Thanks for taking the time to explain your recommendations and you thinking behind them.
However, we will disagree for several reasons.
First, in regard to the numbers, tomato paste is, by nature, the most concentrated of the tomato products. That is what tomato paste is by definition. It is even sold in squeeze tubes like toothpaste.
For example, lets use a couple Hunts products
Hunts tomato paste, no salt added
https://smartlabel.labelinsight.com/pro ... /nutrition30 cal per 33 gram serving = 412 calories per pound.
Hunts diced tomatoes, no salt added
https://smartlabel.labelinsight.com/pro ... /nutrition30 cal per 121 gram serving = 112 calories per pound
Hunts tomato Sauce, no salt added
https://smartlabel.labelinsight.com/pro ... /nutrition20 calories per 62 gram serving = 146 calories per pound
The original template was based on the POMI diced tomatoes,
https://www.vitacost.com/pomi-chopped-tomatoes28 calories per 125 gram serving = 102 calories per pound.
The only ingredient is tomatoes.
That is a ~3-4x the calorie density. As I said, while it is not a huge difference and all the products are low in calorie density, there is a difference and for the simple template, I don't use the paste.
Second, we can find most generic canned tomato products for ~$1.00 -1.25 per 28 oz can at your local grocery store and even cheaper if you do some bargain shopping or buy larger cans. Based on that pricing, my SNAP meals came out to $3-$4 dollars per person per day. That is $90-$120 per month. Even at $5 per day, that is still only $150 per month per person. All these prices are below the actual SNAP program level of assistance. I’m not sure switching to tomato paste & having to dilute it will make a huge savings difference.
Third, the SNAP meals are not blended and while there is some liquid in some of the varieties of the diced tomatoes, the majority of the weight and bulk/volume comes from tomatoes. Even in the tomato sauce, we are only looking at a small contribution to the total calories of the recipe. I don't want to have to dilute the tomato paste in each recipe and for the others, the difference is minor enough to me for it not to matter. The reason is, the majority of the calories come from minimally processed whole grains, starchy vegetables, legumes and veggies. In regard to blending, my main concern is fruit and large quantities of it (Ie, smoothies). These same concerns have not been shown with vegetables, which I have covered in these forums in the "soup vs smoothie threads".
Fourth, considering all the above, I can't see any reason any of these would impact anyone's A1c or Trigycerides, nor have I ever seen that happen. In fact, just the opposite. Many have chosen to just live on my SNAP template, often for week or months at a time and have recovered their health and reversed their diseases.
Now, perhaps if someone was drinking juice and/or consuming smoothies for full meals, then perhaps, depending on their health, it may be a concern. However, not because of the small contribution the tomato sauce or liquid in the diced tomatoes would make to a full SNAP recipe. The tomato, while botanically a fruit, is considered a vegetable in nutrition because thee nutrition composition (including caloric content, calorie density and amount of carbs) is much closer to the vegetable group then the fruit group.
Lastly, anywhere you are going to find no salt added tomato paste, you are also going to find no salt added diced tomatoes, etc.
My SNAP meals are only a template and were tested over years (actually decades) and the formula was based on what is most readily available, easiest, simplest and meets my numbers for calorie density. Anyone is welcome to change things and make it their own as that’s part of the fun. I encourage people to be creative and use different varieties of tomatoes (liquid), beans, starch, vegetables and spice. I’m always looking for a way to maker it easier, simpler and cheaper and so I appreciate your efforts. Just not sure you have demonstrated that.
Again, thanks for your thoughts and your suggestions and if it works for you, enjoy!
However, I think I will keep the basic template, and the basic tomato product recommendations, as is.
In Health
Jeff