"Is pizza healthy?" Review
Introduction
Finally…the most critical question of our times will be answered: Is pizza healthy? Find out here (from the CNN.com article "Is pizza healthy?" Review).
FAQ: Is Pizza Healthy?
Pizza is healthy. And it isn't healthy.
Depending on the type of crust, the amount of cheese and the toppings used, pizza can rank anywhere from nutritionally decent to a diet disaster.
Even healthy pizzas deliver a good amount of sodium from tomato sauce and cheese, so if you are watching your salt intake, you should eat with caution. Of course, the size of the slice and the number of slices you eat count, too.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: “To be or not to be….that is the question” is what I thought of when reading the first line of this article. Let’s be honest, you, like I, have been lured in by CNN with its Shakespearean introduction. Without any further banter, the author dives right in to answer this question. Without further ado, let’s evaluate:
While I also think there is a spectrum of “healthiness” when it comes to a slice of pizza, I want to assure you of one thing right away: Pizza isn’t healthy. It fails miserably to reach your nutritional ratio of need, and the main ingredients (cheese and crust) will most likely send you to the ER with heart disease or diabetes (If you don’t believe it, check out published lists of the number one killers of Americans).
That said, I absolutely love pizza. I worked in a pizza kitchen for three years in high school and often dream about dancing slices. If you do the same, be honest with yourself: It is a treat, not a nutritional meal. We can call it a filler as well (and you may feel filled up while you sleep on the floor after eating it). What if you plan to eat it anyway? Then, this is what you should know. Putting aside the ingredients, the sodium is usually a big problem. You shouldn’t consume more than 1000-1500 mg of sodium per day, and a personal pan pizza will give you at least that. Definitely be mindful of your portions.
Pizza pros include the fact that it offers calcium from cheese and disease-fighting lycopene from tomatoes. And pizza crust made with whole-wheat flour (including whole white wheat flour) is healthier than regular white crust, as it offers whole grains and fiber and is digested more slowly than refined grains.
But what you put on your pizza can significantly impact its nutritional value. Toppings such pepperoni, sausage and extra cheese can boost saturated fat, sodium, and calories, while slices made with thinner crusts and topped with veggies tend to have lower calorie, saturated fat and sodium counts.
For example, a large slice of Pizza Hut's Thin 'N Crispy Veggie Lovers pizza has 240 calories, 4 grams of saturated fat and 710 milligrams of sodium. But a large slice of the chain's Meat Lovers pan pizza with pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, pork, and beef has 480 calories, 10 grams of saturated fat and 1,180 milligrams of sodium.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: First, dairy can cause inflammation in the body. If you’re seeking calcium, choose more nutrient-dense sources like dark leafy greens (yes, I know…not as exciting). Second, whole grains can also cause inflammation because they are highly processed and low in nutritional density, and they spike your blood sugar levels (though not as much as white flour). Unless whole grains are in their entire form, don’t convince yourself that you’re making a healthy choice here. Translation: If you crave this treat, go all in with the white-flour crust, but use less of it.
The second part of this section regarding the ingredients is dead on. You control whether this garbage can fire turns into a 5-alarm fire. Calories, fat, and sodium are the main culprits….your toppings will determine how far off the cliff you fall (especially if you’re already dancing on the line with the other choices you’ve made that day).
Frozen pizzas can be a convenient dinner, but they too can vary regarding ingredients and nutritional value, especially with sodium counts, so it's important to read labels carefully (some contain small amounts of trans fats, too). Dairy-free and gluten-free pizzas are available, but as with their traditional counterparts, their healthfulness varies.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Short and sweet: Avoid the frozen pizzas. More processed, less fresh, and the taste rarely compares to the real experience. Keep in mind that I ate one frozen pizza quite often to support my misguided, immature attempts to gain weight and muscle in college.
When it comes to kids and pizza, one recent study concluded that pizza consumption among children and adolescents was associated with a higher daily calorie intake and higher intakes of saturated fat and sodium. The study also found that pizza eaten as a snack or from fast-food restaurants had the greatest negative impact on calorie intake.
Pizza consumed in schools did not significantly affect children's calorie intake, probably because it may not be that nutritionally different from other school entrees, according to study authors.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Repeat after me: “Kids cannot eat whatever they want.” I know…you don’t believe me because they’re not overweight and they can “burn it off”. Don’t kid yourself, though (pun intended). The biggest phase of a child’s physical development occurs between the ages of newborn and 8/9 (and I can argue to 18-21).
Consider this: Would you give your car watered-down fuel or oil? Probably not because you know that it won’t run efficiently (and may break down during your busy life). The same applies to your child when he or she needs the best fuel for a pivotal point in his or her life. You don’t need to remove it from your child’s life completely… view it again as a treat, not a weekly meal (and make sure your child understands why).
If you enjoy pizza on a regular basis, try making it at home using healthier ingredients, such as whole-wheat English muffins, part-skim mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce without added salt. And don't forget to top it with lots of vegetables; the more colorful your pizza, the better!
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Please don’t eat pizza regularly. Despite the efforts to make it healthy, it isn’t a great source of nutritional fuel. I often order a cheeseless pizza with extra vegetables. I attempt to lessen the effects while still enjoying one of my favorite indulgences. Ultimately, though, life isn’t about living perfectly. Whatever you indulge in, be sure to realistically assess its value and think about its relationship to the other choices for that day. With that being said, who wants to grab 1-2 small slices of pizza?
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
