Why You Should Eat Tomatoes During Pregnancy

Why You Should Eat Tomatoes During Pregnancy
October 4, 2018 Nicola
Why are tomatoes a good food for pregnant women?

Tomatoes are available year round and are ideal to include as part of your healthy pregnancy diet.  They bring flavour and richness to so many dishes ….AND they’re good for you!  Sliced, chopped, raw, cooked or blitzed into a smoothie or gazpacho they are endlessly versatile and should be a ‘go to’ staple for pregnancy nutrition.
Share our top tomato tips and facts!

Why are tomatoes a good food for pregnant women?
  1. Tomatoes are a good source of Vitamin C, an essential nutrient during pregnancy to ensure your baby develops healthy bones, teeth and gums. Tuck into a tomato alongside iron rich foods such as dark leafy greens or red meat as Vitamin C also helps your body to absorb iron more easily.

 

  1. Tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against cell damage. Studies have shown that lycopene in your pregnancy diet can reduce the risk of preeclampsia.  And it’s the lycopene that gives them their lovely red colour.

 

  1. One medium tomato will give you around 22 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrate (including 1 gram of fibre and a gram of sugar) and no fat. They’re a good food choice for if you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight gain during pregnancy.

 

  1. Tomatoes include a whole range of other essential vitamins and nutrients for pregnant women including Vitamin A, folic acid, alpha-lipoic acid (that helps the body convert glucose into energy) , choline, potassium and beta-carotene.
tomato soup for pregnant women
  1. Tomatoes have a high water content and can add to your daily pregnancy hydration.

 

  1. High fibre in tomato skins helps to avoid constipation in pregnancy (oooh best avoid that if you can Mammas –  constipation can lead to pregnancy piles)

 

  1. Too many raw tomatoes can exacerbate your pregnancy heartburn, so ease up if you’re suffering.

 

  1. Don’t dismiss tinned tomatoes – contrary to the usual rule that cooking destroys nutrients lycopene is actually absorbed more easily by the body after it has been heated.

 

  1. Tinned tomatoes are a great store cupboard standby to add to soups, stews and sauces.

 

  1. Just to set the record straight, tomatoes are a fruit, not a vegetable!

It’s easy to slice tomatoes over a salad or add them to a sandwich but try blitzing them with a stick of celery, a grated carrot  and a squeeze of lemon juice for a delicious and speedy smoothie;  chop them finely with spring onions, garlic, mashed avocado and a squeeze of lime juice for a simple guacamole dip or make a simple pasta sauce by sautéing finely chopped onions and garlic in olive oil and adding a tin of chopped tomatoes, salt, black pepper and mixed herbs and simmering for 10-15 minutes until the sauce is thick and rich.
Need some more tomato recipes?  Check out our delicious tomato soup and fresh tomato and avocado salad.