Catsup - How Many Calories?

Ketchup calories: count the amount you use

This USDA reference provides 101 calories per 100 g of ketchup, also called catsup. A smaller 15 g amount provides 15 calories, while a 10 g packet provides 10. It is a generic reference, not a current label for Heinz or another brand. Standard, spicy and no-added-sugar products can have different values. [1]

How many calories are in a tablespoon or packet?

USDA's tablespoon weighs 17 g and provides about 17 calories. If your spoon holds 15 g, the amount is 15 calories instead. Both weighed examples are available in the calculator. Packets vary too: a 9 g sachet provides 9 calories and a 10 g sachet 10. Use the weight printed on the packet rather than assuming every sachet is the same size.

Choosing ketchup: sugar, ingredients and salt

Compare labels at the same serving weight. No added sugar does not mean no sugar or no calories: naturally occurring tomato sugars may remain. Total carbohydrate is not the same as added sugar either. The 4.11 g of carbohydrate in this 15 g reference serving should not be described as that amount of added sugar. Read the ingredients, sugars and salt information together. [2]

There is no single healthiest ketchup for everyone. A lower-salt product may suit one person's needs; someone else may be comparing added sugar. Tomato sauce is not automatically a better or worse choice: its oil, salt and sugar content depend on the recipe. A little ketchup also does not replace a serving of vegetables.

How much sodium does a serving contain?

The table's 907 mg sodium figure is for 100 g, not one spoonful. A weighed 15 g amount provides 136.05 mg. Salt and sodium are different measurements, so check which your label reports. If you have been advised to reduce salt, compare products and keep the amount you use in view. One serving does not establish that ketchup will cause fluid retention.

Can I have ketchup while losing weight?

A little ketchup can fit into a meal. Consider the whole plate and your usual eating pattern rather than deciding whether a sauce is good or bad from one number. If squeezing straight from the bottle makes the amount hard to judge, put some in a small dish first. When mixing ketchup with mayonnaise, count each separately: the ketchup value cannot describe the entire mixture.

For help planning whole meals instead of building a list of forbidden sauces, see personal nutrition and weight-management support.