For the sunny month of May we’re celebrating the tomato and all the wonderful health benefits they come with.
7 Tomato facts about our fruity friends:
- The first cultivated tomatoes were yellow and cherry-sized, earning them the name golden apples: pommes d’or in French, pomi d’oro in Italian and goldapfel in German. The Italian for tomatoes today is pomodoro.
- A lot of people don’t realise that tomatoes are actually a fruit and not a vegetable. Although classified as a fruit, tomatoes have nutrients found in both vegetables and fruit.
- If you cook tomatoes in oil you can help to increase your body’s natural absorption of the nutrients in tomatoes.
- Tomatoes are an excellent source of potassium, calcium, and vitamin A and C. All of these are important nutrients needed for optimal health. Lycopene is also contained in tomatoes which may reduce the risk of some cancers.
- Pretty much all tomato varieties are red although other colours are possible including green, yellow, orange, pink, black, brown, white, and purple.
- Tomatoes are best kept unwashed at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. It is not recommended to refrigerate them as this can harm the flavour. Storing stem down can prolong shelf life too.
- Tomatoes are very popular in Mediterranean cuisines such as Italian. They are an important ingredient in pizza and pasta sauces so why not make your own tomato sauce for pizza bases or for pasta dishes – fresh, tasty, organic and fun for all the family!
To find out more about healthy vegetables each month join the Seed Pantry grow club, visit: Seed Pantry
