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Home › Articles › Toddler Nutrition › Kids and Ketchup

Kids and Ketchup

Can Children Eat Too Much?

By Donna Smith

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But what if your child just won't eat unless you offer ketchup? Is it better for them to eat ketchup-covered food than nothing at all? "That really depends on a lot of things," O'Shea says. "First, kids really do have a good sense of hunger, and if they get hungry enough, they will eat. You don't want to encourage eating when not hungry by offering a 'favorite' (i.e. ketchup) or reinforcing the need to have ketchup versus trying to encourage eating foods on their own or with other creative dipping options."

Hutches also used ketchup to get her daughter to finish her meal. "I have used it to help get her to finish eating something she's no longer enthused about," she says. "If she's asking for other food and hasn't finished what she's eating I will offer ketchup on something to see if that makes it seem 'better' and worthy of finishing."

But at the end of the day, if a little bit of good ketchup gets kids to eat and enjoy vegetables and other healthy foods, it can be a fine addition to a healthy diet, O'Shea says.

"Don't stress over it!" Hutches says. "This too shall pass and if ketchup is the worst part of their diet, life is good."

Do It Yourself
Ever considered making your own homemade ketchup? It's a great way to know exactly what your child is eating, and these versions contain less salt and sugar than most store-bought varieties.

Low-salt Ketchup

1 small can tomato paste
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
Dash of cinnamon, cloves and allspice

Combine all the ingredients in a jar with a screw lid and shake well. (Or combine in a bowl, mix well and pour into an airtight container.) Keep ketchup in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Sugar-free Ketchup

4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of allspice
12 packages low-calorie sugar substitute (or more to taste)

Combine all the ingredients expect sugar substitute in a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into a saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer about one hour, stirring often. Add the sugar substitute and stir until dissolved. Pour into a jar or airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to one month.


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