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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Tomato Ketchup - AIBU?

130 replies

poppincandy · 13/08/2010 23:09

Look I appreciate in the grand scheme of things this is a pathetically small thing, but I'm just interested to get other people's perspective.

My dc are all very good eaters, and can sit and eat well in all environments, and on occassion other diners have commented on what lovely well behaved children they are.

So what's happened is - my son had a friend over who likes tomato ketchup with his chips, although in our family we do not have ketchup, we always have it in the cupboard for any visitors who would like it, along with coffee, salad cream, mustard etc.

Anyway my son does not eat chips (choice not diet), but fancied having the ketchup with the chicken he was having, he then said that he likes the taste of ketchup.

Roll forward to this evening, we go to a smart restaurant, my ds (5) orders sausage, mash, peas and gravy. When they serve the food, the asked whether we would like anything else and my ds pipes up 'Please may I have some tomato ketchup'. They bought it over no problem, but there was a part of me that was like 'Oh no don't go ruining every meal with ketchup, and it looks such a naff thing to do, in some establishments'.

Am I being a snob?

I suspect I am and BU.

OP posts:

hairytriangle · 13/08/2010 23:11

tomato ketchup has health benefits! If you make a fuss he'll want it more so best ignore it til it loses it's novelty .

Vallhala · 13/08/2010 23:12

Probably!

It's not such a big deal when he's five. My 63 year old friend who smothers almost every conceivable food with tomato ketchup is a different matter though, and I take the rise mercilessly. :)

paisleyleaf · 13/08/2010 23:13

We don't have ketchup at home. DD has learned she likes it through visiting etc but has never questioned why I don't buy it. So I'm sticking with that - she has it when out/visiting if she wants.
I've been known to give little visitors a bit of tinned tomatoes or another variation of tomato/pasta sauce if they request ketchup and it's funny how happy they are with that.

midnightexpress · 13/08/2010 23:15

YANBU. My two were blissfully unaware that ketchup existed until the flamin nursery started offering it to them at every meal. DS1 has steadfastly refused to take it but ds2 has been sucked in. So far, he hasn't demanded it at home (he's only 3), but he always makes a point of telling me when he's had it at nursery and that he likes it.

Hairytiangle, what are the health benefits, exactly? It's full of sugar.

Vallhala · 13/08/2010 23:17

Tomato ketchup is said to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, Midnight.

hairytriangle · 13/08/2010 23:18

Lol you people are making it sound like crack or something!

loopyloops · 13/08/2010 23:18

it looks such a naff thing to do, in some establishments makes you sound a bit unreasonable, I'm afraid.

YANBU if you don't want him to eat it for health reasons, and so that he can appreciate food without it

YABU if you just want him to look too sophisticated for ketchup.

suwoo · 13/08/2010 23:20

Yeah but is the 'food' version of crack isn't it.

I let DS1 have it BTW as he doesn't eat much and sometimes it encourages him to eat more.

IlooklikeGrotbagstoday · 13/08/2010 23:22

Specifically prostate cancer but that is something to do with cooked tomatoes. Can't remember the name but i'm sure someone will be along to educate us all in a mo.

Original poster

poppincandy · 13/08/2010 23:23

Ok - I thought I was being a little U. although I was good and didn't say anything

I think my issue loopyloops is that I don't want it to become a case of automatic add ketchup and therefore just taste ketchup.

With regards to health reasons, I'm very much for a balanced diet, therefore naughty stuff is allowed as well as the good, but of course good has to out weigh bad, and smothering it in ketchup may outweigh good.

Also, I would prefer him to try the food, and then yes, if it was missing something, and ketchup was the missing ingredient then add it, rather than having taste of ketchup.

And a little bit - there's a time and a place

OP posts:

Original poster

poppincandy · 13/08/2010 23:25

paisley - I like your compromise, a treat for out and about, (although i'd select where ), but not for at home.

OP posts:

MiladyDeSummer · 13/08/2010 23:25

I used ketchup to help me eat some things when I was a child. I can now sometimes eat some absolutely white fish cooked a certain way and a small pristine slice of chicken breast with no bits in

Ketchup is a classic coping-strategy used by fussy eaters supertasters as documented in this book although it does focus on people with ASD.

My son is autistic (as am I) and I keep reading about children like him smothering things in ketchup but he won't have a bar of it! The only consistent thing about children with autism is their inconsistency etc etc

midnightexpress · 13/08/2010 23:26

What like Heinz tomato ketchup? Does it really have actual tomatoes in it? Who knew?

It still has tons of sugar - I'd rather they got their tomato ration from other things, tbh. For me, it's the thing of not wanting them to refuse to eat anything unless it's slathered in glup. Nothing to do with ponctastery.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 13/08/2010 23:26

YABU. There is nothing wrong with a blob of ketchup with certain meals.

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 13/08/2010 23:28

He's 5, and he said 'please may I have some tomato ketchup'.
Focus on that and forget the condiments :)

whydobirdssuddenlyappear · 13/08/2010 23:29

Midnightexpress, 'slathered in glup' is fantastically Thurberesque! Must remember.

BexieID · 13/08/2010 23:31

I have to have ketchup when eating chips and 4yo Tom will put a squirt on his plate but won't eat it. I also like it on salad, bacon...

It's my parents that constantly put salt and pepper on everything that get on my wick.. Even the Steak Au Povire I cooked them!

piratecat · 13/08/2010 23:32

gotta love the ketchup thing.

we go for an indian occasionally and dd has naan bread, and the now bring her the ketchup on a litle silver plate!!

MiladyDeSummer · 13/08/2010 23:35

at extra seasoning on that!

TitsalinaBumSquash · 13/08/2010 23:35

Here is one that will make you gag then!

My DS1 has a lot of medication to take, one particular one is a capsule that we have to beak open to get the granules out he has them sprkinled on a giant spoonfull of Ketchup every time he eats.
It is merrily rotting his little teeth but he can't survive without the medication and he wont swallow tablets, its a power thing.

Original poster

poppincandy · 13/08/2010 23:36

No my son's first word was poppadom, he even mistakenly said to us before ordering, he was going to have the one with the curry, we pointed out he meant gravy. He can't ruin a good curry with ketchup!!!

OP posts:

midnightexpress · 13/08/2010 23:37

whydobirds, I take that as an enormous compliment - he's one of my favourite writers.

MiladyDeSummer · 13/08/2010 23:38

Titsalina, sorry to hear that.

Original poster

poppincandy · 13/08/2010 23:39

you are right whydobirds if his only foible is having a dollop of ketchup on side of plate he can't be all bad

OP posts:

TitsalinaBumSquash · 13/08/2010 23:40

Its ok i have given up the tablet fight for a while it was becoming hellish.

All the Nurses and Doctors go 'ewww' when they find out he has his meds with Ketchup, most children use Apple Puree or Yoghurt.

We got through about 2 Big bottles of the ruddy stuff a week.

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