Pizza is an easy go-to solution when you’re occupied with holiday shopping or party planning. But if you’re grabbing a slice, you can lighten the saturated fat by passing on the extra cheese and fatty meats. Saturated fat is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend we consume less than 10% of daily calories from saturated fats.
“Veggie toppings are always the healthiest,” says dietician Hope Warshaw. For example, while Pizza Hut’s Meat Lovers is high in both fat and sodium from its crust and toppings — pepperoni, ham, beef, bacon and sausage — opting for a slice or two of veggie over meat-heavy alternatives will not only cut calories, but sodium too.
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Your Pick: Meat Lovers (From a 12” Medium Pan Pizza), 2 Slices
Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 660
Fat: 36 g
Cholesterol: 80 mg
Protein: 28 g
Carbohydrates: 54 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sodium: 1660 mg
Healthier Choice: Pepperoni and Mushrooms, 12” Medium Thin ‘N Crispy, 2 Slices
Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 360
Fat: 16 g
Cholesterol: 40 mg
Protein: 18 g
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sodium: 980 mg