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Kids and Ketchup

Can Children Eat Too Much?

By Donna Smith

French fries or chicken nuggets dipped in ketchup? Of course! Most toddlers love the act of dunking their food into any type of sauce, but ketchup holds a special place in most children's hearts.

"My 4-year-old loves ketchup on grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets, french fries, tater tots, meat and cheese sandwiches, crackers – and even strawberries," says Elizabeth Hutches, a mother of two from Sidney, N.E. "Yes, strawberries. We watched her do it yesterday at lunch and say 'Yum!'"

Shonna Cruz's son dips almost everything in ketchup, but "his most favorite thing would be veggies of any kind," says the mom of three from Lubbock, Texas.

"Kids really love to dip their food – into anything, actually – and ketchup is something that most parents have readily accessible," says Peggy O'Shea, a Boston-based registered dietitian and president of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association. "In addition, ketchup is a beautiful and fun bright red color, which is a real attraction as well!"

But what about broccoli dipped in ketchup? Eggs? Carrots? Some toddlers refuse to eat anything that's not coated with this red concoction. Can toddlers eat too much of this kid-friendly, tomato-based condiment?

The first thing to remember is that the most important thing is to make sure kids are getting a balanced diet overall, and no one food (or condiment, in this case) will make or break a good diet, O'Shea says. "And there really isn't anything wrong with a little ketchup here and there to complement an otherwise healthful diet," she says.

In fact, O'Shea points out that ketchup is a good source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is found in fresh tomatoes but in even greater levels in cooked tomatoes including tomato sauce and ketchup. "Although the science is still in early stages, there is some indication that lycopene can help in reducing risk of certain cancers including prostate and breast cancer," she says.

Want to see more?

• Take a Dip! Mealtime Options for Toddlers
• Check out our Article Library.
• The Right Angle: Do Kids Need Three Square Meals a Day?
• Redefining Pantry Staples: The Benefits of a Well-stocked Kitchen
• Talk about it!