Tomato Paste for SNAP Meals
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Dear Jeff,
I hope that this message finds you very well.
As it appears you frequently buy tomato puree and whole tomatoes in tomato puree, as they are often the easiest to find, no-added-salt tomato options in supermarkets, what is your opinion about using tomato paste in place of the puree and reconstituting the paste into a puree-like form with extra water?
As no-added-salt tomato paste seems widely available, and the ingredients for many tomato purees are tomato paste and water, I was curious to know if you thought this might be a potential and affordable option for the tomatoes in many of your SNAP meals.
Many of the canned, no-salt-added diced tomatoes appear to be canned in tomato juice, which seems like it could be similarly problematic to the paste and puree, as the juice seems less satiating than the pureed tomatoes.
(Your previous comments on blending foods, for anyone interested:
viewtopic.php?p=367944#p367944 )
As always, your thoughts would be appreciated.
SNAP meals would certainly be more affordable if tomato paste were used in place of many of the tomato options, and the tomato paste would also be easier to store.
(My presumption is that for most people, and as a general recommendation, you would not recommend a significant use of tomato paste or puree. However, for those hoping to gain weight, it seems like the paste and puree are more calorie-dense than fresh or canned diced tomatoes, and therefore might be a useful option for taking in additional calories, especially when using your SNAP templates.
In addition, for endurance athletes, I wonder if the tomato paste might be a good alternative to the energy gels that are frequently used.)
Thank you, as always, for your consideration, your potential feedback, and for all that you do.
Please have a wonderful day.
Warmly,
Michael
I hope that this message finds you very well.
As it appears you frequently buy tomato puree and whole tomatoes in tomato puree, as they are often the easiest to find, no-added-salt tomato options in supermarkets, what is your opinion about using tomato paste in place of the puree and reconstituting the paste into a puree-like form with extra water?
As no-added-salt tomato paste seems widely available, and the ingredients for many tomato purees are tomato paste and water, I was curious to know if you thought this might be a potential and affordable option for the tomatoes in many of your SNAP meals.
Many of the canned, no-salt-added diced tomatoes appear to be canned in tomato juice, which seems like it could be similarly problematic to the paste and puree, as the juice seems less satiating than the pureed tomatoes.
(Your previous comments on blending foods, for anyone interested:
viewtopic.php?p=367944#p367944 )
As always, your thoughts would be appreciated.
SNAP meals would certainly be more affordable if tomato paste were used in place of many of the tomato options, and the tomato paste would also be easier to store.
(My presumption is that for most people, and as a general recommendation, you would not recommend a significant use of tomato paste or puree. However, for those hoping to gain weight, it seems like the paste and puree are more calorie-dense than fresh or canned diced tomatoes, and therefore might be a useful option for taking in additional calories, especially when using your SNAP templates.
In addition, for endurance athletes, I wonder if the tomato paste might be a good alternative to the energy gels that are frequently used.)
Thank you, as always, for your consideration, your potential feedback, and for all that you do.
Please have a wonderful day.
Warmly,
Michael