Tomato

Tomatoes may be introduced as soon as your baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Tomatoes and other acidic foods can cause a harmless rash on skin that comes into contact with the juices and sometimes they can even contribute to diaper rash.

Tomatoes, especially grape and cherry tomatoes, are a common choking hazard, so keep reading to learn how to serve safely.

From curries to pastas to salsas, tomatoes show up in dishes made in all corners of the world, but it wasn’t always that way. The tomato plant is native to Central and South America, where it is believed to have been first cultivated by Aztecs, who gave the Nahuatl name of tomātl to the plump juicy fruit. Yes, the tomato is technically a fruit, but for international trade, it has been defined by U.S. law as a vegetable—a label that stuck in consumer culture.

While its roots are in the Americas, tomatoes are one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in cooking today in part due to the Spanish conquistadors, who took the seeds to Europe. There, the tomato was nicknamed the “love apple” (a nickname that stems from the tomato’s supposed aphrodisiac powers) and eventually spread to gardens around the globe through European colonization.

Yes. Tomatoes have tons of vitamin C, which makes them an ideal pairing with foods that are rich in plant-based iron, such as beans, lentils, and peas. (Vitamin C aids the absorption of iron from plant foods.) Tomatoes are also packed with carotenoids, a group of phytonutrients that color plants and provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits to our bodies.   Phytonutrients differ by variety of tomato and each offers unique benefits from promoting eyesight, immunity, and heart health to protecting skin against the sun.

When shopping for tomatoes, it’s a good idea to buy organic if you can, as tomato plants are typically sprayed with pesticides. High levels of pesticide residues may disrupt the endocrine system, contribute to obesity, and adversely impact neurodevelopment.  For these reasons, always wash tomatoes well before serving.

★Tip: Hold that refrigerator door! Store tomatoes on the countertop upside down (with stem side on the bottom) to increase their shelf life.

Yes, particularly cherry and grape tomatoes. To minimize the risk, choose ripe tomatoes, stick with wedges of beefsteak or other large tomatoes, and smash cherry and grape tomatoes between your thumb and finger or quarter them lengthwise. Keep in mind that a tomato contains multiple textures: slippery skin, soft flesh, small seeds, and juicy pulp, which may lead to gagging and coughing. Baby is learning how to manage different textures in the mouth at once, and the exposure to this new feeling helps teach the child how to eat real food. Because tomatoes and other foods with mixed textures can be challenging, offer them when baby is calm, alert, and focused, and consider serving another food when baby is tired, distracted, or feeling ill.

As always, make sure you are creating a safe environment at meal and snack time, and check out our age-appropriate serving suggestions. For more information, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with common choking hazards.

No. Tomato allergy is uncommon, but not unheard of. Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family of plants, and some individuals may be sensitive to the nightshade family, although information is limited. Additionally, individuals with Oral Allergy Syndrome (and in particular those allergic to grass or ragweed) may be sensitive to tomatoes, resulting in itching or discomfort in the mouth. Cooking the tomato can reduce the chance of experiencing oral allergy symptoms. As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity on its own for the first couple of servings and watch closely as your baby eats. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the serving size over time.

Note: Tomatoes and other acidic foods can cause a harmless rash on skin that comes into contact with the juices and sometimes contribute to diaper rash. The skin rash, which typically shows up around the mouth and chin is typically harmless and usually dissipates within minutes once the skin is gently cleansed.