Checking dietary needs before cooking | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: At home, two adults check guests' dietary restrictions and adjust a dinner plan before cooking..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Checking dietary needs before cooking to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Voordat ik het avondeten kook, moet ik nagaan welke voedingsbeperkingen iedereen heeft.

vohr-DAHT ik ut AH-vont-AY-tun kohk, moot ik nah-GHAHN WEL-kuh VOOD-dings-buh-PAIR-king-un AY-duh-RAYN hayft Before I cook dinner, I should check everyone's dietary restrictions.
B

Het is de moeite waard om dit te controleren, want één gast vermijdt zuivel en een andere eet geen varkensvlees.

ut is duh MOOY-tuh WAARD om dit tuh kun-troh-LAY-run, want ayn ghahst vur-MITE ZOW-vul en un AHN-duh-ruh ayt ghayn VAR-kuns-flays It is worth checking, because one guest avoids dairy and another does not eat pork.
A

Ik was van plan om romige pasta te maken, dus ik heb een alternatief nodig.

ik wahs vahn PLAHN om ROH-muh-ghuh PAH-stuh tuh MAH-kun, dus ik hep un ahl-tur-nah-TEEF NOH-dikh I was planning to make creamy pasta, so I need a substitute.
B

Je zou olijfolie en groenten kunnen gebruiken in plaats van een saus op basis van melk.

yuh zow oh-LIE-foh-lee en GROON-tun KUN-nun ghuh-BROY-kun in PLAHTS vahn un SOWS op BAH-sis vahn melk You could use olive oil and vegetables instead of a milk-based sauce.
A

Zou dat voor gasten nog steeds als een echte maaltijd aanvoelen?

zow daht vohr GHAHS-tun nok STAYTS ahls un AYKH-tuh MAHYL-tite ahn-FOO-lun Would that still feel like a proper meal for guests?
B

Dat zou het wel zijn, vooral als je champignons en een frisse salade toevoegt.

daht zow ut wel zine, voh-RAHL ahls yuh sham-pee-YONS en un FRIH-suh sah-LAH-duh TOO-vooght It would, especially if you add mushrooms and a bright salad.
A

Ik stuur een kort bericht waarin ik vraag naar eventuele andere voorkeuren.

ik STYOOR un kort buh-RIKHT wah-RIN ik vrahkh naahr ay-vun-TOO-uhl AHN-duh-ruh vohr-KUR-un I will send a quick message asking about any other preferences.
B

Houd de vraag eenvoudig, anders kunnen mensen het gevoel krijgen dat ze voor problemen zorgen.

howt duh vrahkh AYN-vow-dikh, AHN-durs KUN-nun MEN-sun ut ghuh-VOOL KRY-ghun daht zuh vohr proh-BLAY-mun ZOR-ghun Keep the question simple, or people may feel they are causing trouble.
A

Het bericht kan gewoon zeggen dat ik iets wil maken dat voor iedereen geschikt is.

ut buh-RIKHT kan ghuh-WOHN ZEH-ghun daht ik eets wil MAH-kun daht vohr AY-duh-RAYN ghuh-SHIKT is The message can simply say I want to make something suitable for everyone.
B

Dat klinkt attent en geeft ze de kans om duidelijk te antwoorden.

daht klaynkt ah-TENT en ghayft zuh duh kahns om DOW-duh-luk tuh AHNT-vohr-dun That sounds considerate and gives them a chance to answer clearly.

Word by Word

Voordat Voordat means “before” and introduces the earlier action in “Voordat ik het avondeten kook”. It is useful for placing one event before another, as in voordat ik vertrek, “before I leave”.
ik Ik means “I” and refers to the speaker in “Voordat ik het avondeten kook” and “ik heb een alternatief nodig”. It is used as the subject of an action or situation involving the speaker.
het Het means “the” before “avondeten” in “het avondeten”, and it means “it” in “Dat zou het wel zijn”. Its meaning depends on whether it accompanies a noun or refers back to something already mentioned.
avondeten Avondeten means “dinner” in “het avondeten”. It refers to the evening meal and can be used after “het”, as in het avondeten koken, “cook dinner”.
kook Kook means “cook” in “ik ... kook” and describes the speaker preparing dinner. It is used with ik when talking about cooking something, such as ik kook het avondeten.
moet Moet expresses that the speaker should or must do something in “moet ik nagaan”. A common pattern is moet + an infinitive, as in moet ik controleren, “I should check”.
nagaan Nagaan means “check” or “find out” in “moet ik nagaan welke voedingsbeperkingen iedereen heeft”. It is used when finding out or checking information, including a question or clause about what someone has.
welke Welke means “which” in “welke voedingsbeperkingen iedereen heeft”. It introduces a question about a specific choice or set of possibilities and comes before the noun it describes.
voedingsbeperkingen Voedingsbeperkingen means “dietary restrictions” in “welke voedingsbeperkingen iedereen heeft”. It refers to limits on what someone can or chooses to eat, and it is used here as the thing being checked.
iedereen Iedereen means “everyone” in “iedereen heeft”. It refers to all the guests or people together and can be the subject of a clause.
heeft Heeft means “has” in “welke voedingsbeperkingen iedereen heeft”. It is used here with iedereen to say what dietary restrictions each person has.
de moeite waard De moeite waard means “worthwhile” or “worth it” in “Het is de moeite waard om dit te controleren”. In this expression, de is “the”, moeite is “effort” or “trouble”, and waard is “worth”; together they say that an action is worth doing. A reusable pattern is Het is de moeite waard om ... te ..., followed by the action that is worthwhile.
is Is means “is” in “Het is de moeite waard”. It links the subject Het to the description de moeite waard and is also common in statements describing what something is.
om Om introduces the purpose or action connected with “de moeite waard” in “om dit te controleren”. The pattern om ... te + infinitive is used here to say “to check this”.
dit Dit means “this” in “om dit te controleren” and refers to the checking just mentioned. It can point to a specific thing or action that is clear from the context.
te Te marks the infinitive in “te controleren”. It appears before the verb form when the construction expresses an action such as “to check”.
controleren Controleren means “check” in “om dit te controleren”. It is used for examining information or making sure something is correct, and it follows te in this infinitive construction.
want Want means “because” or “for” in “want één gast vermijdt zuivel”. It introduces the reason for saying that the checking is worthwhile.
gast Gast means “guest” in “één gast”. It refers to one person invited to the meal and can be used after a number or quantity, as in één gast.
vermijdt Vermijdt means “avoids” in “één gast vermijdt zuivel”. It describes deliberately staying away from a food or other thing, with the avoided item following the verb.
zuivel Zuivel means “dairy” in “vermijdt zuivel”. It refers to dairy products as a category and is used here as the food that one guest avoids.
en En means “and” and connects “één gast vermijdt zuivel” with “een andere eet geen varkensvlees”. It joins related words, phrases, or clauses.
een Een means “a” or “an” in “een andere” and introduces one unspecified person. In this context, een andere means “another”, referring to a different guest.
andere Andere means “another” in “een andere” and identifies a second guest different from the first one. It is useful for contrasting one person or thing with another.
eet Eet means “eats” in “een andere eet geen varkensvlees”. It describes what the other guest does not eat, with geen placed before the food.
geen Geen means “no” or “not any” in “eet geen varkensvlees”. It negates a noun, and the pattern eet geen + food means “does not eat any ...”.
varkensvlees Varkensvlees means “pork” in “geen varkensvlees”. It names the meat that the other guest does not eat and can follow geen in a negative food statement.
was Was means “was” in “Ik was van plan”. It forms part of the expression van plan zijn, used here to describe a plan the speaker had.
van Van is part of the expression “van plan” in “Ik was van plan om romige pasta te maken”. Here it does not mean “of” or “from” on its own; the full expression describes having a plan to do something.
plan Plan means “plan” in “van plan om romige pasta te maken”. Together with van and a following om ... te construction, it describes an intended action.
romige Romige means “creamy” in “romige pasta”. It describes the pasta and comes before the noun it modifies, as in other descriptions of food.
pasta Pasta means “pasta” in “romige pasta te maken”. It is the food the speaker originally planned to prepare and can be used after a describing word such as romige.
maken Maken means “make” in “om romige pasta te maken”. It is the infinitive after te and describes preparing or creating the dish.
dus Dus means “so” in “dus ik heb een alternatief nodig”. It introduces the result of the previous information: because the original plan is unsuitable, an alternative is needed.
heb Heb means “have” in “ik heb een alternatief nodig”, where the full pattern means “need an alternative”. A reusable pattern is ik heb [something] nodig, used to say that the speaker needs something.
alternatief Alternatief means “alternative” or “substitute” in “een alternatief”. It refers to a different option that can replace the original creamy pasta plan.
nodig Nodig means “needed” in “ik heb een alternatief nodig”. It completes the pattern hebben + object + nodig, which expresses needing the object.
Je Je means “you” in “Je zou olijfolie ... kunnen gebruiken”. It refers to the person receiving the suggestion and is the subject of the proposed action.
zou Zou expresses “could” or “would” in “Je zou ... kunnen gebruiken”. With kunnen and an infinitive, it presents a possible or gentle suggestion rather than a direct instruction.
olijfolie Olijfolie means “olive oil” in “olijfolie en groenten”. It is one of the ingredients suggested as an alternative and is connected to another ingredient with en.
groenten Groenten means “vegetables” in “olijfolie en groenten”. It refers to vegetables as ingredients and forms part of the suggested replacement for the milk-based sauce.
kunnen Kunnen means “could” or “be able to” in “zou ... kunnen gebruiken”. After zou, it helps form a suggestion, followed by the infinitive gebruiken.
gebruiken Gebruiken means “use” in “kunnen gebruiken”. It describes using olive oil and vegetables as ingredients and follows kunnen in the suggestion pattern zou ... kunnen + infinitive.
in In is part of “in plaats van”, meaning “instead of”, in “in plaats van een saus op basis van melk”. It helps introduce the option that is being replaced.
plaats Plaats is part of the expression “in plaats van”, which means “instead of” in this dialogue. The expression is followed by the thing that will not be used, here een saus op basis van melk.
saus Saus means “sauce” in “een saus op basis van melk”. It is the food item being replaced by olive oil and vegetables.
op Op is part of “op basis van melk”, meaning “based on milk”. In this expression, it describes the basis or main ingredient of the sauce.
basis Basis means “basis” in “op basis van melk”. Together with op and van, it identifies what the sauce is based on.
melk Melk means “milk” in “op basis van melk”. It names the ingredient forming the basis of the sauce.
dat Dat means “that” or “it” in “Zou dat voor gasten ... aanvoelen?”. It refers back to the proposed meal or replacement and makes it the subject of the question.
voor Voor means “for” in “voor gasten”. It indicates the people for whom the meal should feel like a proper meal.
gasten Gasten means “guests” in “voor gasten”. It refers to the people eating the meal and follows voor in this phrase.
nog Nog means “still” in “nog steeds als een echte maaltijd”. It contributes the idea that the meal should continue to have the same quality despite the change.
steeds Steeds means “still” or “continually” in “nog steeds”. Together, nog steeds emphasizes that something remains true after a change or over time.
als Als means “as” or “like” in “als een echte maaltijd”. It introduces the way the meal is perceived: as a proper meal, not a condition introduced by “if” here.
echte Echte means “real” or “proper” in “een echte maaltijd”. It describes the meal as complete and genuine in the guests’ eyes.
maaltijd Maaltijd means “meal” in “een echte maaltijd”. It refers to the prepared food as a complete eating occasion.
aanvoelen Aanvoelen means “feel” or “come across” in “als een echte maaltijd aanvoelen”. It describes how something seems or is experienced, especially when asking whether an arrangement gives the right impression.
wel Wel is an affirmative particle in “Dat zou het wel zijn”. It strengthens the positive answer to the concern that the meal might not feel proper, rather than naming a separate object.
zijn Zijn means “be” in “Dat zou het wel zijn”. It completes the expression saying that the proposed meal would indeed be a proper meal.
vooral Vooral means “especially” in “vooral als je champignons ... toevoegt”. It highlights the condition or detail that makes the positive answer particularly true.
champignons Champignons means “mushrooms” in “champignons en een frisse salade”. It names one of the additions suggested to make the meal feel more complete.
frisse Frisse means “fresh” or “bright” in “een frisse salade”. It describes the salad and gives it a fresh, appealing quality in the meal plan.
salade Salade means “salad” in “een frisse salade”. It is the second addition suggested alongside mushrooms.
toevoegt Toevoegt means “adds” in “als je champignons en een frisse salade toevoegt”. It describes putting extra ingredients or items into the meal, with the additions following the verb.
stuur Stuur means “send” in “Ik stuur een kort bericht”. It describes the speaker sending a message and is used with ik as the subject.
kort Kort means “short” or “brief” in “een kort bericht”. It describes the message as containing only a small amount of information.
bericht Bericht means “message” in “een kort bericht”. It refers to the written communication the speaker plans to send to the guests.
waarin Waarin means “in which” in “een bericht waarin ik vraag naar ...”. It introduces information about what the message contains and refers back to bericht.
vraag Vraag means “ask” in “waarin ik vraag naar eventuele andere voorkeuren”. It describes asking for information, and here it is followed by naar and the subject of the question.
naar Naar follows vraag in “vraag naar eventuele andere voorkeuren” and introduces the information being requested. The reusable pattern is vragen naar iets, “ask about something”.
eventuele Eventuele means “possible” or “any” in “eventuele andere voorkeuren”. It leaves open whether the guests have other preferences and avoids assuming that they do.
voorkeuren Voorkeuren means “preferences” in “eventuele andere voorkeuren”. It refers to guests’ preferred foods or choices that may affect the dinner plan.
Houd Houd means “keep” in the instruction “Houd de vraag eenvoudig”. It tells someone to maintain a certain quality, here simplicity, and is used at the start of a direct instruction.
de De means “the” in “de vraag”. It identifies the specific question being written for the guests.
eenvoudig Eenvoudig means “simple” in “Houd de vraag eenvoudig”. It describes the desired style of the question and can be used after houd to say what something should remain like.
anders Anders means “otherwise” in “anders kunnen mensen ...”. It introduces a possible negative result if the question is not kept simple.
mensen Mensen means “people” in “kunnen mensen het gevoel krijgen”. It refers generally to the guests or other people receiving the message.
gevoel Gevoel means “feeling” in “het gevoel krijgen dat ze voor problemen zorgen”. It is part of the expression krijgen het gevoel dat ..., used to describe someone coming to feel that something is true.
krijgen Krijgen means “get” or “come to have” in “het gevoel krijgen”. In this fixed pattern, it describes developing a feeling or impression, followed by dat and the content of that feeling.
ze Ze means “they” in “dat ze voor problemen zorgen”. It refers to the people who might feel that they are causing trouble.
problemen Problemen means “problems” in “voor problemen zorgen”. It refers to difficulties or trouble that someone might believe they are causing.
zorgen Zorgen means “cause” in the expression “voor problemen zorgen”. The full expression means “cause problems” here; it does not mean taking care of something in this context.
kan Kan means “can” in “Het bericht kan gewoon zeggen”. It expresses what the message is able to or permitted to say, followed by the infinitive zeggen.
gewoon Gewoon means “simply” or “just” in “kan gewoon zeggen”. It presents the wording as uncomplicated and without unnecessary detail.
zeggen Zeggen means “say” in “kan gewoon zeggen dat ik iets wil maken”. It describes the content of the message and is used after kan in the infinitive form.
iets Iets means “something” in “iets wil maken”. It refers to an unspecified dish or item that the speaker wants to make.
wil Wil means “want” in “ik iets wil maken”. It expresses the speaker’s intention, followed by the infinitive maken.
geschikt Geschikt means “suitable” in “iets ... dat voor iedereen geschikt is”. It describes something as appropriate for everyone and appears after voor to identify who it suits.
klinkt Klinkt means “sounds” in “Dat klinkt attent”. It describes the impression made by a statement, plan, or idea, followed by an adjective describing that impression.
attent Attent means “considerate” or “thoughtful” in “Dat klinkt attent”. It describes behavior that shows awareness of other people’s needs, especially in this context of asking about dietary preferences.
geeft Geeft means “gives” in “geeft ze de kans om duidelijk te antwoorden”. It describes providing someone with an opportunity, followed by the person receiving it and the opportunity itself.
kans Kans means “chance” or “opportunity” in “de kans om duidelijk te antwoorden”. The reusable pattern is iemand de kans geven om iets te doen, “give someone the chance to do something”.
duidelijk Duidelijk means “clearly” in “duidelijk te antwoorden”. It describes the manner of answering and indicates that the guests can make their preferences understandable.
antwoorden Antwoorden means “answer” in “om duidelijk te antwoorden”. It is the infinitive after om te and describes the guests responding clearly to the question.

Grammar Points

voordat + bijzin

Voordat ik avondeten kook, controleer ik de voedingsbeperkingen.

vohr-DAHT ik AH-vont-AY-tun kohk, kun-troh-LAYR ik duh VOOD-dings-buh-PAIR-king-un

Before I cook dinner, I check the dietary restrictions.

After voordat, the finite verb comes at the end of the subordinate clause. The main clause then starts with the verb.

een + bijvoeglijk naamwoord + zelfstandig naamwoord

een romige saus

un ROH-muh-ghuh SOWS

a creamy sauce

Before a noun, an adjective usually gets -e after een: romig becomes romige.

Dutch Vocabulary

avondeten noun
AH-vont-AY-tun dinner
controleren verb
kun-troh-LAY-run to check
de moeite waard phrase
duh MOOY-tuh WAARD worthwhile
gast noun
ghahst guest
iedereen pron
ee-duh-RAYN everyone
koken verb
KOH-kun to cook kook
nagaan verb
nah-GHAHN to check; to find out
vermijden verb
vur-MY-dun to avoid vermijdt
voedingsbeperking noun
VOOD-dings-buh-PAIR-king dietary restriction voedingsbeperkingen
voordat conj
vohr-DAHT before
want conj
wahnt because; for
zuivel noun
ZOW-vul dairy

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

before

Show Answervoordat

to check; to find out

Show Answernagaan

everyone

Show Answeriedereen

to cook

Show Answerkook