Now the USDA touts the following routine uses of the FBG. 2 The Food Buying Guide (FBG) is an essential tool used by Child Nutrition Program operators and food manufac- turers to assist in: 1) purchasing the right amount of food and purchasing it most economically, and 2) determining the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements to ensure that meals provide necessary nourishment and meet program require- ments for reimbursement. Many products contribute to the overall meal experience and offer unique nutritional benefits, but some products work harder than others and can pack key nutrients into small bites. One of those items is Tomato Paste. Fortuitously, kids/students enjoy con - suming so many products made with tomato paste, from Salsa to Marinara Sauce (creditable items), all the way to Ketchup and Barbeque Sauce offered as condiments. The USDA Food Buying Guide (FBG) allows for a concentrated amount of Tomato Paste to have a greater meal contribution credit, much like dried fruit, since a raw tomato is anywhere from 92% -95% water, depending on the type of tomato. 3 Therefore, one tablespoon (1 Tbsp.) of tomato paste credits as ¼ cup Red/Orange (R/O) Veg - etable and two tablespoons (2 Tbsp.) credits as ½ cup R/O vegetable, which is the serving size most desirable to menu planners when adding tomato products to their menu. As the leading K12 tomato sup- plier , Red Gold is focused on creating unique creditable tomato products for our K12 partners, and all the while maximizing nutrition, we lean into this FBG rule to create delicious, nutritious tomato products that credit in a rea- sonable and affordable serving size. Many of our competitors are not in- terested in formulating new products based on the USDA FBG, so their prod -
“EVEN IN THESE SMALL SERVING SIZES, TOMATO PASTE, TOMATO PARTICULATES, AND OTHER INGREDIENTS ENSURE A POWERHOUSE OF NUTRIENTS.“
ucts may lack the adequate amount of tomato paste needed, when served in a normal meal pattern serving size. Ad- ditionally, larger serving sizes means potentially unnecessary added costs. Even in these small serving sizes, tomato paste, tomato particulates, and other ingredients ensure a pow- erhouse of nutrients. For example, 2 Tbsp. of tomato paste contributes a good source of Protein (2% DV), Fiber (4%DV), and Potassium (6%DV) plus Vitamins/ Minerals: Copper (12%DV), Vitamin E (10%DV), Vitamin C (8%DV), Vitamin B6 (6%DV), Niacin (6%DV), Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Selenium, Vitamin K, all at (4% DV), and finally Zinc (2%DV). Addi - tionally, only 26 calories for this serving size. 4 One of the most powerful and pro- lific antioxidant nutrients also found in this serving size is Lycopene (9204μg – micrograms). We would be remiss in not pointing out all the “wellness” attri- butes associated with Lycopene, stud- ied for more than 70 years, with over 4000 articles published on the subject. Lycopene is a non-provitamin A carot- enoid that is responsible for the red to pink colors seen in tomatoes, pink grape - fruit, and other foods. Processed tomato products are the primary dietary lyco- pene source in the United States. Over the past decade, lycopene-containing foods (primarily tomato products) and lyco-
pene supplements have been reported to affect diseases ranging from cancer and heart disease to asthma (Dahan et al. 2008) and can help enhance your menu offering. Red Gold and their K12 dedi - cated sales team, along with local bro- kers, are here to support you in those efforts, so please reach out to us.
SOURCES
1. A Brief History of the USDA Food Buying Guide [https:// myplate-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/2024-05/A-Brief- History-of-the-USDA-Food-Guides.pdf](https://myplate-prod. azureedge.us/sites/default/files/2024-05/A-Brief-History-of-the- USDA-Food-Guides.pdf) 2. The USDA Food Buying Guide Home Page [https://foodbuying- guide.fns.usda.gov/](https://foodbuyingguide.fns.usda.gov/) Page 5 Details Tomato Paste & Tomato Puree Crediting [https:// www.foodbuyingguide.fns.usda.gov/Content/TablesFBG/USDA_FBG_ Section2_Vegetables.pdf](https://www.foodbuyingguide.fns.usda. gov/Content/TablesFBG/USDA_FBG_Section2_Vegetables.pdf) 3. How Much Water in a Tomato? [https://factista.com/en/ how-much-water-in-tomato](https://factista.com/en/how-much- water-in-tomato) 4.Nutritional Breakdown of Tomato Paste (1 Tbsp = ¼ cup R/O Veg.) – Numbers Cited = 2 Tbsps. [https://www.eatthismuch. com/calories/tomato-paste-2232?a=0.061068702290076333:2] (https://www.eatthismuch.com/calories/tomato-paste-2232 ?a=0.061068702290076333:2) 5. An Update on the Health Effects of Tomato Lycopene - Annu Rev Food Sci Technol . Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Dec 4\\\. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3850026/] (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3850026/) 6. Red Gold Tomato Paste TomatoTrition Fact Sheet [https:// www.redgoldfoodservice.com/docs/librariesprovider2/k-12-doc- uments/tomatotrition.pdf?sfvrsn=6eaf6a0e_12](https://www. redgoldfoodservice.com/docs/librariesprovider2/k-12-documents/ tomatotrition.pdf?sfvrsn=6eaf6a0e_12)
Jodi Batten, SNS | Red Gold Jodi has spent 26 of her last 42 years in Foodservice working closely with all Child Nutrition Program stakeholders, as both a consultant and manufacturer representative. Currently, with Red Gold Foodservice, she serves as the National Sales & Marketing Director: Non-Com- mercial. In preparation for HHFKA 2010, Jodi spearheaded the creation of a new, healthier line of tomato and condiment products for the K12 segment: Better Nutrition Made Simple™. She received her SNS certification in 2010. Jodi has served on many national, state, and local committees with SNA, ACDA, and State SNA Associations (TX & PA). She graduated from THE University of Texas (Austin), resides in Austin, and serves on the UT HDO Program Advisory Board!
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