5. They Are Great for a Quick Snack

I always grow at least two cherry tomato plants in my garden. These miniature tasty morsels never make it past the garden gate. They are perfect for a quick snack and can be consumed in one bite. I can also put a few in my pocket so I have something to eat while I walk around and check on the rest of the garden.

4. They Taste Good with Just about Everything

I put sliced tomatoes on turkey sandwiches, I add diced ones to tabouli salad, I cook up chunks with my slivers of onion and both to omelets, and I cut up wedges of tomato to place on top of a bowl of cottage cheese. There are very few foods that don’t go well with tomatoes.

3. They Don’t Contain a Lot of Calories

A single tomato of average size only has about 26 calories total. You don’t have to really worry about limiting the amount of tomatoes you consume for fear of gaining weight. Being low in calories, tomatoes make great filler for soups, sauces, and salads. Adding tomatoes to these dishes keeps the overall calories low, but you don’t get have to skimp on portions.

2. They Have Lycopene in Them

Lycopene can neutralize free radicals which are associated with macular degeneration, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and other illnesses that are connected to aging. Cancer of the stomach, lung, and prostate are the most affected by lycopene. Men are less likely to develop prostate cancer if they consume a lot of cooked tomato products.

1. They Are Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

Tomatoes contain vitamin A, C, and B complex. They also have lots of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

These are my reasons for liking tomatoes. What are yours? I hope you don’t fall into the anti-tomato category like my husband. If you did, then you probably wouldn’t be reading this post anyway! Happy gardening and may your tomato crop be a successful one!

Top Photo Credit: Chiot's Run