How many kcal are in 5 Cherry Tomatoes?

Quick Answer

There are about 15-20 calories (kcal) in 5 medium cherry tomatoes. A single medium cherry tomato contains around 3-4 calories.

Calculating Calories in Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are a low calorie food, providing only about 15-20 calories in 5 medium sized cherry tomatoes. Here is a breakdown of the calorie content in 5 medium cherry tomatoes:

Tomato Weight (grams) Calories
Tomato 1 20g 3 kcal
Tomato 2 18g 3 kcal
Tomato 3 22g 4 kcal
Tomato 4 19g 3 kcal
Tomato 5 21g 4 kcal
Total 100g 17 kcal

As you can see, 5 medium sized cherry tomatoes weighing about 100g in total provide around 17 calories. The exact calorie count can vary slightly depending on the exact size and ripeness of the tomatoes.

On average, 1 medium cherry tomato provides about 3-4 calories.

Cherry Tomato Nutrition Facts

Here are some key nutrition facts for cherry tomatoes:

  • Calories: 17 kcal in 5 medium tomatoes (100g)
  • Carbohydrates: 3.5g per 100g
  • Sugars: 2.5g per 100g
  • Fiber: 1g per 100g
  • Protein: 1g per 100g
  • Fat: 0.2g per 100g
  • Water: 94%
  • Vitamin C: 28% DV per 100g
  • Potassium: 3% DV per 100g

As you can see, cherry tomatoes are made up of mostly water and contain minimal calories and fat. They are an excellent low calorie food choice.

Cherry tomatoes provide vitamin C, potassium, and some fiber. The vitamin C content is relatively high, providing 28% of the daily value in just 100g.

Comparing Cherry Tomato Calories to Other Foods

Cherry tomatoes are very low in calories compared to many other foods. Here is a calories comparison per 100g for cherry tomatoes vs some other foods:

Food Calories per 100g
Cherry tomatoes 17 kcal
Banana 89 kcal
Avocado 160 kcal
Apple 52 kcal
Orange 47 kcal
Grapes 67 kcal
Potato 77 kcal
Broccoli 34 kcal

As you can see, cherry tomatoes contain far fewer calories than fruits like bananas, apples, oranges, grapes, and avocados. They have about half the calories of broccoli and potatoes.

This makes them an excellent low calorie addition to meals, salads, and snacks. Five cherry tomatoes add flavor and nutrition with minimal effect on calorie intake.

Health Benefits of Cherry Tomatoes

In addition to being low in calories, cherry tomatoes offer some great health benefits:

High in Antioxidants

Cherry tomatoes contain several antioxidants including lycopene, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. These antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative damage in the body. Studies show tomatoes contain more lycopene when cooked vs raw.

MayReduce Inflammation

Due to their high antioxidant content, some studies have found that consuming tomatoes may help reduce inflammation in the body. Ongoing inflammation can contribute to chronic diseases.

Supports Heart Health

The combination of antioxidants, potassium, vitamin C, and other nutrients in tomatoes supports heart health. They may help reduce blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

May Benefit Skin

Tomatoes contain vitamin C and all the major carotenoids, including lycopene. These nutrients can help protect the skin from sun damage and improve skin health.

Helps Maintain Strong Bones

Cherry tomatoes provide vitamin K1 and calcium. These nutrients support bone mineral density and bone health.

Supports Immune Function

The vitamin C content in cherry tomatoes acts as an antioxidant and helps support the immune system. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that must be regularly consumed to maintain healthy levels.

Overall, adding cherry tomatoes to your diet provides a range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds that offer health benefits with very minimal calorie intake.

Tips for Eating More Cherry Tomatoes

Here are some easy ways to add more cherry tomatoes to your diet:

  • -Keep a pint on your kitchen counter for easy snacking
  • -Add cherry tomatoes to salads for flavor, color, and texture
  • -Put cherry tomatoes on sandwiches instead of higher calorie condiments like mayo
  • -Enjoy a bowl of cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinegar as an appetizer
  • -Add halved cherry tomatoes to omelets, frittatas, and egg scrambles
  • -Toss whole cherry tomatoes into soups, stews, and chili
  • -Use a skewer to make caprese skewers with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil
  • -Roast or air fry cherry tomatoes for an easy side dish
  • -Blend cherry tomatoes into pasta sauce, pizza sauce, or salsa

The small bite-sized tomatoes are very versatile. Keep a stock on hand to add flavor and nutrients to many savory dishes and snacks.

Buying and Storing Cherry Tomatoes

When shopping for cherry tomatoes, look for ones that are firm and smooth-skinned with a rich red color. Avoid any with bruises, soft spots, or wrinkled skin.

Unwashed and stored properly, cherry tomatoes will keep for up to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator. The best way to store them is in their original container in the fridge. You can also put them in a paper bag or storage container lined with paper towels. This will help absorb excess moisture.

Let cherry tomatoes come up to room temperature before eating for best flavor. Rinse and pat dry right before eating or cooking.

To freeze cherry tomatoes, wash and dry them thoroughly. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags. Frozen cherry tomatoes are great to use in cooked dishes like soups, stews, and sauces.

Recipes with Cherry Tomatoes

Here are some healthy and delicious recipes featuring fresh cherry tomatoes:

Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into cubes
  • 1⁄4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, mix together the halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cubes, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic.
  2. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Let sit 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to develop.
  4. Serve on its own or on top of greens.

Cherry Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 oz pasta of choice
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 oz parmesan cheese, grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. In a pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
  3. Add garlic and cherry tomatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes until tomatoes start to soften.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in basil.
  5. Drain pasta and add to tomato mixture. Toss to combine.
  6. Top with parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper.

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients:

  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp dried basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. On a baking sheet, toss cherry tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil, salt and pepper.
  3. Roast for 15-20 minutes until tomatoes are blistered.
  4. Enjoy as a side or on top of salads, pasta, pizza, and more.

Conclusion

Cherry tomatoes provide an excellent low calorie addition to your diet. Just 5 medium cherry tomatoes contain only about 15-20 calories total.

The small tomatoes are packed with nutrition like vitamin C, potassium, lycopene, and other antioxidants.

Eating more cherry tomatoes is an easy way to increase your vegetable intake and reap the many health benefits they provide. Their versatile flavor and bite-size make them easy to enjoy in salads, pastas, snacks, and many dishes.

So next time you need a flavorful low calorie food, reach for a pint of fresh cherry tomatoes.

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