My son likes to argue that pizza is a nutritious food because it contains all 4 food groups. Why isn't it?

Answer 1

It is, actually. The only thing hindering it from being super healthy is lots of cheese which is high in fat. But if its loaded with veggies, even pizza can be considered a well balanced meal.

Answer 2

Pizza can be good food but... it depends on what's inside! :)

If the crust does not contain any preservative (and even have some fibres),
if the meat is something like chicken which is low in fat high in proteins,
if you add 1/2 to 1 cup of vegetables per person that will eat it, and
if you add low fat cheese,

you get the 4 food groups AND your pizza is healthy! :)

Answer 3

It is important to consider the QUANTITY of each of the four food groups present. In measurements that most people find easy to remember, a balanced meal should contain:

1 fistful of starch
1 palm of protein
1 thumbful of fat
+ unlimited fruits/veggies

Pizza may have all four food groups, but it has too much fat to be considered a nutritious, well-balanced meal. Some thick crust varieties have too much starch as well.

Answer 4

the pizza you get from stores or restaurants usually isn't to healthy for reasons the second poster stated as well as all the preservatives and crap that comes with processed foods
but, home made healthy pizza is easy to make going light on the sauce and cheese and pile on the veggies and you do have a balanced healthy meal

Answer 5

Yes, it does contain all four food groups...however, what about how thick the crust is sometimes on these things...and what about all of that oil that sits on top of it...
There is definetely a high content of salt in the tomatoe topping or the sauce...
The cheese can be high in fat too...and too much crust or bread is never good for anyone...
There you go...now go back and argue with your son...lol lol

Answer 6

Unless you eat whole wheat pizza with veggies, maybe some chicken breast and NO cheese - its not healthy at all.
A slice of pepperoni pizza is about 300cal, and most of calories come from fat - plus it contains a lot of additives (e.g. in ketchup, processed meats) and sodium. The only healthy thing in it might be a bit of protein (which is not lean protein) and calcium from cheese.

Answer 7

how healthy it is can vary depending on a few things:

how fresh the vegetables are
how lean the meats are
if the cheese is real cheese
how processed the tomato sauce is (tomatoes have C and lycopene, to name a few things, when not overprocessed)
how thick the crust is
if its wheat or white crust
if olive oil is used, or less healthy oils


instant frozen cheese pizza is probably less healthy than one you make yourself with chopped veggies.

Answer 8

The crust is made with refined white flour with little nutritional value, the cheese is mostly fat, the tomatoes in the sauce have had all the vitamins cooked out of them and the pepperoni is just snouts and hoofs ground up and seasoned.

Answer 9

It has a high fat content, plain and simple. It's about as healthy as eating a bucket of grease.

Answer 10

it's greasy.