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British Tomato Fortnight: Why We Love This Juicy Favourite at Zebedees

4th June 2025

British Tomato Fortnight runs from 2nd to 15th June, and here at Zebedees, it's the perfect excuse to shine a spotlight on one of the most versatile and well-loved ingredients on our menu – the tomato.

Tomatoes feature in so many of the meals we deliver to nurseries every week. Whether blended into a smooth sauce, stirred into a pasta bake or tucked into a savoury scone, they bring colour, flavour and nutrition to the plate in a way that’s perfect for young children.

Why we love tomatoes

Tomatoes are a brilliant ingredient for early years meals. They’re naturally rich in vitamin C, packed with antioxidants, and have a gentle flavour that children enjoy. They’re also incredibly versatile – ideal for sauces, stews, bakes and snacks. We use them in dishes throughout our menu to add flavour, moisture, colour and goodness, often alongside other vegetables to help increase the variety children are exposed to at a young age.

One of the best examples of this is our most popular meal, Simply Chicken. It features tender chicken in a smooth, tasty sauce made from tomatoes, butternut squash, onion and pepper – all blended together and served with pasta. It’s mild, familiar, and always goes down well with little ones.

Tomatoes in other Zebedees favourites

Simply Chicken isn’t the only place tomatoes make an appearance. You’ll also find them in:

  • Tomato & Mascarpone Cheese Pasta Bake – creamy, comforting and packed with flavour

  • Mild Veggie Chilli – gently spiced with a rich tomato base

  • Creamy Red Pesto Chicken – a mild, tomato-based sauce with herbs

  • Italian Beef Bolognaise – a classic dish that’s always a hit

A fun fortnight for nurseries

While we don’t feature special tomato-themed dishes just for the fortnight, we love the idea of using moments like this to encourage conversation around food. British Tomato Fortnight is a great opportunity for nurseries to talk to children about where food comes from, how it’s used in their meals, and to explore new ingredients through stories and play.

A few fun facts to share:

  • Tomatoes are technically a fruit

  • They come in lots of colours – including yellow, orange and even purple

  • The UK grows over 20 different varieties of tomato

Tomatoes all year round

Tomatoes might be getting the spotlight this fortnight, but at Zebedees, they’re a regular feature in our seasonal, carefully planned menus. We’re proud to create fresh, nutritious meals that support children’s health and development in the early years – and tomatoes are just one of many ingredients we use to do that.

If you’re a nursery looking for a trusted catering partner, we’d love to hear from you.

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