Why Is Pizza Junk Food?

Pizza is the fifth most common source of calories in U.S. adults and children ages 2 and up, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. However, these guidelines also report that the majority of Americans are overweight or obese. Although pizza does provide some essential nutrients, it’s often classified as junk food -- and for good reason.

Sodium

• Pizza is a high-sodium food, mainly because of the cheese topping. However, if you add pepperoni or sausage, the sodium content of your pizza increases even more. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory, one slice of regular-crust cheese pizza contains 640 milligrams of sodium, and one slice of sausage pizza contains 734 milligrams of sodium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 suggest limiting sodium intake to 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams daily, depending on your age and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Saturated Fat

• Cheese and meat toppings are generally high in saturated fat, which can increase your risk for high cholesterol and heart disease when consumed in excess. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 suggests limiting saturated fat to less than 10 percent of your total caloric intake, equaling less than than 23 grams daily when eating 2,000 calories. The USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory reports that one slice of regular-crust cheese pizza contains 4.8 grams of saturated fat, and sausage pizza provides 5.8 grams of saturated fat per slice.

• Refined Grains

• Although you can make homemade pizza using whole-wheat crust, most commercial and restaurant pizzas are made with refined white crust. ChooseMyPlate.gov encourages you to eat whole grains rather than refined grains because they contain more fiber and have a higher overall nutritional value. It also suggests getting at least half of the grains you eat from whole-grain foods, such as whole-wheat flour, oatmeal, bulgur and brown rice.

Suggestions

• Making your own homemade pizza means you can significantly improve its nutritional value. Using whole-wheat crust is a good place to start. Choose reduced-fat, low-sodium cheese and use turkey pepperoni instead of regular pepperoni. Better yet, forgo the pepperoni and sausage all together and use grilled chicken as your protein-rich topping instead. Adding fresh vegetables to your homemade pizza increases its nutrition content even more by boosting the fiber, vitamin and mineral content of your pizza. When prepared using healthy ingredients, pizza doesn’t have to fall into the “junk food” category.