Tantalizing Tomatoes: Fast Facts, Nutrients, and Fun Activities
Discover the fascinating world of tomatoes with their important nutrients like fiber and vitamins. Explore how to select and store tomatoes, ideas for serving them, and engaging activities for learning about these versatile fruits/vegetables. Uncover the health benefits of tomatoes through poems, recipes, and sensory experiences.
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TOMATOES FAST FACTS IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS Fiber - good for your gut and heart Vitamin A - good for your eyes, skin, and immune system Vitamin C - helps with wound healing Potassium - a diet rich in potassium seems to lower blood pressure Phytochemicals - tomatoes are best known for containing the carotenoids lycopene and lutein Tomatoes are botanically a fruit but we often place them in the vegetable food group Tomatoes are the fourth most-consumed vegetable in the US Some tomatoes grow on a bush and other varieties grow on a vine There are two growing seasons for tomatoes in the Phoenix, AZ area (Feb-May and Sept-Nov) SELECTION & STORAGE Tomatoes should be soft, heavy, and firm. Look out for bruises and blemishes. Smell the tomato to help determine ripeness. IDEAS FOR SERVING Enjoy fresh tomatoes on their own, mixed in a salad, or on a sandwich Use tomatoes to make a delicious sauce to use on pizza or serve with pasta Incorporate tomatoes into homemade soups Store tomatoes in a cool, dry place. Do not store in a plastic bag. Sliced tomatoes should be refrigerated and used within four days. Wash tomatoes before eating. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
TOMATOES ACTIVITIES Five Senses Fun! Use your five senses to describe how tomatoes look, feel, taste, sound, and smell. Poetry Write a poem about the health benefits of tomatoes. Share with the class! Types of Tomatoes Brainstorm as many types of tomatoes as you can on our own. Then, share your list with a partner! Write a Recipe Invent a new recipe that includes tomatoes as one of the ingredients. Fruit or Vegetable? Make a list of similarities between tomatoes and other fruits. Next, make a list of similarities between tomatoes and other vegetables. Did you identify more similarities to fruit or vegetables? Watch a Video Find and watch a video online that shows how tomatoes are grown, harvested, and distributed in the United States.
TOMATOES CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING What are examples of other red/orange vegetables? What type of plant do tomatoes grow on? What nutrients are found in tomatoes? What should you look for when selecting tomatoes at the store? What is your favorite way to eat tomatoes?
TOMATOES CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING What are examples of other red/orange vegetables? Examples: carrots, orange peppers, red peppers, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, etc. What type of plant do tomatoes grow on? Example: bushes or vines What nutrients are found in blueberries? Examples: fiber, Vitamin A Vitamin C, potassium, phytochemicals, etc. What should you look for when selecting tomatoes at the store? Example: Look for tomatoes that are soft, heavy, and firm. Avoid ones with blemishes or bruises. What is your favorite way to eat tomatoes? Examples: fresh, in a salad, in a sauce, in a soup, on a sandwhich, etc.
TOMATOES REFERENCES Montana State University Extension. (2014). Tomato. http://nutrition.msuextension.org/documents/TomatoFFS.pdf University of Wisconsin Extension. (2013). It's tomato time. https://clark.extension.wisc.edu/files/2010/10/Tomato.pdf Harvard Medical School. (2017). Listing of Vitamins. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying- healthy/listing_of_vitamins. Arizona Farm Bureau's Fill Your Plate. (2011). How to Grow Tomatoes in Arizona. http://fillyourplate.org/blog/how- to-grow-tomatoes-in-arizona/ The World's Healthiest Foods. (2019). Tomatoes. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=44
