Although we often think about pizza as being a fantastic dinner treat, it’s also an American classic for breakfast. I can’t tell you how many pieces of cold pizza I’ve eaten straight from the box without even reheating it and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone.
We often justify eating too much pizza because we may have heard that it is good for us. Then again, we may just agree that it is good. As it turns out, New York-based nutritionist Chelsey Amer has something to say on the subject and it may just make you revisit your breakfast pizza once again.
According to Amer, most breakfast cereals are far too high in sugar to be good for you. The Daily Meal also chimes in, saying that cereals don’t have enough protein or healthy fats to be considered good for us. “You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories,” Amer told the site. “However, pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you full and boost satiety throughout the morning.”
You might not necessarily want to pull the trigger on having pizza for breakfast every day, because it isn’t the healthiest option out there. That being said, it is a ‘healthier’ option compared to the sugar-filled breakfast cereal that lines the shelves of grocery stores. Amer talks about the protein content and says, “a slice of pizza contains more fat and much less sugar than most cold cereals, so you will not experience a quick sugar crash.”
Of course, there are different types of pizzas and different types of cereals. Cynthia Sass MPH, RD, the contributing nutritional editor of Health does admit that there are some cereals that can be part of a good breakfast. “A cereal made with whole grains, nuts or seeds, and fruit with organic grass-fed milk or plant-based milk is a better choice over a grease-laden pizza made with processed meat like pepperoni on a white flour crust,” she says.
We are not sure if this is going to make people eat more pizza for breakfast but one thing is certain, the cold slice of breakfast pizza is sure to maintain its place in our lives and our hearts.