When Ronald Reagan was president, he became the butt of many jokes for declaring that schoolchildren could meet a dietary requirement for vegetables by eating ketchup in the school cafeteria.

Guess what? For several years now, researchers have acknowledged the benefits of tomato-based foods. Apparently, tomatoes contain some of the essential ingredients that trigger immune systems and help ward off illness and disease, especially some cancers.

Recently, a new study cited the specific benefits of tomatoes in foods that appear to prevent prostate cancer. In addition to spaghetti and pizza sauces, the list of beneficial foods included -- what else? -- ketchup.

Seems like President Reagan was right after all.