Are Tomatoes Really Keto?

Are Tomatoes Keto?

Are Tomatoes Keto Introduction

Fruits are hard to work into a keto diet because they contain sugar, a carbohydrate your body can use for energy through Glycolysis. The goal of Ketogenisis, and a keto diet is to get your body to use fat for energy instead of carbs. You’ll want to accurately and appropriately restrict carb intake in order to maintain Ketosis. If you’re not well-versed in keto, coming up with your own recipes can be a challenge, especially when you’re not sure how many carbs are in the ingredients.

Tomatoes Are a Low-Sugar Fruit

Fruits are identified by whether they have seeds within the parts you can eat, and if they develop from a flower. Both are true for tomatoes, technically making them a fruit! Most fruits can also be identified by how sweet they are based on how much sugar they contain, which is where tomatoes differ. Tomatoes have low-sugar content and are typically more savory than sweet.

Why Eat Tomatoes (Nutrition Facts)

They are high in potassium, Vitamin C, folate and a compound called lycopene. Lycopene is found in many red fruits which gives them their red hue. But beyond that, lycopene is an antioxidant that can help protect you against UV ray damage caused by the sun, improve heart health, and reduce risk for prostate, digestive, and pancreatic cancers. In general, tomatoes are great at fighting inflammation that can cause chronic illnesses and helping lower LDL levels (“bad” cholesterol).

How to Incorporate Tomatoes into Your Diet

Tomatoes can be used in all types of recipes ranging from savory dishes to simple sides. The way you cook them has an impact on its flavor, giving you lots of ways to incorporate them into your diet. Here’s a few ideas for how to add tomatoes into every meal:
Breakfast

• Dice tomatoes and add to an omelette

• Add crushed canned tomatoes to your egg scramble

• Top your breakfast dish with sundried tomato pesto for extra tang

Lunch

• Slice tomatoes, top with tuna salad and eat as open-faced “sandwich”

• Dice and use as a topping for a salad

• Replace your burger bun with sliced tomato halves

• Add tomato slices to any salad

Dinner

• Sauté cherry tomatoes and serve with riced cauliflower as sides for baked chicken breast

• Slice and use as a topping on a keto pizza

• Add chunks of tomatoes to your soup or stew

Snack

• Make your own marinara sauce using olive oil, basil, onion, and spices and use as a dip

• Make homemade salsa with extra diced tomatoes

• Sprinkle tomato slices with cheese, top with parsley, and bake until crispy

• Blend into a smoothie (adding other veggies to disguise the flavor if you need to!)

Keto-Friendly Recipes Using Tomatoes

Keto Stuffed Bell Peppers

This keto stuffed bell pepper recipe is a blend of seasoned ground meat and tomato paste, encapsulated in roasted bell pepper. With 5g of net carbs per stuffed pepper this is a keto meal prep recipe you won’t want to miss!

Keto Meatballs

Keto meatballs are a simple recipe you can prepare with minimal time and effort. Tender, savory meatballs combined with marinara sauce make it easy to eat great while staying in ketosis.

Keto Cobb Salad

This quick and easy keto cobb salad recipe is a twist to the classic cobb salad that makes for a mouthwatering keto meal you won’t want to miss. Usually, a Cobb salad is made with staple ingredients including hard-boiled egg, avocado, bacon, and even sliced mushrooms. In this preparation, we’ve included several sources of healthy fats to get your body into a state of ketosis – and stay there.

Keto Meals

MealPro offers a diverse keto meal plan that includes entrees containing dairy that is rich in casein protein. Sign up today to have our delicious keto meal boxes shipped to your home or office.