That in Italy every family follows a balanced nutrition and therefore “you eat well” is a point of national pride. However, focusing on the meaning of ‘eating well’, we Italians also have less and less certainty and are increasingly looking for wholesome foods.

Consumption, the way of shopping, speed and the market without barriers basically determine common behavior on a global scale. The difficulty of having contact with the world of production and agriculture makes it difficult for us to really know what we eat.

Fortunately, this is not always the case! Italy has a production rich in wholesome foods that are the basis of the Mediterranean diet. First on the list: The tomato!

Wholesome food and a balanced diet: tomatoes are a precious ally!

Tomato is one of the most popular products on our tables and with excellent nutritional qualities that help maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

The use of this vegetable on pizza, in oil and in salads gives the dishes an unmistakable taste. The tomato is in fact an ingredient at the base of many recipes of the Mediterranean diet not only because it is easy to find, but also because it has numerous beneficial properties. From bruschetta to Bloody Mary to the marriage par excellence, the one with pizza and pasta: in the cooking workshops and in the showcooking, the chefs are always ready to explore the thousand variations of this product in the kitchen.

The 4 properties of the tomato: a mine of fiber and vitamins with zero calories

1. Tomato and skin

From a nutritional point of view it represents a veritable mine of vitamins and minerals essential for a balanced diet. The vitamin C contained in this food is second in quantity only to orange, while among the most important mineral salts are: potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium and calcium. Rich in water, tomatoes also contain iron and lots of vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant. Its benefits on the skin are also given by the presence of beta-carotene, which works as a filter to protect us from sunburn and is useful for combating thinning and dehydration of the skin.

2. Lots of fiber, few calories

The peel, rich in fiber, is useful in nutrition, to stimulate lazy intestines and limit constipation. Carbohydrates are discreetly present in this food, while fats are almost completely absent. Suffice it to say that on average 100 grams of fresh tomatoes provide just 17 kilocalories.

3. Anti-acne action

Not only for a balanced diet but excellent and useful for purifying and eliminating excess waste, the tomato also stimulates diuresis and promotes digestion, while it is a food not recommended for those suffering from gastric irritation or heartburn as it contains solanine, a toxic substance that gives the vegetable acidity. Tomatin, present in the seeds and leaves of its plant, instead has a bacteriostatic and mycostatic action, so much so that it is used to prevent and treat acne and seborrheic skin.

4. Tomato and scales

Being low in sugar – therefore excellent for a balanced diet – tomatoes can be safely consumed even by diabetics and the same goes for those who are overweight. It is therefore no coincidence that it is one of the main ingredients of many fresh and dietary seasonal salads.

As you can see, the tomato is an excellent ally for a healthy and balanced diet, as are the fruit and vegetables, which should never be missing on our tables.

Tomato is the king of the Mediterranean diet: but where is it produced?

“You say tomato and you think of the sunny lands of the south, but over half of the Italian production is made in the North”

A warm-temperate climate, preferably dry and with little humidity: it is the ideal environment for tomatoes, but the Piacenza weather forecasts certainly do not seem.

Yet, listen, listen, it is between Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy that more than half of the Italian tomato is produced.

Thinking back, you might have expected a few tomatoes on the Piacenza balconies.

A system that produces and processes over 50% of Italian tomatoes thanks to a network of about 50 processing companies and farmers’ organizations, for a total of 3000 employed workers. Italy is the queen of tomatoes in Europe (over half of the product is made in Italy) as well as one of the largest producers in the world.

Of course, there are many productions and it is difficult to be sure about the quality of the entire supply chain, but playing “at home” for us at Taste Piacenza, there is no doubt: Terre di San Giorgio is certainly one of the production companies in this sector with a high level of quality and could not miss in our food e-commerce!

In fact, the Terre di Sangiorgio company produces ready-made sauces and tomato purees of superior quality – for a diet rich in natural ingredients – perfect for indulging in a thousand recipes. Now you just have to try them here!