Anne BralyTomatoes are as savory as any vegetable and as sweet as any fruit – the latter being the food family to which tomatoes belong. Unlike other fruits and vegetables, though, tomatoes inspire a cult-like devotion from food lovers around the world. The people of Ohio love the tomato so much, they made tomato juice the official state beverage. An annual food festival in Spain draws thousands of participants in a 100-ton tomato fight. The versatile tomato has conquered the cuisines of Spain and Italy, and it is America’s most popular garden vegetable.
Right now, our gardens are filled with delights, thanks to tomatoes of all sorts – heirloom, cherry, Big Boys and more. It’s hard to believe that as long as we’ve waited for tomatoes, we now have so many on our hands we’re willing to share the bounty with others.
In my house, if we aren’t enjoying tomatoes on our sandwiches or in our salads or salsa or just eating them as is – straight from the garden and into our mouths – I’m blanching and freezing them for the off-season.
Can there be too much of a good thing when it comes to eating tomatoes? I guess if that’s all you eat, maybe so. But including tomatoes in your diet will do wonders for your health. Here’s some information about the healthful benefits of tomatoes.
» Tomatoes contain all four major carotenoids: alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. These carotenoids may have individual benefits, but also have synergy as a group, meaning they interact with each other to provide health benefits.