by Tomato Wellness | Jun 14, 2021 | Media Recipe, Recipes
Avocados are one of the most popular ingredients in a variety of dishes from all over the world. They are a great addition to any meal, especially since they are a rich source of heart healthy fats that keep you feeling full and satisfied. That’s why this delicious California Avocado Veggie-Packed Meatloaf is the perfect comfort food dish! This recipe packs a powerful nutrition punch, as it contains vegetables, canned tomatoes and avocado, making it a lot more nutritious than regular meatloaf. This high-quality protein-filled meal can be served with roasted potatoes, brown rice, or quinoa on the side, making it great for lunch leftovers and dinner meal preps throughout the week.
One of the other key ingredients in this nutrient-packed meatloaf is canned diced tomatoes—another fan favorite food found in various dishes around the globe. The incorporation of canned tomatoes enhance the flavor and juiciness of the meal itself, making it something the whole family will enjoy. Since this dish contains canned tomatoes (which are a wonderful source of the antioxidant lycopene) and other vitamins and minerals from the vegetables, you have a great source of nutrients and protein for your next meal! Not only is this meatloaf healthy and delicious, but it can be easily prepared in no time at all. The best part about this dish is that those who aren’t huge fans of vegetables will be able to genuinely enjoy it because the vegetables are hidden. This goes to show that adding more vegetables to your diet is not as difficult as you may think it is!
Get the full recipe by visiting our friends at California Avocados.
For other delicious recipes, check out some of our favorites:
Pan Seared Pork Chops with Bourbon Peach Compote
Easy Chicken Curry
Pizza Stuffed Chicken
Green Chile Posole Soup
by Tomato Wellness | May 16, 2021 | Food and Nutrition, Uncategorized
Is it true that canned foods might actually be a healthier alternative to fresh produce? Well, I’m here to give you the inside scoop! Most people have a preconceived notion that fresh foods are superior to canned foods because of the concept that “fresh is best!” In our generation, referred to as Gen Z, we generally get most of our information from various social media platforms that, well… might not be so accurate. The truth can easily be lost in translation when we are trying to discover how to eat healthy. There are a ton of fad diets, food trends, and plant-based recipes that are shared amongst our generation. One component that is not traveling through the social media world is the importance of canned foods in our diet. Read on to learn more about the process of canning and benefits of canned foods!
There is a specific method for creating canned fruits and vegetables, making it important to follow the proper steps—processing, sealing, and heating. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, canned foods are rich in nutrients because these produce are picked, canned, and preserved at maximum freshness, meaning they contain the optimal amount of nutrients needed to provide our bodies with the vitamins and minerals we need to live a healthy lifestyle. One of the most consumed and healthiest canned products are tomatoes. Canned tomatoes are high in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce risk of diseases, certain cancers, and inflammation. They also contain vitamins A, C, and E, potassium, and folate—all important nutrients our bodies need for proper bodily functions. The best part about canned tomatoes is that they come in various forms—canned, diced, paste, soup, and more! This enhances their versatility in numerous meals that you and your family are guaranteed to enjoy, such as pizzas, pastas, stews, soups, and tacos. Who would’ve thought that simply incorporating more canned tomatoes (or other canned products) into one’s diet can be both nutritious AND delicious.
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 a great way to do so! Numerous studies have shown that individuals who frequently consume canned foods generally have a higher intake of essential nutrients. With that being said, there is a positive correlation between consumption of canned food and boosting required nutrient intake recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In addition to striving for healthier eating habits, Gen Z’s goal is to purchase affordable foods that neither break the bank nor lead to food waste. Recent studies have provided sufficient evidence that canned goods are readily available and accessible to people of all ages, incomes, backgrounds, and geography, which makes it easier for people to purchase cost-effective, nutrient-rich foods while enhancing their quality of life. The great news is that canned products also have a long shelf life, which allows individuals to reduce the amount of trips they take to the store, saving them time and money—and who wouldn’t want that?
When purchasing canned foods, it’s still critical to read the ingredient labels on the cans you are purchasing to avoid any high sodium or added sugar within the product. Once you have secured the canned items and are just about ready to whip up a delicious meal in the kitchen, always make sure to rinse the canned fruits and vegetables in order to reduce sodium content and ensure maximum cleanliness. So whether you’re trying to eat healthier, more plant-based, save time and money, reduce food waste, or lessen your carbon footprint, canned products are the way to go! Next time you go to the store, remind yourself to purchase canned items that you can easily whip up in no time, creating a flavorful, nutrient-packed meal for you and your loved ones.
References:
Biography:
Savanna Malki is an RD2Be from Los Angeles, California. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health Policy from the University of California, Irvine. She will be starting her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics this upcoming Fall at Loma Linda University. She is extremely passionate about plant-based nutrition (as she has been vegan for about 4 years). In her free time she enjoys cooking, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends. Her goal is to become a Registered Dietitian so that she can provide nutrition education and help improve the health of our society.
by Tomato Wellness | May 15, 2021 | Food and Nutrition
We all know that vegetables are good for our short AND long-term health, but many times choosing the healthier option over junk food can be a challenge. This is where tomatoes come in to play! Learn more about tomato consumption in the US and how Americans can eat more of this produce item to benefit health.
As we all know, the American diet can use a little help. It’s challenging to genuinely enjoy eating healthy, especially when we are constantly surrounded by junk foods that are both convenient and affordable. However, the constant consumption of unhealthy, processed foods simply because they are the “easier” option can greatly impair your health. Now you’re stuck in a limbo between wanting to eat healthy and not being the biggest fan of vegetables, so what’s one thing should you do to improve your health? Eat canned tomatoes!
Did you know that tomatoes comprise 19% of ALL vegetable consumption? There are very few vegetables that Americans consider to be their favorite, but studies have shown that tomatoes are actually ranked at the top of everyone’s list (only second to potatoes). This is great news for us because not only are tomatoes nutrient-rich, but they are absolutely delicious in various dishes, such as pastas, sandwiches, lasagnas, salads, stews, and more! A recent study that provided results from “What We Eat in America” (a diet survey) found that most tomatoes were consumed as tomato products—canned, diced, paste, and soup. These canned goods are widely available and extremely affordable, which should be an incentive for purchasing them on your next grocery trip. Understanding that eating healthy foods helps to boost overall health, it’s important for healthcare providers, specifically registered dietitians and nutrition coaches, to stray away from forcing consumers to eat more vegetables, and instead they must educate consumers on how to incorporate more of their favorite vegetables into their diet so that they genuinely enjoy the foods they eat.
So next time you’re thinking about what vegetable to add to your dish, remind yourself about the flavorful, nutrient-packed red tomato and grab a can or two on your next grocery run. Once you gather your tomato products you can whip up a variety of tomato-based recipes. To ensure that you never get bored with incorporating tomatoes into your dishes, you can always switch up the vegetables, protein, seasonings, and grains in your meals so that you are consuming a wide range of dishes. These practical, simple strategies to eat more tomatoes have been shown to help individuals eat their vegetables and obtain the required nutrients they need to live a healthy lifestyle!
For other tomato news, check out:
Top 11 Reasons to Go Red with Tomato Products
Can Tomatoes Help Your Kid Eat More Veggies?
What is Lycopene?
Health Connection Between Tomatoes and Lycopene
by Tomato Wellness | May 10, 2021 | Food and Nutrition
What role do tomatoes play in the American diet? They’re one of the most nutrient-packed foods that can easily be integrated into any of your favorite dishes! Keep reading to learn more about how to use tomatoes as a functional food.
Did you know that tomatoes are the 4th most commonly consumed fresh AND canned vegetable in the American diet? Other than a few other vegetables, such as onions, lettuce, and potatoes, tomatoes play an integral role in the recipes we make in our kitchens, eat at restaurants, and order for take-out. Tomatoes come in numerous sources— diced, canned, sauce, paste, and juice. This is great news because tomato products contain a ton of important nutrients our bodies need to function properly and achieve optimal health. Some of these include vitamins A, C, and E, potassium, antioxidants, and folate. They also contain an important carotenoid called lycopene, which contains phytochemicals that help to fight and reduce risk of certain diseases and cancers.
American tomato-lovers consume approximately 17.9 pounds of fresh tomatoes and 68.7 pounds of tomato products each year. This study provides evidence-based research that shows tomatoes are considered a functional food, meaning they have numerous health benefits that help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular diseases, contain numerous micronutrients, are jam-packed with phytochemicals, and more! Unfortunately, cardiovascular diseases have caused more deaths in females than males while prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. Given these statistics, it’s assumed that these common types of cancers and diseases have increased mortality rates in the general population, making them a large threat to the lives of many. With advanced research and studies on discovering the correlation between tomato consumption and reduced risks of diseases, researchers have been able to identify that tomato products can have a positive impact on peoples’ lives—especially those in high risk categories, such as older men and women.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to whip up a delicious tomato-based recipe that you can make, share, and enjoy with friends and family. Creating meals with tomato products is just as easy to make as it is to eat. Not only are these meals packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer abilities, they are full of flavor that will have you wanting more!
For other tomato news, check out:
Top 11 Reasons to Go Red with Tomato Products
Can Tomatoes Help Your Kid Eat More Veggies?
What is Lycopene?
Health Connection Between Tomatoes and Lycopene
by Tomato Wellness | Apr 26, 2021 | News
Do you prefer fresh, cooked, or canned tomatoes? While both are nutritious, cooked and canned tomatoes may actually contribute more to long-term health benefits in comparison to fresh tomatoes! Read on to learn more about the benefits of canned tomato products and how YOU can easily incorporate them into your daily recipes.
Thanks to busy schedules that leave little time for cooking nutritious meals at home, how are we expected to get all our nutrients in every single meal? This is a concern for many, so you are not alone. One easy, affordable way to secretly pack in those nutrients is by purchasing canned products, specifically canned tomatoes. These products range from tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salsa, and tomato sauce. They are easy to find at your local grocery store and contain incredible ingredients that will enable you to lessen your worries about obtaining proper nutrient intake.
In general, all tomato products help to improve the health of the general population, but an increasing amount of research studies have shown that there is more lycopene availability found in heated, cooked, or canned tomatoes when compared to fresh tomatoes—making them more effective in the long run. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, cooked tomatoes play more of an effective role in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. Unfortunate as it is, prostate cancer is one of the top 2 most common cancers in the world and has resulted in numerous deaths. However, recent science-based evidence has shown that the increase in lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, can help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The research study focused on the comparison between men who failed to consume any tomato products throughout the week with men who consumed canned and cooked tomatoes about five to six times a week. The results showed that those who consumed tomato products were able to reduce their risk of prostate cancer by 28%, which goes to show just how powerful food can play a role in our overall health.
Although the impacts of cooked and canned tomato products may outweigh the benefits of fresh tomatoes, it’s still useful to incorporate tomatoes into your weekly recipes so that you can achieve optimal health and reduce your risk of preventable cancers. Whether it’s pasta, pizza, or a taco dish, tomato products are super easy to use and will save you time and money while boosting your nutrient intake. So, what are you planning to whip up in the kitchen for your family this week? Let us know in the comments below!
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