good for you
Tips and insights from a registered dietitian
Canned tomatoes offer a year-round advantage
Story by Tawnie Graham
I know I have said it before, but I am so fortunate to live in California because of all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are so readily accessible. Even when fresh tomatoes are out of season, a wide variety of canned tomato products is stocked on the shelves. Farmers in Fresno, Yolo, Kings, Merced and San Joaquin counties are the top producers of the tomatoes used for processing, helping the state deliver a whopping 96% of the nation’s processed tomatoes and 36% of the world’s supply. These impressive statistics mean we will always have a year-round advantage to cook up delicious and nutritious meals for our families and friends.
Did you know?
Although it is usually considered a vegetable because it is most often used as a vegetable when cooking, the tomato is actually a fruit because it forms a flower and contains seeds. The tomato varieties selected for processing are bred for sturdiness so they’ll transport well after harvest. They have a thicker skin and firmer consistency than fresh market varieties, such as the juicy beefsteak tomatoes most often used for salads and sandwiches. Because they’re processed at the peak of ripeness, with just a bit of salt added, you’re assured of a superior product even if it comes in a can—or jar or other container. Processed tomatoes are easy to cook with and include a variety of options such as whole, crushed, stewed and diced tomatoes, as well as tomato sauce, paste, juice and puree, and condiments such as ketchup and salsa. The
nutritional advantage of processed tomatoes is that they contain more of the antioxidant lycopene than fresh tomatoes, and the canning process helps tomatoes retain their vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY TO USE PROCESSED TOMATOES? Try Easy Shell Pasta with Ground Turkey. You’ll find the recipe on my website.
Tawnie Graham is a registered dietitian nutritionist, cookbook author, owner of food blog Kroll’s Korner and a mom. Follow her on krollskorner.com and on Instagram at @krolls_korner .
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