The Hungry Swimmer: Caprese Pesto Pasta

One of my biggest summer cravings are tomatoes. As soon as the temperature rises above 95 degrees I automatically crave fresh tomatoes. Maybe because tomatoes are hydrating and refreshing, but after doing a bit of research, this craving is starting to make sense.

Summer is known for its intense heat, sunburns, and exhausting training sessions.^1,2 All of these factors can trigger your cells to overproduce free radicals. High amounts of free radicals cause oxidative stress and cell damage which can make you feel fatigued, have muscle aches, and lower your immune system.¹ Thankfully, antioxidants keep free radicals in check.

Incorporating foods that are rich in antioxidants can help protect your skin and body from the harmful effects of sun damage and recover faster. Tomatoes contain lots of antioxidants – they are loaded with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and lycopene. Our bodies are smart and cravings can be signals from those bodies telling us to consume nutrients that we need. It’s no wonder why I craved tomatoes each summer after long days spent outside at the pool.

Here’s how to make one of my quick, go-to recipes with tomatoes:

What you’ll need:

• One box of banza penne pasta or penne pasta of choice
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 12 oz rainbow cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp pesto
• 8 oz of fresh mozzarella pearls

How to make:

1. In a small pot, bring water to boil and add the pasta. Cook according to directions on the box.
2. Next, add tomatoes to the skillet with olive oil over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat until the tomato skin becomes blistered, about 10 minutes
3. Once pasta has cooked, drain the pasta and add two tablespoons of pesto. Stir to coat pasta with pesto evenly.
4. Combine tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto pasta in a bowl.
5. Dish up and enjoy! *chef’s kiss 😘👌*

This meal is a quick and easy meal that can be whipped up in 15 minutes.  Best served with your fav bread!

If you want to learn more about the antioxidant properties of tomatoes, check out these articles:

1. Ascenso A, Pedrosa T, Pinho S, et al. The Effect of Lycopene Preexposure on UV-B-Irradiated Human Keratinocytes. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:8214631. doi:10.1155/2016/8214631
2. Gholami, F., Antonio, J., Evans, C. et al. Tomato powder is more effective than lycopene to alleviate exercise-induced lipid peroxidation in well-trained male athletes: randomized, double-blinded cross-over study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 18, 17 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00415-7