Watch what you eat

Pizza is a delicious dish that is enjoyed by many and often included in lunch or dinner. Depending on the ingredients used, pizza can be a greasy nutritional nightmare, or a healthy, vitamin and nutrient packed meal. It is very important to know what you put into your body. The following nutritional facts will help you choose what pizza to opt for at lunch.

One slice of a 14 inch pepperoni pizza with a serving size of 72 grams commonly contains about 190 calories, 8 grams of fat and about 4.0 grams of saturated fat. This pizza also contains about 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 510 grams of sodium and about 18 grams of carbohydrates.

A slice from a 14 inch large hand tossed cheese only pizza commonly contains about 230 calories with a total fat of 8 grams. It also has 4.0 grams of saturated fat with 20 milligrams of cholesterol.

If you love meat lover’s pizza or any pizza loaded with pepperoni, beef toppings, sausage, ham, Italian sausage, and bacon, by eating one slice you could consume about 280 calories and 12 grams of total fat.

The figures above make it seem that pizzas are not always the healthier option, as many are high in fat, sodium, saturated fat and calories. However, pizza can be a healthy option, depending on the ingredients and the way it is prepared.

Instead of using white flour, you can try a whole wheat grain for your pizza crust. The wheat will easily give you a full feeling and cut down on all the unwanted calories and fat. Whole grain crust will help your digestive system as it provides your body with fiber that helps to remove toxins from your body.

Instead of adding butter to your crust, opt for lots of tomato sauce as it is an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant that helps prevent certain disease. Vegetables are the healthiest topping for pizza, as well as lean meat, such as chicken or seafood, and cheese made from skim milk. Healthier varieties of pizza can be just as delicious and satisfying as traditional pizza.