Does anyone have a healthy option....

Sorry to sound thick, but couldn't you just leave out the sugar...?

In the scheme of things half a teaspoon of sugar doesn't really matter anyway. It's only about 4 grams, if that.
If you divide it by the number of servings of sauce, it's even less significant. Think of it as seasoning. I think a little added sugar brings out the natural flavour of the tomatoes.
Healthy eating is all very well but food has to taste nice too.

Yes I did think that Ana but not sure how it would affect the taste.
I guess I won't know until I try

I use sweetner

I'm with jane, tomatoes always benefit from a little sugar!

I've never used it, but I thought it was meant to counteract any tartness ?

I use low calorie sweetener

There isn't anything unhealthy about a bit of sugar in one's diet.

Don't ask me about healthy options. I've just eaten the chocolate biscuit bits that I bought for the DGC in the Summer hols and did not hand over.

Chuckle McChuckle, NTO

G'night all

thatbags for "healthy" read low calorie/weight loss
I know a little sugar does no harm

I don't put sugar in as I think tomatoes have a naturally sweet taste - I put chilli sauce and a dash of Worcestershire.

A slug of red wine improves it I think. ?

Use a little bit of butter stirred in towards the end of cooking the sauce - as suggested yonks ago by either Delia or Nigella, can't remember which!

Are we talking ketchup or pasta?
If pasta I would never think of adding sugar. Use herbs, wine, onions etc. There is quite a bit of natural sugar in the veg. Carrots are quite sweet and will make space taste sweeter - but they do take a long time to cook.

I have NEVER added sugar to a tomato sauce and wouldn't dream of doing so.
If you mean a tomato sauce for pasta then just fry onions and garlic and add in a tin of tomatoes and bit of tomato paste (or use chopped up fresh tomatoes)

Even for pasta sauce a little sugar does enhance the flavour of the tomatoes and isn't going to hurt you at all - unless you eat lots of other sugary things.

I always add a little bit of tomato ketchup if the tomatoes are a bit acidic - but only a little bit

Tomatoes can be bitter, so a little sugar helps.

To get maximum sweetness out of the tomatoes without using sugar, they need to be reduced down. This can either be done by slow roasting in the oven or simmered long and slow on the hob. Use very ripe fresh toms or tinned. I concocted this sugar & salt free tomato ketchup recipe for GGD, then 8m, and we all loved it. 3 tomatoes, peeled & quartered, 1/2 red pepper, cut into flat pieces, 1 peeled garlic clove. Roast above on baking tray with a little olive oil at 200C fan for 10/15 mins. Put through mouli or seive. Add 1 tablespoon of tomato puree and a little balsamic vinegar to taste. For a pasta sauce, simply simmer a tin of tomatoes in a pan with a glug of olive oil and clove of garlic chopped or crushed. You can also add a little white wine, if there's a bottle open and dried oregano. Cook gently on the hob for at least 20-30 mins until the tomatoes have broken down and the sauce is thick and rich. Add salt & pepper to taste and some shredded fresh basil if you have some to hand. Enjoy!

JessM It was intended to liven up roast chicken for D who is following slimming world.

Ever thought of replacing it with beetroot ketchup? Delicious!

<Pedant alert> If you add wine or balsamic vinegar, you are adding sugar.

I always add sugar to anything with tomatoes in it. A wee teaspoonful won't do much harm.