One of the perks of living in New Jersey is this wonderful Jersey Tomato Sauce – next best thing to homemade. I usually stock up during the summer because it disappears from the grocery stores shelves during the winter months.
No matter what brand of tomato sauce you buy, here are 3 tips to help you choose one that’s healthy.
- Look for simple real food ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, and basil.
- Choose one with no added sugar. No added sugar brands typically have less than 5 grams of natural sugar per 1/2 cups serving. Check the ingredient list for sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
- Make sure the sodium is less than 10% Daily Value per 1/2 cup serving; the lower the better.
Jarred tomato sauce is a staple in my pantry. It may not be the most exciting ingredient on its own but in a recipe, there are endless delicious possibilities. One of my favorites is Stuffed Peppers. I often make these on the weekend and double the recipe so I have leftovers for a quick week night meal.
This is one of my favorite Stuffed Pepper recipes. I usually make a few tweaks though – I use ground chicken instead of turkey; I substitute brown rice or quinoa for white rice; and I top the peppers with extra tomato sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan or Feta cheese.
Give it a try and let me know what you think. I’d LOVE to hear from you.
