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What do you think of tomatoes? Perhaps not much...But you can use tomatoes in so may ways. Enjoy a fresh tomato out of hand, just as you would an apple. It is a low calorie, nutritious snack.

It is believed that raw vegetables are better than cooked. Is that so? Perhaps yes, when it comes to salads, but some veggies such as red kidney beans contain natural toxicants which, if the beans are not cooked properly, can lead to diarrhoea and sickness. Boiling them for twenty minutes renders the toxins harmless and makes this nutritious food safe to eat. Butter beans or lima beans similarly contain cyanide that would be dangerous if eaten raw, but again is destroyed making them safe to eat when cooked.

Other vegetables like potatoes would be indigestible if eaten raw, while some such as like broccoli appear to lose some of their bitterness when cooked. Cooking carrots or tomatoes helps to release substances called carotenoids and lycopenes, so the body can absorb them more easily. These 'anti-oxidants' have been shown to be good for our health.

Diced tomatoes add color and taste. Fresh tomato Salsa is easy with diced tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers and cilantro, mixed together with cumin and fresh lime juice. It's a cholesterol free dip for family and friends with low sodium and few calories.

Add chopped fresh tomatoes to prepared spaghetti sauce, canned soups, chili, stews or casseroles for a touch of homemade goodness and nutritional value.

Marinate fresh tomato slices and red onion rings in an Italian salad dressing and serve as a refreshing alternative to tossed green salad or fruit salad.

Stuff whole tomato cups with a favorite meat or seafood salad for an attractive and delicious luncheon entree.

Chopped tomatoes, added to any stir-fry combination during the last minute of cooking, lend color and flavor.

Dice fresh tomatoes and toss with prepared 3-bean salad mixture and serve over lettuce leaf.

Are you the first to jump on the bandwagon for new diets? Just like fashion, diets come and go, and you hope to pick the one that lasts. When it comes to diets, there are some easy ways to know the right from the wrong:

No food or diet provides the magic answer to health or weight loss, it's all about habits.

Eliminating food groups or not combining certain foods simply decreases variety and nutrition, not weight.

Buying special products, supplements, or formulas will only decrease the weight of your wallet.

Changing your eating habits is about the foods you choose and the portions you eat. Learning to make these adjustments will help you lose weight and when combined with physical activity, improve your overall health.

(Based on Net resources)

Published on 30^th June 2002