Tomato Nutrition

Healthy Foods

Vegetables

Tomato Nutrition: Facts and Health Benefits

• Nutrition Fact: vitamins include A, B3, B5, B6, C, E and K
• Nutrition Fact: contains lycopene which helps fight against diseases such as cancer
• Tomato juice is ideal for athletes as it quickly replenishes lost nutrients and sodium
• Tomatoes are not only red - there are yellow, purple and black tomato varieties too!
• The picture on the right is of vine tomatoes variety, juicy, sweet and rich red in colour, the vine is deep green, and looks fresh and healthy

Tomato Nutrition Facts: What is a Tomato?
Tomatoes can be described as a type of vegetable fruit or a salad fruit, however, for culinary purposes, tomatoes can be defined as vegetables. Tomatoes are extremely healthy, very popular, wonderfully rich and sweet in taste, very nutritional and versatile enough to cook in many different ways including roasting, grilling, barbequing, frying or quite simply just eaten raw. Tomatoes are used in cooking recipes all over the world. Tomato is one of the most essential cooking ingredients - a cook would lost without this fine vegetable!  Mediterranean cooking in particular, often includes tomato. This vibrant, healthy food is grown on tomato plants and it belongs to the nightshade family, along with other vegetables such as potato and aubergine.

Tomato Nutrition: History and Information about Vitamins, Nutrients and Health Benefits of Tomatoes
The tomato originated from South America. The yellow tomato plant was discovered by the Aztecs. This vegetable was introduced to Spain by Hernan Cortes. The Spanish and Italians have used tomato in their cooking recipes for centuries! The red tomato variety was introduced to Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many people approached the tomato with caution, not feeling entirely sure of the vegetable's benefits. However, the benefits have certainly being recognized since and this fantastic healthy fruit vegetable has made a huge impact on cooking all over the world!

Tomato Nutrition: Types of Tomatoes

There are many varieties of tomatoes ranging from small cherry or plum tomatoes to big beef tomatoes. They can vary shape - from round to plum shaped. The following varieties of tomato are perhaps the most common kinds that we recognize and use most often for salads and tomato recipes:

Canned tomatoes nutrition: this is an excellent choice as canned tomato is quick and easy to cook and only takes a few minutes to heat in a saucepan or microwave. Canned tomatoes are packed full of goodness and they are cooked in their natural tomato juice. Canned tomatoes usually contain plum or chopped tomatoes.

Beefsteak tomato nutrition:this variety are red or orange in color, and they are big - sometimes 10cms wide! Beefsteak tomatoes taste sweet and look very impressive when used in a tomato salad! Red tomatoes make salads look vibrant and appetizing. Salads can look and taste very dull without tomato. Beefsteaks are excellent served with slices of mozzarella cheese and a little dressing.

Cherry tomato nutrition : this type is very popular but a little more expensive than regular, standard red tomatoes. However they are worth it as they taste divine - sweet and succulent! Cherry tomatoes are excellent served raw with salad on a summer's day.

Plum tomato nutrition: this is a delicious, sweet variety which are excellent for salads. Plum tomatoes are sweet and juicy like the cherry variety. They are lovely eaten raw or cooked. Plum tomatoes are ideal for making sauces.

Salad tomato nutrition: these are round, standard red salad tomatoes; often medium size - not small like cherry but neither large like beef tomatoes. Salad tomatoes are generally reasonably priced, available all year round and very versatile - adaptable to different cooking methods.

Tomato puree nutrition: puree is very strong so be careful not to use too much of it!

Yellow tomato nutrition: this type may look a little unusual as they are yellow as opposed to red. However, yellow tomatoes are no different, only in color!

Vine tomato nutrition: this kind is usually a little higher in price, they tend to be slightly larger than standard tomatoes but they're color is deep red and the taste is simply fabulous! Vine tomatoes are excellent eaten raw or cooked.

Cherokee purple tomatoes nutrition: this was one of the first black tomatoes. Unusual in color as a cherokee tomato is deep purple! Cherokees are large like beefsteak varieties.

Tomato Nutrition: Picking and Storing and how to retain Vitamins, Nutrition and Health Benefits
Tomato can be described as a vegetable fruit or a salad fruit, however, for culinary purposes, a tomato can be defined as a vegetable. Tomato is extremely healthy, very popular, wonderfully rich and sweet in taste, very nutritional and versatile enough to cook in many different ways including roasting, grilling, barbequing, frying or quite simply just eaten raw. Tomatoes are used in cooking recipes all over the world. Tomato is one of the most essential cooking ingredients - a cook would lost without this fine vegetable!  Mediterranean cooking in particular, often includes tomato. This vibrant, healthy food is grown on tomato plants and it belongs to the nightshade family, along with other vegetables such as potato and aubergine.

Tomato should ideally be rich in color, however, if they are tinged slightly with green or they appear a little pale, they will soon ripen up in the salad drawer. Tomatoes grow on plants and they are not usually picked until they have ripened. Home grown tomatoes are excellent but if you do buy them locally, try to select tomatoes with vibrant green leafy tops that are lively and as fresh as possible.

Tomato Nutrition: Preparing for Cooking and retaining Nutrition and Health Benefits
In preparation for cooking or eating, wash tomatoes well under cold running water. Slice tomato into quarters or slice them across for salads and pizza toppings, as thickly or as thinly as desired.

Tomato Nutrition Skin: Peeling Tomatoes
Peeling tomatoes is easy, just follow these simple guidelines:

• Using a knife, create a cross in the top of the tomato
• Place the tomato in a dish
• Pour boiling water over the tomato
• Carefully remove the tomato from the hot water after approximately 1 minute (scoop it out using a spoon)
• Do not leave in the water for more than about 1 minute as the tomato will start to cook!
• The tomato skin should peel away fairly easily (use a knife to assist with skinning tomato)

Tomato Nutrition: How to Make Chopped Tomatoes
To make chopped tomatoes, peel them first following the simple instructions above. Slice the tomato in half and carefully remove the seeds - scoop them out without removing too much of the flesh. Slice the tomato halves several times, turn them around and slice again so that they are cut into cubes / diced.

Health experts and nutritionists believe that a well-balanced diet that includes at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day will help to considerably improve our lifestyles and ultimately extend our lives