general, what types of food do people think are less tasty?   

5. Which word used in the article means 'find it difficult'?

2.  请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. It could be bad news for people with a ______ - as some chocolate boxes have been reduced in size ahead of Christmas.

sweet-toothed       sweet teeth       sweet tooth       sweat tooth

2. Shops have been criticised for being too fussy, causing farmers to throw away perfectly ______ fruit and veg.

seductive       edible       sensory       indulgent      

3. I felt very ______ sleeping until 9 o'clock and having breakfast in bed!

motivated       significant       indulgent       seductive

4. ______ artwork featuring the "pungent smell of decaying rubber, seaweed, wooden planks and oil drums" has gone on display at an art gallery in the city.

Sensory       Sensuous       Censored       Sensoring

5. The radio presenter on the late night show is great; his voice is smoky and ______.

wholesome       edible       significant       seductive

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. Name one of the greens mentioned in the article.
Peas, broccoli or green beans.

2. Why have people in the UK been encouraged to eat five portions of fruit and vegetable every day?
Because evidence has shown there are significant health benefits to getting at least five 80g portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.   

3. In the research at Stanford University, what encouraged students to eat more vegetables?
By giving vegetables more 'seductive' names.   

4. According to research, in general, what types of food do people think are less tasty?
Brad Turnwald from Stanford University says that "studies show that people tend to think of healthier options as less tasty for some reason."

5. Which word used in the article means 'find it difficult'?
Struggle. 

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。

1. It is bad news for people with a sweet tooth - as some chocolate boxes have been reduced in size ahead of Christmas. 

2. Shops have been criticised for being too fussy, causing farmers to throw away perfectly edible fruit and veg.

3. I felt very indulgent sleeping until 9 o'clock and having breakfast in bed! 

4. Sensory artwork featuring the "pungent smell of decaying rubber, seaweed, wooden planks and oil drums" has gone on display at an art gallery in the city.  

5. The radio presenter on the late night show is great; his voice is smoky and seductive.