BBQ sauce delivers 33 g sugar per 100 g alongside 992 mg sodium. A marinade brushed onto meat can add 20–30 ml per portion, contributing 50+ calories and 300 mg sodium that never appear in most food logs. Weigh or measure the amount you apply – the brush hides the volume.
How should I track BBQ sauce?
Small amounts of BBQ sauce add up faster than most people realize. A systematic review (Whitton et al., Adv Nutr 2022) found that condiments are among the most frequently omitted items in food logs — skipped 1–80% of the time. A tablespoon of mayo or dressing can add 50–100 calories, and most people use two or three tablespoons without measuring. The fix is simple: keep a teaspoon or scale near your plate and measure once. Sauces and dressings are often the hidden reason a "healthy" salad ends up at 600+ calories.