Tantalizing Tomatoes: Fast Facts, Nutrients, and Fun Activities
TOMATOES
FAST FACTS
•
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)
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
SELECTION & STORAGE
Tomatoes should be soft, heavy, and firm. Look out for bruises and
blemishes. Smell the tomato to help determine ripeness.
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.
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
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
ACTIVITIES
Five Senses Fun!
Use your five senses to describe how tomatoes look, feel,
taste, sound, and smell.
Types of Tomatoes
Brainstorm as many types of tomatoes as you can on our
own. Then, share your list with a partner!
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?
Poetry
Write a poem about the health benefits of tomatoes. Share
with the class!
Write a Recipe
Invent a new recipe that includes tomatoes as one of the
ingredients.
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
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.
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
TOMATOES
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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Presentation Transcript
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
