Why You’re Taking Too Much Ketchup (And What That Says About You)

The Great Ketchup Packet Dilemma

Ever notice how you always grab more ketchup packets than you actually need? You’re standing there at the fast-food counter, staring down that little bin of red-and-white sachets, and something primal kicks in. One? Nah. Two? Hmm, better make it six, just to be safe. Six feels right. Six feels... prepared.

And then you sit down, rip one open, and halfway through your fries, you realize you’re done. Meanwhile, the other five packets are sitting there, quietly judging you.

Why do we do this? Why are we so obsessed with having more than enough?

The Scarcity Switch

Again, blame evolution. Somewhere deep in our DNA, we’re still hunter-gatherers at heart, wired to prepare for the next famine. Back then, grabbing a little extra could mean the difference between surviving the winter or being eaten by a tiger. Now? It just means your glove compartment is a graveyard of unused ketchup packets.

But it’s not just about ketchup, is it? It’s that same little scarcity switch in our brains that makes us stockpile toilet paper during a pandemic or hoard emails we’ll never read, just in case one of them changes our lives. It’s why we RSVP “maybe” to every Outlook invite—because what if we miss out?

FOMO in the Fry Zone

At its core, the Great Ketchup Packet Dilemma isn’t about fries. It’s about the Fear of Missing Out—on options, on experiences, on whatever comes next. That extra ketchup? It’s security. A tiny, tomato-based insurance policy against regret.

But here’s the kicker: the more we over-prepare, the less we actually enjoy what we’re doing. Think about it. While you’re sitting there with your five unused packets, do you really feel better? Or does it just remind you that you’ve been living in a constant state of “what if”?

The Sweet Spot of Enough

Here’s the thing: life is about balance. Sure, it’s good to be prepared—but over-preparing? That’s just stress in disguise. It’s time to ask yourself: How much ketchup do you really need?

Because maybe it’s not about grabbing six packets “just in case.” Maybe it’s about trusting yourself to get by with two. Or one. Or whatever feels right in the moment. After all, you can always go back for more.

And maybe that’s the bigger metaphor here. Life isn’t about hoarding all the options and possibilities upfront. It’s about taking what you need, trusting there’ll be enough for tomorrow, and leaving room to actually enjoy the fries.

Final Thoughts

So, next time you’re at the counter, staring down that little ketchup bin, pause. Ask yourself: “Am I grabbing what I need, or am I grabbing out of fear?” And if you can’t answer that, maybe just grab two.

Because in the end, life is about savoring the fries—not drowning in the ketchup you’ll never use.