Pizza - Nutritional Or Diet Fail

What kid doesn’t enjoy a nice gooey pizza? There aren’t many out there that don’t enjoy one of these cheesy concoctions. But as parents, we are often concerned about whether they are getting a well-balanced meal when they consume one of these tasty pies. Are they an all in one tasty way to have dinner or are they a leading contributor to the obesity epidemic we seem to be facing?

If you look at the pizza as a whole you’ll see that it can contain everything you need from a meal. You get your fruit and vegetables (since the tomato is technically a fruit) from the sauce and toppings such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms (which are technically fungi). When you add meat to it, you have your meat group. Dairy is present in the cheese topping, and then the grains are present because of the crust. A supreme combination of these toppings gives you all the food groups. So there is little need to add a side, although often a salad is added to balance the flavors.

While it can be a nutritional and easy way to ensure your family gets at least one meal where all the important foods are present, the way it’s prepared can actually have an adverse effect on the nutrition. Often fresh foods are not used so you see preservatives and excess salt used. This makes it a little less nutritionally sound. Also the meats used are often not lean meats, which can add unnecessary cholesterol levels. Also often whole grains are not used in making the crust, making it no more nutritionally sound that the dreaded piece of white bread.

That doesn’t mean that you should avoid pizza altogether. There are some ways you can ensure that the pie your family is eating is both tasty and more nutritious. If you are making it yourself use fresh ingredients. Don’t buy frozen veggies or preprocessed meats. If you just have to have pepperonis, try purchasing from a butcher rather than the prepackaged variety. Use whole wheat dough for the crust. If you are using premade sauce, use some that is lower in sodium or is considered to be organic. Use two percent or low fat cheese on top. Believe it or not, your family won’t be able to tell between low-fat cheese and full fat, so don’t worry -- the taste is virtually identical.

When going out to eat, don’t sweat it. Many pizza places offer healthier alternatives. Even if they don’t, a couple of slices once or twice a month is not going to ruin your diet and wreck you or your family’s health. The important thing to remember moderation is key. A lot of store bought pies aren’t as healthy as homemade, but that is true for almost every meal. Enjoy your meal!

By: aabadie

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Looking for pizza herndon loves to order for dinner? Check out pizzapaisanos.com.