Flourish with Food: Bouquets on a Vine

One of summer’s true treats has arrived. Juicy sun-ripened tomatoes with real tomato flavor!

If you grow your own, you know the joy of watching the little yellow flowers turn into cluster of ripe tomatoes. Plus, there’s something amazing about the smell of the plants when you touch them.

No garden or patio plants? Not a problem. Treat yourself to locally grown tomatoes at a farmstand or farmers market. You’ll find all kinds – big, tiny, oddly shaped, red, yellow and even striped. Be adventurous and try different varieties.

In addition to their rich sensory experiences, tomatoes give you vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants and disease-fighting anti-inflammatory plant nutrients (phytochemicals). And a large tomato contains about ¾ c. water- a hydration benefit.

One of the best known nutrients in tomatoes is lycopene, which is responsible for the red color. Orange and yellow tomatoes have other beneficial plant nutrients responsible for their colors.

Chopping and cooking individually increase the availability and absorption of lycopene. Absorption is also enhanced when tomatoes are eaten with fat, such as olive oil, cheese or avocado. Think drizzled olive oil over a sliced tomato and basil leaf. My personal favorite is a peanut butter and sliced tomato sandwich.

Want tips on how to pick the best tomatoes and on tons of ways to use them? Check out these links:

• https://www.themediterraneandish.com/10-fresh-tomato-recipes-with-a-mediterranean-twist/
• https://www.simplyrecipes.com/tomato-recipes-11729244

My go-to snack in the summer is fresh tomato salsa (Pico de Gallo) and tortilla chips. All the salsa ingredients are raw – no cooking needed. I simply combine finely chopped tomatoes, white onion, jalapeño pepper and cilantro. Lime juice and a dash of salt are a maybe.