Ingredients:

• 3-4 ripe tomatoes
• 1-2 cucumbers
• 1/2 of a red onion
• 1/4 pound fresh mozzarella
• 1/8 cup of basil, sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Cut the vegetables and cheese into bite size pieces. Pile the basil leaves on top of each other and roll into a tube (for easy slicing).

Add the chopped basil into the bowl and pour the oil and vinegar over all ingredients, adding a pinch of salt and pepper. Allow time for the veggies to marinate in the dressing. Serve cold.

Yield:

6 servings

Nutrition Tip

Tomatoes' red hue comes from a phytonutrient called lycopene. Lycopene, acts as a powerful antioxidant, and has displayed anti-cancer potential in a variety of studies. In the lab, tomato components have stopped the proliferation or growth of several cancer cell types including prostate, breast, lung, and endometrial. Epidemiological studies have shown that men who eat more lycopene-rich foods have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

Combining lycopene-rich vegetables and fruits, like tomatoes, with a small amount healthy fat, like olive oil, increases the amount of this fat-soluble antioxidant phytonutrient that your body can absorb. The absorptive effect is even greater when tomatoes are cooked.