Tomato (green)

Low FODMAP

Serving sizes

Tomato (green) changes rating with portion size. Its rating is estimated from what it is made of, so the servings are described rather than weighed.

Small serving Low
Large serving Moderate

Green tomato is Low FODMAP at a normal serving, a firm, tart fruit that's mostly water with only modest sugars.

A small serving stays comfortably low, while a large serving climbs to moderate as the overall FODMAP load starts to build up.
You'll find green tomatoes sliced, fried, or pickled, and how they're prepared or paired can shift the picture, so keep an eye on what else lands on the plate.

Stick to a modest portion in a stir-fry or salad and green tomato slots in easily alongside low-FODMAP staples like rice.

Why tomato (green) is rated low

Green tomato is rated low FODMAP overall, and no FODMAP subgroup is recorded for it. The rating is estimated from what green tomato is made of rather than from a measured serving. The ladder is where the useful detail sits: a Small serving reads low, while a Large serving climbs to moderate. So yes, it fits a low FODMAP plate, as long as the helping stays at the Small serving and the rest of the dish does not bring in onion, garlic or wheat.

What changes your risk

Serving size A Small serving reads low and a Large serving reads moderate. The size of the helping is the main lever, so a plate built mostly of green tomato is where it tips.
Whole-meal load With no recorded subgroup, the concern is the total FODMAP load of the meal. A Large serving next to other moderate foods adds up, so keep the other sides clearly low, such as rice, potato, zucchini or carrots.
Chutney and relish Green tomato chutney and relish are commonly cooked down with onion and garlic, and some recipes add apple or dried fruit. The tomato is not the problem there; the other ingredients are.
Batter and breading Fried green tomatoes are usually coated in wheat flour or wheat breadcrumbs. Polenta, gluten free flour or gluten free crumbs keep the coating low. Frying itself does not change the tomato.
Drying and cooking down Drying, or reducing green tomato into a thick paste or jam, removes water and concentrates everything left behind, so the concentrated form is not the same as a fresh Small serving.

What else works

For the same firm, tart crunch in a salad or stir-fry, cucumber, zucchini and bell pepper are low FODMAP and hold their shape well. The lookalikes that are not low are mostly about what green tomato gets cooked with: green tomato chutney or relish made with onion and garlic, pickled green tomatoes packed with garlic cloves, and fried green tomatoes in a wheat batter. A dried or cooked-down green tomato product is also a different thing from the fresh Small serving this rating describes.

How to keep it low

Slice and portion green tomato before it goes into the pan, so the Small serving is settled before cooking starts. For fried green tomatoes, coat the slices in polenta or gluten free flour and fry them in garlic-infused oil for the savoury note. For quick pickles, make the brine with vinegar, salt, sugar, dill and mustard seed rather than garlic. For a relish, build the flavour on chives, the green tops of spring onions and garlic-infused oil instead of onion, and serve it alongside rice, eggs or grilled fish.

Common questions

are green tomatoes low fodmap

Yes. Green tomato is rated low FODMAP overall, estimated from what it is made of. A Small serving reads low, while a Large serving climbs to moderate.

how much green tomato can i eat on low fodmap

Stay at a Small serving to keep it low. A Large serving reads moderate, so a big helping is where it tips over.

are fried green tomatoes low fodmap

The tomato is low at a Small serving, but the usual coating is wheat flour or wheat breadcrumbs. Coat them in polenta or gluten free flour instead; frying does not change the tomato itself.

is green tomato chutney low fodmap

Usually not. Most chutney and relish recipes cook the tomato with onion and garlic, and some add apple or dried fruit, so check the label or make it at home with chives and garlic-infused oil.

Learn more

Informational only, not medical advice. Individual tolerance varies. Talk to a healthcare professional or a dietitian for personal guidance.

Tomato (green) is an estimated rating: it is inferred from the food's ingredients and composition and cross-checked, not measured directly in the papers below. The low, moderate and high cutoffs are still those of Varney et al. (2017).

References

Fructan and free fructose content of common Australian vegetables and fruit. Muir et al. (2007), J. Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55(16):6619-6627.
Measurement of short-chain carbohydrates in common Australian vegetables and fruits by HPLC. Muir et al. (2009), J. Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57(2):554-565.
Quantification of fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides and other short-chain carbohydrates in processed grains and cereals. Biesiekierski et al. (2011), J. Human Nutrition and Dietetics 24(2):154-176.
Dietary sorbitol and mannitol: food content and distinct absorption patterns. Yao et al. (2014), J. Human Nutrition and Dietetics 27(Suppl 2):263-275.
FODMAPs: food composition, defining cutoff values and international application. Varney et al. (2017), J. Gastroenterology and Hepatology 32(Suppl 1):53-61. Supplies the low, moderate and high cutoffs used on this page.