Kids and Ketchup: Is Ketchup a Healthy Food Group?

My mother once joked that my children consider food to be just a convenient way to eat ketchup. And she is not far from wrong. My children will eat ketchup indiscriminately if I let them. This obsession with ketchup led me to wonder whether it was really bad for them, or if ketchup could be considered a healthy food.

The first thing I did was to turn the ketchup bottle over and read the ingredients. We eat Heinz organic tomato ketchup at our home. Below is how the ingredients stack up to the healthy eating habits I want to instill in my kids.

Ketchup and Kids - Red Ripe Organic Tomatoes

This is the first ingredient in our ketchup. There is nothing wrong with an organic tomato, and very little to be found even if you do not eat organic ketchup. Tomatoes in any form have lycopene which may contribute to prostate health - helpful if you have sons - and helps to control cholesterol build up in arteries. Tomatoes, of course, are also fruits and thus have naturally occurring healthy compounds of all types.

Ketchup and Kids - Distilled Vinegar

Vinegar is the next ingredient in ketchup. Some people argue that the acidic vinegar can actually cause stomach complaints. It may do so in people who have unhealthy digestion to begin with. However, taking vinegar internally is sometimes touted as a way to deal with acid indigestion. It is also said to help emulsify fat and aid in maintaining blood sugar.

Ketchup and Kids - Sugar, Salt, and Spices

One of the biggest complaints about ketchup is the amounts of sugar and salt. Spices, which are not specified except for onion powder, are the last item on the ingredient list and pose no health hazards.

According to the ketchup label, there are four grams of sugars per tablespoon. Since my children would eat a tablespoon of ketchup per item of food, that can really add up. If you are watching your child's diet carefully, this could cause some concern. However, as most children have the occasional cookie, soda pop, or ice cream sundae, four extra grams of sugar are negligible.

The sodium content of ketchup is another item that parents may worry about. There are no sodium intake levels set for children, but the adult recommended levels are below 2400 milligrams. Ketchup has 190mg per tablespoon. If your children eat a diet that is relatively low in sodium, liberal ketchup use will not overburden their systems.