Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (2024)

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Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer

Ranch vs. ketchup:It can sometimes be a tough call picking the right condiments to top your fries or burger.

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But which one will get you the most nutrition relative to the number of calories and fatit contains? We sought to find out whatcondiment ranked the best.

To compile this ranking, we tried to assess condiments you'd commonly find on the tables of a restaurant (not including salt, pepper, butter — more along the sauce variety), so apologies if your go-tois left off the list.

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (1)

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

And to keep things comparable, we looked at everything in increments of one tablespoon (though, for some condiments that may be way too much or not even close to enough). We also went off the USDA's nutrition facts, unless a brand name was clearly identified,so there may be some variability between products.

Check out where your favorites ended up.

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No. 12. Mayonnaise

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (2)

Flickr / Kham Tran

You knew this creamy, fat-filled goodness made out of egg yolks and oil couldn't go far up on the list. With 10 grams of fat, mayonnaise isn't the best choice of condiments.

Calories per tablespoon: 94

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No. 11. Ranch

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (3)

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

As tempting as it may be to dip your veggies (or fried cheese curds) in ranch, it just barely does better than its cousin,mayonnaise. At 8 grams of fat per tablespoon, you may be better off skipping the dip.

Calories per tablespoon: 73

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No. 10. Tartar sauce

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (4)

Flickr

The classic seafood condiment tartar sauce continues the trend thatcreamy sauces belong toward the bottom of the list. But, it has less than half the calories per tablespoon as ranch and one-quarter the fat content of mayonnaise.

Calories per tablespoon: 31

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No. 9: Relish

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (5)

Hollis Johnson

Pickle relish, a heartier condiment that's frequently associated with hot dogs, distinguishes itself from the pack with 4.4 grams of sugar pertablespoon. That, coupled with the 122 milligrams of sodium per tablespoon, relegates relish to No. 10.

Calories per tablespoon: 20

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No. 8. Barbecue sauce

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (6)

via Google Images

Not far ahead is barbecue sauce, the sweetest on the list with 6 grams of sugar per tablespoon. Barbecue sauce does tend to have more potassium though, which bumps up its ranking.

Calories per tablespoon: 29

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No. 7. Sriracha

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (7)

Sriracha gets its heat from chili peppers, which by themselves have very few calories. It has no fat, but it does have 3 grams of sugar per tablespoon.

Calories per tablespoon: 15

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No. 6. Ketchup

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (8)

Lydia Ramsey/Business Insider

Ketchup, the staple of pretty much every restaurant's condiment selection, actually contains a small amount of potassium. Thoughat 54 mg per tablespoon (only 1% of daily intake), the potassium in ketchup isn't as much as you would get eating a tomato.

Calories per tablespoon: 19

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No. 5. Soy Sauce

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (9)

Ari Helminen/Flickr

A tablespoon of soy sauce contains a whopping 36% of your daily sodium intake, though it otherwise doesn't contain much nutritional value. Of the condiments on the list, soy sauce contains the most protein, at 1.3 grams per tablespoon.

Calories per tablespoon: 9

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No. 4. Dijon Mustard

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (10)

Flickr/Jessica Spengler

Dijon mustard also packs a lot of sodium, at about 360 milligrams per tablespoon, which sets it back on the list. In addition tomustard seed and vinegar, Dijon mustard contains white wine, which sets it apart from standard yellow mustard.

Calories per tablespoon: 15

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No. 3. Pico de gallo

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (11)

Shutterstock

Pico de gallo, the simple fresh salsa, is composedof tomato, onion, spices, and lime juice, is low in calories and sodium, bumping it up to the No. 3 spot.

Calories per tablespoon: 5

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No. 2. Hot sauce

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (12)

ak37

Believe it or not, Tabasco doesn't have any calories. All it has is peppers, salt, and vinegar, and because it's all in such small quantities, it rounds down to a clean zero. So feel free to pack on the spice, assuming you're a fan.

Calories per tablespoon: 0

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No. 1. Mustard

Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (13)

Flickr/m01229

Yellow mustard, packed with spices like turmeric and paprika (not to mention mustard seeds) takes the cake in this ranking. It edges out over the zero-calorie Tabascoonly because of its slightly lower sodium content and small amount of potassium. Of those on the list, mustard had the lowest amount of sodium.

Calories per tablespoon: 7

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Health Food

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Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you (2024)

FAQs

What's the worst condiment for you? ›

6 of the worst condiments to stop topping your food with: Mayo, ketchup & more
  • Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise can make a tasty spread, whether you're putting it on a chicken sandwich or adding it to salad dressing. ...
  • Ketchup. ...
  • BBQ sauce. ...
  • Ranch dressing. ...
  • Soy sauce. ...
  • Sour cream.

Why are condiments bad for you? ›

Some condiments contain unhealthy ingredients, such as artificial additives and high amounts of added salt and sugar. Healthy condiments are low in calories, unhealthy fat, and are made with less processed ingredients. They can be packed with nutritious ingredients, such as protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

What is the healthiest condiment? ›

What is the healthiest condiment?
  • Guacamole.
  • Mustard.
  • Balsamic Vinegar.
  • Salsa.
  • Hot sauce.
  • Tzatziki.
  • Hummus.
  • Pesto.
Mar 17, 2024

What are the best condiments for weight loss? ›

Mustard, hot sauce, salsa, apple cider vinegar, Greek yogurt, sauerkraut and nutritional yeast are excellent, healthy condiments that provide flavor without sabotaging your progress. Limit high-calorie condiments like mayonnaise, BBQ sauce and ranch dressing.

Which is healthier, ketchup or mustard? ›

From a nutrition perspective, mustard typically is a better-for-you choice than ketchup. “Mustard is healthier than ketchup. It's lower in calories and does not have high fructose corn syrup like most ketchup brands.

What is the #1 condiment? ›

That's right—mayonnaise! According to sales figures, the creamy sandwich spread regularly accounts for more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Many consider mayo to be the top condiment in the U.S. What's the top condiment worldwide?

Why is ketchup bad for you? ›

Tomato ketchup contains too much of sugar and preservatives, which can increase body fat that in turn increases obesity. You will be surprised to know that consuming too much of tomato ketchup can also reduce the insulin in the body.

Is mayonnaise bad for you? ›

Consuming mayonnaise in excess can increase the risk of heart disease. About 1.6 grams of saturated fat is found in one tablespoon of mayonnaise. In this case, if you eat more mayonnaise, it can increase cholesterol. High cholesterol in the body increases the risk of heart disease.

What condiments never go bad? ›

Soy Sauce. Just like fish sauce, soy sauce is fermented and does not need to be refrigerated unless you are keeping it for more than one year.

Why can't I gain weight? ›

You may be born naturally small and your low BMI can be due to your genes. You may have a very high metabolism and find it hard to put on weight, even if you eat foods that have a lot of calories. You may not follow a healthy, balanced diet because you forget to eat or cannot afford nutritious foods.

Is peanut butter unhealthy? ›

Peanut butter can be a healthy part of a balanced diet—just a small amount packs plenty of protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. However, added sugar, salt, and unhealthy oils may make it more of a junk food. And people with peanut or nut allergies may have to avoid it altogether.

What are the top 3 condiments? ›

Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are some classic staples. If you were to guess ketchup as America's top pick, you might have been right a couple of years ago.

What is the least popular condiment? ›

According to the results of a survey conducted in June 2021, the most hated condiment by consumers in the United States is hot sauce, with approximately 24 percent of respondents indicating that they hate hot sauce. In second place was relish, which was hated by around 21 percent of respondents.

What sauce has 0 calories? ›

0 Calories

Frank's Red Hot Sauce is a fantastic choice for those looking to enjoy the hot and spicy flavors of traditional hot sauce without worrying about packing the calories. It packs plenty of flavor but contains no calories, making it perfect for a diet or anyone watching their calorie intake.

What is the number 1 ketchup? ›

1. Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Heinz Tomato Ketchup sets the standard against which all other ketchup brands are measured. Kitchn has this to say, “Nearly all of the tasters immediately pegged this ketchup as Heinz.

Which is older, ketchup or mustard? ›

I also learned a little bit about the history of these favorite condiments. Mustard's journey starts long before ketchup. “Modern mustard first emerged in Europe in the sixth century B.C.E.

What is ketchup and mustard mixed called? ›

MustKetch® is so much more than just Mustard and Ketchup. Discover new food pairings and unlock the unlimited potential of your two favorite condiments!

What's worse for you, ketchup or mayo? ›

Compared with its competitor mayonnaise, ketchup has no fat and far fewer calories per tablespoon (mayo contains 103 calories, 12 grams fat). This makes it a healthier choice for those trying to cut out added calories. Processed and cooked tomatoes were also found to have high levels of the antioxidant lycopene.

What is worse for you, ranch or mayo? ›

As tempting as it may be to dip your veggies (or fried cheese curds) in ranch, it just barely does better than its cousin, mayonnaise. At 8 grams of fat per tablespoon, you may be better off skipping the dip.

What is the most unhealthy dish? ›

Worst Restaurant Meals
  • Ham and Cheese Omelet. 1/15. The Count: Approximately 512 calories, 37 grams of fat, 1,277 milligrams of sodium. ...
  • Chicken and Waffles. 2/15. ...
  • Bacon Double Cheeseburger. 3/15. ...
  • Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) 4/15. ...
  • Chicken Alfredo. 5/15. ...
  • Pepperoni Stromboli. 6/15. ...
  • General Tso's Chicken. 7/15. ...
  • Beef Chimichangas. 8/15.
Mar 16, 2024

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