January marks the time of new beginnings, fresh starts, and resolutions for good health. Even though it’s natural to start off the New Year thinking about all of the goals you want to set, don’t get too caught up in extreme health trends. Instead, we encourage you to focus on a well-rounded, sustainable, and healthful diet, as this makes a significant difference when it comes to preventing chronic diseases (such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer). Everyone is different, so find a strategy that feels right for you. This month, we’re sharing some tasty and nutritious recipes (featuring canned and jarred tomatoes, of course) that will fuel your body and soul for the upcoming year. Plus, keep an eye out on our social media channels for more inspiration on how to use those canned tomatoes and jarred sauces in your kitchen! This month we’re featuring easy recipes that are easy, healthy, affordable, and #SimplySatisfying
HOW TO OBSERVE: Enjoy a Bloody Mary. Select your favorite combinations and get ready for the new year. Have you tried pickled beans or asparagus?
Of course, the best way to celebrate the day is with friends. And remember to drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Use #NationalBloodyMaryDay and tag @TomatoWellness to share on social media.
GET INSPIRED WITH NEW RECIPES
This completely plant-based Easy Mediterranean Artichoke Chickpea Bake can be whipped up in minutes! And with minimal ingredients, this healthy recipe is a cinch to turn to on your busy weeknights.
Making healthy meals doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. By using canned goods, you can actually get dinner on the table in no time at all without breaking the bank!
Since Gen Z consumers are constantly looking for more ways to boost their fruit and vegetable intake while eating more plant-based meals, canned products are looking like the hot trend of 2022!
Restaurants have had another rough year of pivots, supply chain and labor issues and starts and stops. Please continue to go out, order delivery or curbside and help our friends in Hospitality as they continue to battle back into business.
Looking for a tasty appetizer that will please a crowd? Check out this one skillet beefy 7-layer dip! This dip combines ingredients like sweet onion, sour cream, black beans, chiles, canned tomatoes, jalapeños and cheddar cheese and will hit the spot when you are craving Mexican cuisine!
To make this appetizer, you just need to add the ingredients to a baking dish, throw it in the oven and (not so) patiently wait for it to finish! After the dip comes out of the oven, you will be left with a bubbly, cheesy, and melty dip that is perfect to pair with tortillas or chips on the side. This is a recipe that can easily be finished off while you are busy entertaining guests.
Other than the protein, one of the other key ingredients in this recipe is tomato paste. Tomato paste is a great ingredient to use do develop a depth of flavor, add color, and boost the nutritional value! Tomatoes are a great source of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and lycopene. Both vitamin C and lycopene are antioxidants that function in our body to reduce inflammation and destroy free radicals that can cause disease. So, the next time you are shopping, pick up some tomato paste. It is such a versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide variety of dishes from Italian to Mexican cuisine!
Many people purchase fresh produce over canned due to an assumption that it’s better for health. However, this is not always the case! Including canned foods (like fruit and veggies) in your diet can be an affordable and easy way to bump up the nutrient content in your diet. Learn more about how canned foods can be the ticket to a healthy diet.
It is no secret that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for you, as it’s associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, purchasing abundant quantities of fresh produce may not be feasible for people and can be their biggest barrier to consuming a healthy diet. Additionally, many people view processed vegetables as less nutritious or even unsafe. However, this is a false notion. Processing foods does not automatically imply that it becomes healthy–in fact, it can improve digestibility, nutrient bioavailability, and food safety [1].
You may be asking yourself how canned tomatoes can be part of a healthy diet. After all, did you know that tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable in the USA [1]? This could be due to their affordability, versatility, and nutritionally dense content from lycopene. This flavonoid provides many benefits, including anti-inflammatory and caner fighting properties. Canned tomatoes have a higher lycopene content than their fresh counterparts because of the canning process. When tomatoes are heated it increases the lycopene content thanks to the cells inside of the tomatoes exploding during the heating process [1]. This allows them to release their compounds which can then be absorbed by our body and used to fight disease!
The next time you stock up on canned goods, don’t forget to pick up a few cans of tomatoes to boost flavor and health! After all, canned foods can be part of a healthy diet.
Learn more about the health benefits of canned tomatoes here:
Wu, X., Yu, L., & Pehrsson, P. R. (2021, October 19). Are processed tomato products as nutritious as fresh tomatoes? scoping review on the effects of industrial processing on nutrients and bioactive compounds in tomatoes. OUP Academic. Retrieved December 16, 2021, from https://academic.oup.com/advances/advance-article/doi/10.1093/advances/nmab109/6403479?login=true
Looking for a plant-based ingredient to add that creaminess factor to your soup? Try using walnuts in this Creamy California Walnut and Tomato Soup. This is a classic recipe, made completely plant-based. Try serving it alongside a grilled cheese for the ultimate combo!
This soup gets its beautiful color from crushed tomatoes. When blended with the unique addition of walnut cream, it creates a rich orange color that is bursting with nutrition. The red pigment within tomatoes comes from a nutrient called lycopene, which is a powerhouse antioxidant with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The lycopene content found in canned tomatoes allows this ingredient to be one of the most useful, healthy additions to just about any meal. Since canned tomatoes have even MORE nutritional value than fresh tomatoes, they provide a powerful impact on human health.
What are some of your favorite superfoods? If tomatoes aren’t on that list, then they should be! From cancer-fighting properties to anti-inflammatory benefits, here are some reasons why tomatoes are the new superfood.
When you think of the word superfood what comes to mind? Is it a tomato? Tomatoes are such a commonly eaten food filled with so much nutritional power, yet you may not think of them as a superfood. Not only are tomatoes packed with flavor, but they are also filled with important nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium and more! One of the most important nutrients that truly makes the tomato a superfood is lycopene.
Lycopene is a powerhouse nutrient because it’s an antioxidant that has been shown to fight chronic disease. In the body, lycopene is mostly stored in the liver, adrenals, prostate, and can also be found in other parts of the body like the brain and skin [1]. As we age or develop chronic diseases, lycopene bioavailability decreases [1]. It is important to continually consume foods that are rich in lycopene such as tomatoes to supply our body with a steady source. Lycopene has been proven to have anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties [1]. Additionally, canned tomatoes are shown to have a higher lycopene content than their fresh counterpart. This is due to the heating process that tomatoes undergo during the canning process, as it activates the lycopene and allows your body to absorb and use it more readily.
So, what are you waiting for? The next time you’re at the store go ahead and grab a can (or three) of some canned tomato products to use in the kitchen this week. Need some recipe inspiration? Try out some of our favorites:
Imran, M., Ghorat, F., Ul-Haq, I., Ur-Rehman, H., Aslam, F., Heydari, M., Shariati, M. A., Okuskhanova, E., Yessimbekov, Z., Thiruvengadam, M., Hashempur, M. H., & Rebezov, M. (2020, August 4).Lycopene as a natural antioxidant used to prevent human health disorders. MDPI. Retrieved December 16, 2021, from https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/8/706/htm
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