Tomatoes are terrific! Tomatoes (solanum lycopersicum) is a fruit from the nightshade family native to South America. Botanically the tomato is a fruit because it fits the botanical description of a fruit. It is the fleshy part of the plant that surrounds its seeds. However, for nutritional and culinary purposes, the tomato is a vegetable.  (Nightshade is a family of plants that include tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplant and tobacco) Nightshades contain small amounts of alkaloids. Alkaloids are chemicals found in plants. While some alkaloids will have a positive effect on the human body, others, like the ones present in tobacco will have a negative effect,) Tomatoes generally turn red when they mature they are also available in a variety of colours including yellow orange, green and purple.  Tomatoes are 95%  water and 5% carbohydrates and fibre.  Tomatoes are often harvested when green and immature and ripened artificially. This may adversely affect t...