| If you are one of the generation who grew up on | | | | not much." No, it isn't, but think of all the servings |
| 70s-80s Saturday morning cartoons, you might | | | | you've enjoyed over the week, the month, and |
| remember a series of public service | | | | the year. Two servings of ketchup a day over |
| announcements that aired in between your | | | | the course of one month equals 240 grams of |
| favorite shows. Tucked in between the | | | | sugar. |
| adventures of Batman and Robin, and even the | | | | Fat |
| kitschy Schoolhouse House videos were very | | | | You've heard the saying, "A sandwich just isn't a |
| short, very animated appeals to children about | | | | sandwich without…" Well, have you |
| good nutrition. One that stands out in memory is | | | | considered ending the sentence with fat? If you |
| Louis the Lifeguard pleading us in song not to | | | | heard it like that, would you eat the sandwich? |
| "drown" the food we eat. | | | | Yet, many people do enjoy a deli sandwich |
| Louis was referring, of course, to condiments, as | | | | slathered with mayonnaise or another type of |
| the PSA portrayed him gallantly rescuing a potato | | | | egg-based dressing. Mayonnaise has perhaps the |
| from a bowl of sour cream, and a boiled egg | | | | highest fat content of any |
| from an avalanche of mayonnaise. The message | | | | condiment—even in its "light" form, the |
| then is as clear as it should be now: not only can | | | | dressing is almost always 50% fat. This is |
| condiments can affect the taste of foods, but | | | | something to consider the next time you build a |
| also affect the overall nutritional value of the meal. | | | | sandwich, ask yourself if you want to counteract |
| Just as certain diet products are designed to | | | | a healthy slice of turkey with something that will |
| supplement a weight loss program by helping | | | | cover the taste and not offer as much nutritional |
| people maintain a healthy diet and exercise, | | | | value. |
| condiments are meant to supplement the flavor | | | | Sodium |
| of certain foods. Note the key word is | | | | That extra tang in your sandwich, on your main |
| supplement. Oftentimes, however, we can get | | | | dish, in your vegetables that makes the food |
| carried away with condiments, so much that they | | | | taste good? Salt. Check any label of your favorite |
| become their own food group rather than the | | | | condiments, and you will find salt is a main |
| miniscule part of a meal they were meant to be. | | | | ingredient. Salt helps preserve the condiments in |
| Picture the plate of steamed broccoli smothered | | | | their packaging, and adds flavor to otherwise |
| in melted cheddar cheese, the baked potato | | | | bland ingredients. Too much sodium, naturally, is |
| supporting a pool of butter, the grilled chicken | | | | never good for the diet, as it can lead to high |
| coated in salsa…they make look delicious, | | | | blood pressure, water retention, and other |
| and you might think you are enjoying a good | | | | problems. You might think a bit of salt here and |
| meal with the base foods, but going overboard on | | | | there is not harmful, but as sodium occurs |
| the condiments can do harm. | | | | naturally in most foods you eat, you have to ask |
| So what is wrong with a bit here and bit there of | | | | yourself if you should add more to your eating |
| something to complement a main or side dish? | | | | plan. |
| Nothing, if condiments are used in moderation. Use | | | | So should you stop eating condiments altogether? |
| too much, however, and you could be adding | | | | We don't necessarily say that, though we would |
| things to your diet that you don't really need. | | | | advise sparing use when you do decide to |
| Sugar | | | | enhance your foods. Also, consider taking a |
| Ever wonder why we like ketchup on our French | | | | "condiment holiday," where you refrain from using |
| fries? Unlike the tomatoes from which this | | | | anything on your food. Note the difference in |
| condiment comes, ketchup has added ingredients | | | | flavor and absence of extra sugars and fat. You |
| to make it more palatable. Sugar, for one, gives | | | | might find the food tastes just as good without |
| ketchup its sweetness. Looking at a label of your | | | | the added help, and that it could be better for |
| favorite brand, you may say to yourself, "Hey, | | | | you, too. |
| there's only four grams per serving here. That's | | | | |