Sorry, but a pizza pie isn’t what nutritionists and doctors meant when they said to incorporate well-rounded foods in your diet.
Yes, it’s irresistibly cheesy and chewy. But pizza’s also loaded with sodium, carbs, fat, and calories—especially when you buy it frozen.
The good news is you don’t have to give it up altogether to stay healthy or even lose weight. Being healthy is all about moderation, not elimination.
You just need to choose the right kind of frozen pizza to heat up in a pinch when you don’t have time to cook a balanced, gourmet meal. Not sure how to spot a healthier pie? Stick to these food rules:
- Choose thin crust. This will greatly decrease the calories per slice.
- Choose a pizza that has veggies on it like peppers, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, or olives to maximize your nutrient intake.
- Limit pizzas that have extra cheese or use cream sauces instead of tomato sauces; that includes stuffed crusts.
- Limit pizzas with processed meats, like sausage and pepperoni, which can spike the saturated fat and sodium of the pie.
As always, check the label and the serving size. Eating a whole pie isn’t uncommon for some guys, but knowing what the appropriate serving size is can help you stay on track without over-consuming.
Another tip: Eat a big, green salad with lots of veggies as an appetizer or a side fish. This will help fill you up so you don’t end up crushing too many slices. It’ll also add fiber, vitamins, mineral, and antioxidants to the meal.
Here are the top seven dietitian-approved frozen pizza to eat.
Jordan Mazur, M.S., R.D., is the coordinator of nutrition and team sports dietitian for the San Francisco 49ers.
