April 6th, is Fresh Tomato Day celebrated in appreciation of this versatile vegetable! Starting back in 2015, April 6th is marked as the World Tomato Day celebrated every year to cherish the tomatoes which are one of the most used ingredients in Indian and other cuisines. Imagine a well-made egg omelette or a pav bhaji without tomatoes and you’ll get the picture.

History:
Tomatoes have a fascinating history! They're originally from western South America and come from the wild tomato or currant tomato plant. The Aztecs and other Mesoamericans were the first to domesticate them, and the Spanish then introduced them to Europe. Interestingly, in Italy and France, they were grown more as ornamental plants, like flowers. Who knew tomatoes could be so decorative? 

Nutritional Facts:
Calories: 18
Water: 95%
Carbs: 3.9 grams
Sugar: 2.6 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Protein: 0.9 grams

Health Benefits:
A diet involving tomatoes has been linked to reduced risk of heart disease. Studies have shown how consuming raw tomatoes resulted in lower triglycerides and blood cholesterol. Studies have suggested that consuming tomatoes is beneficial for skin health. The richness of lycopene and other compounds prevents the person from sunburn. Further, tomatoes are laden with fiber plus a high water content which is known to have a positive effect on healthy bowel movements. The fiber would make it easy for people to fill satiated while the insolubility would add bulk to the stool easing situations such as constipation. 

What Can You Make With Tomatoes?
From tomato ketchup to soups to salads, here are a few things you can make with tomatoes.
- Tomato Sauce
- Caprese Salad
- Tomato and Mozzarella Tart
- Tomato Soup
- Tomato Pulao
- Tomato Upma
- Instant Pot Tomato Rasam
- Bruschetta
- Omelette
- Carrot Tomato Soup
- Tomato Cucumber Sandwich
And the list goes on…

Some Crazy Facts About Tomatoes: 
- There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes worldwide.
- Tomatoes ought to be bright red but they can be found in white, black, purple, pink, and yellow.
94.5% of the total weight of a tomato is water.
- Tomatoes have been sent to space thanks to NASA’s Tomatosphere program where tomato seeds were sent to the ISS and back to grow on land.
- There’s an ongoing debate about the same around Tomatoes are technically a fruit and not a vegetable
- Tomatoes are acidic and that helps them balance the flavor of other foods. No doubt tomatoes are used in soups, sauces, and more.