Trying to figure out if certain foods are or aren’t keto can drive you batty, but I’ve got the 411 on all you need to know to answer the question: are tomatoes keto? Read on for info, carb counts, and terrific recipes!
Cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, grape tomatoes…the variety seems nearly endless! With so many delicious tomatoes, how can you know if some are better for you on a keto diet? Read on, hungry reader, and I’ll tell you all you need to know about tomatoes on a keto diet!
Are Tomatoes Keto?
Yes….but….
There are a few different kinds of keto. There’s strict keto and what others call lazy keto, and even dirty keto.
Many strict keto dieters will avoid tomatoes because they do have a slightly higher carb count. And that’s fine; it’s a personal choice.
If you’re counting carbs and other macros, then tomatoes can easily fit into your keto lifestyle.
So the simple answer is yes, tomatoes are keto friendly.
How Many Tomatoes Can I Eat?
If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, “Are tomatoes OK on keto,” I’d be rich! Well, OK far from rich, but you get the point.
The beauty of keto is that as long as you eat under a certain number of carbs each day, your body will stay in ketosis. That’s the goal! Staying in ketosis means your body is burning fat for fuel.
Sure, tomatoes have carbs, but as long as you count them and stay under that number of carbs, then you’re fine!
One cup of cherry tomatoes has about 4 net carbs in it, so don’t go crazy!
Are Cherry Tomatoes Keto?
Yes! Cherry tomatoes are totally keto, but like every other kind of tomato, just be sure to count the carbs!
There are so many delicious tomato recipes, like this Tomato & Cucumber Salad, that are a bit heavier on carbs so just eat a smaller portion or account for them in your daily total.
Are there carbohydrates in tomatoes?
Yes! There are carbs in tomatoes. Nearly everything, unless it is pure protein, has carbs in it.
On average, 1 cup of cherry tomatoes has about 4 net carbs in it.
If you’re having trouble counting carbs, check out this Net Carb Calculator.
How Many Carbs in A Tomato?
Depending on the size of the tomato, there can be a varying range of carbs. Here’s are some approximate numbers:
- A large tomato has about 5 net carbs in it
- A medium tomato has about 3 net carbs in it
- A small tomato has about 2.5 net carbs in it.
Are Tomatoes Keto Friendly? How Many Can I eat?
This is a tough question to answer – it all depends on your macros!
How many carbs can you eat each day? Most people aim for about 20 net carbs per day. Let’s say you eat:
- 4 net carbs for breakfast
- 6 net carbs for lunch
- that leaves 10 net carbs for dinner.
If you enjoy 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, that’s about 4 net carbs, leaving 6 net carbs for the rest of the meal.
Tomatoes Are Very Nutritional
Tomatoes are loaded with nutrition!
- Tomatoes are packed with an antioxidant called lycopene which is linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease
- They are vitamin and mineral rich
- They are high in fiber (and what ketoer can’t use more fiber?)
- and more!
Is Tomato Sauce Keto?
The problem with tomato sauce is that commercial products are generally LOADED with sugar.
The North American palate, in particular, has grown accustomed to the sweetness of sugar, and now it’s in everything.
And, sugar is often used to balance the acidity of tomatoes.
You’ll find sugar in canned tomato and marinara sauces, pizza sauce, and even in some cans of diced tomatoes. Always read the nutrition labels carefully, watching for hidden sugars like:
- fructose
- glucose
- corn syrup
- maltose…and more.
Homemade is Best – control those carbs!
You can control the number of carbs that are in tomato and pizza sauce by making your own, and here are a few recipes to get you started:
Are Tomatoes Keto if They’re Cooked?
Yes! Some cooked tomato recipes, like tomato sauces, are more concentrated so the carb count will be a little bit higher. Just account for the carbs and watch your serving size and you’ll be fine. In fact, tomatoes even show up in my weekly Meal Plans!
We just started looking at what to put in our vegetable garden this year and were wondering if tomatoes would work, Thankful to have found this article will all this info!
That was such a useful article to read – thank you so much for discussing this topic!
I had no idea there were different versions of keto. Very informative post.
Love this article and am inspired to go out and buy some tomatoes! Also had no idea there were different versions of keto!
This was so helpful and very informative! Can’t wait to show my daughter this post! Thank you!