The tomato. A summer staple and one of my top five favorite foods. Is it a vegetable or a fruit you ask? Well according to https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/is-a-tomato-a-fruit-or-a-vegetable/, the answer to the question is that a tomato is technically the fruit of the tomato plant, but it’s used as a vegetable in cooking.
Either way its a delicious nutrient dense veggie/fruit bomb. Tomatoes come in all colors these days such as ruby red, yellow, green, and too many heirloom varieties to count! So what makes the tomato a healthy addition to your diet?
“The tomato is a juicy, nutritious fruit commonly eaten as a vegetable, is another wonderful gift of the Mayans to the world. This humble vegetable of Central America has seized the attention of millions of health seekers for its incredible nutritional properties. Interestingly, it has more health-benefiting compounds than that of some popular fruits like apple!”.
“Tomatoes contain antioxidants found to be protective against cancers such as colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic tumors. They also contain lycopene, a flavonoid antioxidant, is a unique phytochemical compound found in the tomatoes. Lycopene may help protect cells and other structures in the human body from harmful oxygen-free radicals. Studies show that lycopene protects the skin from ultra-violet (UV) rays and thus offers some defense against skin cancer.”
So now how to use this healthy beauty? I think one of the most popular ways is in a fresh salad. Whether cherry, grape or the larger variety, the tomato loves to hang with lettuce cut up in your favorite salad. I like to make my own fresh tomato sauce from my local tomatoes. Great in a fresh and spicy salsa or topping on a pizza! As a vegetarian I use them as the mainstay of my sandwiches with a schmear of mashed avocado on a whole wheat roll.
So hit your favorite farmer’s market or grow your own beauties! I offer a program on how to grow your own wellness container garden. Visit my page here for more info https://kimgerhardt.com/event/grown-food-make-meal/. Here’s my fave easy, peasy salsa recipe:
- 2-3 large roma tomatoes
- 1/2 large onion
- 2 cloves fresh garlic
- 1/4-1/3 cup fresh cilantro
Chop tomatoes, onion and garlic finely
Place in a bowl with the juices
Rinse and rough chop the cilantro to release the oil, you can use the stems as well here
Add the half lime juice and mix well
Add salt to taste, it should be slightly salty. The tomatoes will absorb much of the salt.
Place in a covered container at least an hour before eating. Serve with your favorite chips or veggie sticks.
Serve 2
Enjoy
Contact me for more information on my coaching services and enjoy the bounty of fresh summer tomatoes. 🙂
*Disclaimer:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Kim Gerhardt, Certified Health Coach, does not take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
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