Pizza, with its sweet tomato sauce and irresistibly stretchy, savory cheese, is a real treat! However, it’s often a challenging choice for those on a diet. Let’s explore why pizza might not be the most diet-friendly food and discover some ways to enjoy it in a healthier fashion. There are indeed methods to indulge in pizza even while dieting. Shall we dive into some tips for enjoying pizza both healthily and deliciously?

Reasons Why Pizza Should Not Be Eaten While Dieting

Pizza is mainly high in carbs and fats, making up over 80% of its content. These two elements are big calorie boosters, and eating too much can lead to weight gain.

The dough of the pizza is mostly made from flour, which is high in carbs. Carbs are a major source of energy, but if you don’t burn them off, they end up stored as fat, causing weight gain.

Plus, the cheese, toppings, and sauce on pizza are rich in fats. Especially, some pizzas may have trans fats, causing the risk of heart disease.

Lastly, pizzas contain a lot of salt. Excessive sodium intake may cause high blood pressure. Apart from weight gain, high blood pressure may cause various health problems.

What is the Calorie Count per Slice of Pizza?

The calorie content of pizza can vary depending on the toppings used, the ingredients in the dough, and the amount of cheese or oil. Based on data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, I’ve organized a table showing the calories, protein, and fat per slice for different types of pizza. [1]

According to the table, among the three pizzas, the bulgogi pizza has the highest calories and fat, while the combination and bulgogi pizzas have the highest protein content at 8g each. As you can see, pizza is a high-calorie food. When choosing pizza, there are several things you have to consider.

If You Crave Pizza While Dieting

There are times when you crave pizza while dieting, right? Instead of just resisting the urge, it’s smarter to find healthier ways to enjoy it. Here are some tips on how to enjoy pizza healthily while you’re on a diet!

Check the Carbohydrates Content

Pizza dough is mainly made from flour, which is a major source of carbohydrates. So, when ordering pizza, it's better to choose a thin crust.

Check Vegetable Toppings

Vegetable toppings provide low calories and essential nutrients, so if you want to eat pizza while dieting, it’s a good idea to increase the amount of veggies. Vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach help reduce the calorie content of the pizza while providing necessary vitamins and minerals. Some types of pizza that are loaded with vegetable toppings include oven-baked spinach pizza and salad pizza.

Check the Oil Content

The oil in pizza mainly comes from the cheese. Mozzarella and ricotta cheeses have relatively lower fat content compared to other cheeses, so choosing these can make eating pizza less of guilt while on a diet.

Avoid Side Menus

Side dishes that come with pizza are usually high in calories. For example, high-calorie sides like chicken wings and cheese balls should be avoided or eaten in minimal amounts. If you need to pick a side, go for something healthier like a salad.

Consider the Total Daily Calorie Intake

On days when you want to indulge in high-calorie foods like pizza, it’s a good idea to keep your other meals light to balance your total calorie intake. Try to avoid snacks and junk food, and make one of your meals, like lunch or dinner, something light and veggie-rich, such as a salad or poke bowl.