Tomatoes in the Paleo Diet

The paleo diet is a wheat-free, starch-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and legume-free diet that many people turn to for weight loss, health benefits and to reduce exposure to common food allergens. According to Dr. Loren Cordain's book "The Paleo Diet," tomatoes are among the foods that are allowed under the paleo diet. In addition, Dr. Cordain encourages people to consume tomatoes because they serve as anticancer agents.

Raw

• Consuming tomatoes raw is an excellent way to preserve the nutrients that tomatoes have to offer. The soft, juicy flesh of a raw tomato make an ideal accompaniment on bun-less burgers or chicken breast sandwiches, as well as chopped up for fresh salads. A lettuce, avocado, red onion and tomato salad with lemon juice as the dressing is one idea. Or, create your own salsa using raw tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, jalapeno and lime juice.

Baked

• Baked tomatoes maintain their soft fleshy texture while also adding some heat and roasted flavor. Use tomatoes to combine with other veggies you intend to bake in the oven, such as asparagus, carrots, eggplant and broccoli. Bake them with chopped up garlic, a sprinkle of parsley or cilantro and some black pepper for seasoning. While you may be tempted to salt your veggies before you roast or bake them, remember that the Paleo Diet warns dieters about consuming too much sodium, and it is advised to not add extra salt to your foods.

Catsup

• "The Paleo Diet" contains recipes that include tomatoes in the ingredients list. "Ray's Catsup" is one such recipe that called for over three pounds of sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, garlic, red pepper, bay leaf, unsweetened fruit juice, allspice, cloves, mace, celery seeds, lemon juice and cayenne pepper to create a tasty condiment that can be used for dipping other paleo-friendly foods into. Since this ketchup recipe uses fresh ingredients it must be kept refrigerated while in use.

Gazpacho

• Gazpacho is a cold soup filled with vegetables and a tomato broth base. With tomatoes as the star ingredient, all other vegetables and herbs are blended together in a food processor to create the gazpacho. This is a completely raw recipe that does not require cooking or heating.

Spicy Tomato Soup

• With eight fresh tomatoes you can puree them and cook a variety of other vegetables and seasonings to create spicy tomato soup. This recipe calls for chicken broth, but you can substitute it with a vegetable broth if you are a vegetarian or vegan.