Nutritional Value and Calories of Pizza

Have you ever heard anything really good about pizza? Most individuals associate pizza with bad carbohydrates and too much grease or calorie laden with cheese. However, there are so many forms of pizza; you are bound to find the right fit for your nutritional value as well as your caloric intake needs.

If you are buying pizza from your frozen section at the grocery store, chances are that you are buying pizza laden with preservatives and calories. If you eat out and order a pizza topped with every topping and double extra cheese, then, yes, you will be taking in a lot more calories than if you were to make it at home to your individual style or preference. If you have any questions regarding a particular pizza chain, most have a nutritional link on their website. I encourage you to check that page out.

Read Your Labels

If you are going to purchase the above kind of pizza from the freezer section of the supermarket, there are many different varieties. Read your labels, some pizzas are loaded with extra calories not to mention added sodium. There are some varieties, albeit a few and far between, that have reduced sodium and reduced calories.

However, think about the taste you will also be giving up. Reading labels and trying different pizza products from the frozen section will definitely help you to discern that making your own homemade pizza at home according to your tastes will be a wise nutritional and caloric choice indeed.

Most frozen pizza has upwards of 300 calories per slice. Those that have additional toppings can add up to close to 500 calories per slice.

Do It Yourself Pizza

By making your own pizza, you can reduce or control the sodium, reduce the calories and control the nutritional value. A slice of pizza from a pizzeria or restaurant typically has anywhere from 10 to 30 grams of fat depending on the toppings such as meat or extra cheese. If you make your own pizza, you eliminate that caloric intake drastically. A piece of homemade pizza with sauce, and cheese and olive oil topped with basil typically runs around 160 to 180 calories. That is quite a difference.

When you make your own pizza, you have so much more control. You can add any variety of yummy vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, and green or red peppers adding little additional calories, but adding much in the way of nutritional value.

Short Cuts Can Still Be Healthy

Short cuts can still be healthy when making your own pizza. Many companies make ready to use pizza dough. Just follow the instructions and defrost accordingly and you can still add your own ingredients as fresh and homemade as you like.

Pizza, as you can see, does not deserve the bad rap that it gets it you make it at home, read labels, and be aware when ordering out. Something as simple as ordering a thinly crusted pizza over the double stuffed extra sausage will make the difference between healthy and haughty.