The composition of the diet menu for weight loss is significantly different from the usual. First of all, preference is given to light dishes made of fruits and vegetables. Of course, not the last place among the total variety of fresh fruits are juicy tomatoes and dishes from them. To know the extent to which they can and should be consumed, we will get acquainted with the energy value of the products. This article will be of interest to those who want to know what is the calorie content of tomato juice, tomato paste and various sauces.
Useful properties of a vegetable
Due to the content of carotene in the fruits, they can be of different colors and shades - from light yellow to bright pink and purple-red. This property does not affect the calorie content, which is striking in its “lightness” - only 23 Kcal per 100 g of fresh tomatoes! But the benefits of wonderful fruits from the Solanaceae family are incomparable:
- they contain, in addition to carotene, a large amount of pectin, lycopene, fiber, vitamins;
- are the ideal dietary product with a minimum of calories;
- improve the condition of the nervous and endocrine systems;
- useful for diabetes;
- strengthens the heart and blood vessels;
- regulate the water-salt balance in the body;
- can be used in cosmetology for any type of skin;
- contribute to the elimination of toxins from the body (an especially important property for smokers).
Consider how the nutritional value of tomatoes changes during their processing. For example, what is the calorie content of tomato juice, pasta and sauces?
Various processing methods
Eating dietary dishes, you need to at least somehow diversify their taste. What is traditionally present in a regular diet menu? In addition to vegetable salads, the main list consists of fairly fresh dishes: cereals, rice, potatoes, boiled chicken, fish. Therefore, I want to refresh the dishes with some spicy additives. From tomatoes you can cook a huge variety of dishes. Consider the basic options for obtaining some of them. Tomatoes are usually processed in two ways:
- First. Pressing fresh ripe fruits to remove the skin and seeds and to obtain tomato juice. The result is a liquid, which is then boiled for a short time and sealed in jars, as a rule, without adding any additional components. The calorie content of tomato juice in this case will be almost equal to that of fresh tomatoes.
- Second. Pre-boil chopped fruits, and then rub to obtain mashed potatoes. This semi-finished product is the basis for the manufacture of other tomato dishes - pasta and sauces.
Tomato juice: calories and home cooking methods
This is the first priority product that is prepared from fresh tomatoes. Due to the fact that the fruits undergo minimal processing (wringing and boiling), their nutritional value is almost unchanged. The calorie content of tomato juice is 35 Kcal (100 g). Therefore, it is ideal for regular use by those who want to lose weight. This refreshing juicy drink is most useful if it is prepared at home. In addition, you can easily adjust the taste characteristics depending on the desire of households. After all, some love the natural taste of tomatoes, without embellishment, while others prefer to experience a few piquant sensations when drinking. For example, you can add salt, sugar, aromatic spices, aromatic herbs, bay leaves and bitter peppers to the juice when boiling. Since no additional ingredients are present in the composition, the calorie content of homemade tomato juice does not exceed 33 Kcal.
The benefits and energy value of tomato paste
To get this useful thick mass, you need to slowly evaporate the juice from tomatoes for a long time. With a change in consistency, the concentration and content of all valuable substances also increase. For example, the antioxidant lycopene, which has a beneficial effect on the rejuvenation of the body and the protection of cells from environmental influences, becomes about 8-10 times more in tomato paste than in fresh fruits. But you can not always be sure that the composition of the store product does not contain such impurities as thickeners and preservatives. They are added to guarantee a longer shelf life. Therefore, many housewives prefer to make natural dense mass themselves. In addition, tomato paste is very easy to prepare at home. Its calorie content will slightly upset lovers of “light” diets. 100 g of product contains 100 kcal. To shorten the cooking time a little, let the squeezed tomato juice stand a little, and then drain the upper liquid transparent layer. With this technology, the paste is cooked for a maximum of 2-2.5 hours.
Tomato sauce: product calories
The energy value of this dish largely depends on its composition. First, find out what a tomato sauce is and what are its main features. Basically, it is tomato paste. But hardly anyone wants to eat regular thick tomato puree, for example, with buckwheat or pasta. Therefore, to improve the taste, first of all, many other ingredients are added to the paste, including vegetables and fruits (garlic, Bulgarian and chilli peppers, onions, carrots, apples, etc.), spices and spices. The second additional component is starch. In industrial production, it is replaced by thickeners and emulsifiers. As a result, vegetable puree processed and seasoned with seasonings is slightly more satisfying than tomato paste. The calorie content of tomato sauce is approximately 42 Kcal per 100 g of product. Very often this dish, consisting mainly of pasta, is mistakenly called ketchup. Let's look into this issue.
Ketchup - one of the options for the sauce
For some reason, everyone has traditionally believed that these two products are one and the same. But it turns out that ketchup is one of the many varied sauces, including even regular mayonnaise. And it is not at all necessary that it be tomato. Of course, tomatoes can be one of the ingredients, but not the main one. From this, the calorie content of a product is not always the same as the calorie content of tomato sauce. Most often, it is slightly higher. In addition, ketchups are never liquidish, which means that they contain an increased content of starch thickeners. As you can see, store products are almost always cooked with any additives. Because of this, they can not be called truly natural and useful. Why not try making savory sauces at home? This is pretty simple. Introduce the pureed or chopped fresh vegetables, spices and seasonings into the tomato puree - and you will get a wonderful appetizing dish that can be successfully served with a garnish, as well as with meat and fish!