Is Tomato Sauce Keto-Friendly?

Yes, tomato sauce is keto-friendly; however, it should be consumed in moderation.

Tomatoes are considered part of the fruit kingdom. Unlike other fruits, which have a really high carb content, fresh tomatoes have around 3.5g per serving, which is about 10 times less than other fruits.

But if tomatoes are keto-friendly, how come you can consume tomato sauce in moderation?

Keto if Limited

• Tomatoes are very keto-friendly. However, store-bought tomato sauces contain preservatives and additional sweeteners to improve the taste. 
• This is why it’s much better if you can make your own tomato sauce at home from fresh tomatoes.

Medium Amount of Carbs

• Tomato sauce contains 4.97g of net carbohydrate content.
• With that being said, consumption of commercially available sauces should be kept at a minimum.
• The keto diet requires less than 50g of carbohydrates daily.

Low in Fats 

• Tomato sauce has almost 0g of good fats.
• This is in contradiction to keto diet requirements, which require a good amount of fat per meal.
• If you’re cooking with a lot of tomato sauce, make sure you complement it with other foods rich in good fat.
• You want to make sure you’re getting enough fat daily to remain in ketosis.

Always Read the Label

• If you want keto to activate, you have to start reading labels on everything you eat. 
• Stay away from tomato sauces that contain additives, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives because they add no value to your meal. 
• If you can, eat fresh, whole foods – they’re the best source of vitamins and minerals.