Pizza Is A Healthier Option Than Cereal For Breakfast, According To Dietician

Nov 19, 2018 by apost team

A recent study has revealed that you should be having more pizza for breakfast and less of the traditional cereal loved all over the world.

Let’s just be honest. Now, who wouldn’t want a slice of pizza to start their day? I know I would, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I know some of you didn’t even need to be told this because you probably already have leftover pizza for your breakfast. If you spend close to ten bucks on pizza just so you can throw out the leftovers, you’re doing it wrong. Don’t waste money like that - as it turns out, pizza has a much better reputation than breakfast cereal!

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Researchers recommend that children consume up to 7 teaspoons of sugar a day. Despite this low number, most American children consume between 18 to 22 teaspoons a day - nearly triple the advised amount. According to researchers, one of the unexpected culprits behind this increase in sugar consumption is breakfast cereal. 

Your favorite breakfast cereals actually contain extremely high amounts of sugar. A study by the Environmental Working Group analyzed 1,556 breakfast cereals and found that 92% of the cereals analyzed contained added sugar. Cereals specifically marketed to children contained 40% more sugar, and some contained nearly 60% of the recommended daily intake in a single serving. In addition, misleading labeling often results in children consuming much more cereal than intended for a serving size. 

It doesn't seem so far out of bounds, then, that dietician Chelsey Amer, MS, RDN, CDN, claims that eating pizza in the morning is actually better for you than eating breakfast cereal. According to Amer, the leftover slice of pizza in your fridge contains protein, good fats, and potentially even some vegetables, whereas most breakfast cereals are "nutritionally bleak," meaning they are composed primarily of sugar with little to no protein, healthy fats, or complex carbohydrates.

While it might be tempting, don’t replace your breakfast with pizza entirely. That would not be the most nutritious decision you could make, either. Excessive consumption of pizza increases cholesterol levels in the blood leading to increased risk of heart disease and obesity.

The NHS (National Health Service for the UK) has a few suggestions for healthy breakfast choices. Try scrambled eggs on an optional slice of wholemeal toast, an apple pie porridge that omits sugar entirely, or one of the many other options for delicious pizza and sugary cereal substitutes listed on their website. 

Chelsey Amer, a dietician, told The Daily Meal:

“A bowl of cereal with milk and a slice of regular pizza contains almost the same number of calories. The pizza however has the upper hand as it contains substantial amounts of protein which helps to keep you feeling full throughout the early morning hours.”

Chelsey added:

“A slice of pizza will eliminate the annoying sugar rush in the morning that people get from having cereal packed with loads of sugar. 

So what we are trying to say is, it’s ok. You can have leftover pizza for breakfast every once in a while. However, The Daily Meal advised that you should take your leftover pizza out of the box for storage - an airtight container will decrease the risk of food poisoning.

“Contrary to what people think, the cardboard box isn’t protective at all. It has no insulation and cheese on the pizza is not supposed to be at room temperature for a long period. We are not sure why people started doing this but still about time the obvious truth came out. Leaving your pizza out of the fridge exposes it and makes it possible for food-borne bacteria to grow and fester on the pizza.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, it is not advisable to let your cooked food sit at room temperature for over two hours. This is because disease-causing bacteria thrive best at temperatures between 40F to 140F.

Where you surprised by Chelsea's statements about a healthy breakfast? Let us know in the comments - and don't forget to show this article to your pizza-loving friends and family! 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!