Healthy Highlight: Ketchup

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Ketchup gets a bad reputation for being full of sugar, but really, the reason ketchup is bad for you is because of what you eat with it. Ketchup typically compliments a greasy burger and fries, but the good things out way the bad when it comes to ketchup itself, especially considering the little amount you actually end up eating. If you are worried about the sugar content, switch to a low sugar version of ketchup, trust me, you won't taste the difference.

  • Ketchup and other tomato sauces can reduce a man's risk of getting prostate cancer by about twenty percent if eaten twice a week. Similarly, it can prevent breast cancer in women.
  • Ketchup and tomatoes are filled with Lycopene. This gives tomatoes their red color and is also responsible for boosting sperm count by up to seventy percent.
  • Studies have also shown that people who add ketchup to their diet have seen a drop in their cholesterol levels. 

Fun Fact: Ketchup is actually very similar to wine in the respect that some years ketchup can taste better than other years based on the harvest.

Recipes:

Homemade Ketchup (SkinnyTaste.com)

  • 6 oz Tomato Paste
  • 1/4 cup Honey
  • 1/2 cup White Vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 3/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat; whisk until smooth
  2. When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often
  3. Remove from heat and cover until cool
  4. Chill and store refrigerated in a covered container

Ketchup Sloppy Joes (RealLifeDinner.com)

  • 1.5 lbs Ground Beef or Turkey
  • 2-3 grated Carrots
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 1 cup Ketchup
  • 2-3 tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 2 tsp Mustard
  • Hamburger Buns
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  1. In a medium-sized frying pan, brown meat until completely cooked. Salt and pepper the meat while browning it.
  2. Add grated carrots and diced onions. Mix and cook until tender.
  3. Add ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Mix thoroughly and continue cooking until heated through. Taste and add a little more ketchup if needed.
  4. Serve on hamburger buns.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken (TasteandTellBlog.com)

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs
  • 1/2 cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp Water
  1. Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker
  2. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, ketchup, honey and garlic. Pour over the top of the chicken
  3. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours.
  4. Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Transfer the liquid from the slow cooker to a pot and place over medium-high heat. 
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water, stir into the liquid in the pot and cook until liquid thickens.
  6. Place chicken and sauce back in the slow cooker and stir to coat the chicken. Serve over top of rice.