So, today is fresh tomato day. If you never heard of this day, no worries as I’m going to let you in on a little bit of information on this strange holiday. First and foremost, this day is in association with the anticipation of happiness and joy.
Fresh Tomato Day
As far back as 1493, many referred to the tomato as a “Golden Apple”. But, today the world celebrates this fun holiday. In fact, in many locations they have festivals and tomato throwing events. Of course, we have all heard the quote, “You say Toe-may-toe, I say Toe mah toe”. But, it doesn’t matter how it is pronounced.
Since this is one of the most popular fresh market vegetables, let’s take a look at the health benefits of this vegetable as well as some recipes.
Health Benefits
In the first place, the health benefits from tomatoes are the following:
- Blood pressure
- Eye care
- Stomach health
At the same time, tomatoes can help with other medical issues such as diabetes, skin problems and urinary tract infections. In addition, they help improve your blood circulation and reduce cholesterol levels. Additionally, tomatoes are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron and Potassium. Moreover, they can also have a number of antioxidants that have been known to help in fighting different types of cancer.
Fun Facts and Recipes
At any rate, a tomato is both a fruit and a vegetable. Tomatoes are found in cuisine throughout the world. Because this is in a lot of Mediterranean food, be sure to visit my Mediterranean Healthy Diet Overview post. Indeed, you can find tomatoes in a lot of foods, such as ketchup, pizza, pasta, sauces and even some beverages.
So, are you ready to try a new recipe? With warmer weather around the corner, why not fire up your grill. You can grill tomatoes and season with balsamic or basil vinaigrette. Or, make a sandwich and add fresh basil and a creamy spread or drizzle balsamic vinegar. Either way, you will have a tasty sandwich, perfect for the Summertime.
With only a few ingredients, you can create a simple spaghetti. All you need is spaghetti, tomatoes and mozzarella. When I make this dish, I buy tiny mozzarella balls and make a simple dressing out of a teaspoon of light olive oil, fresh oregano, ground black pepper and red wine vinegar. Mix all ingredients together and sprinkle over the pasta and you have the perfect meal for lunch or dinner.
No doubt, there are a number of fun recipes that you can make with tomatoes.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Happy Fresh Tomato Day!
