With this article we will find out how many calories does a pizza have, answering the question that each of us asks ourselves when we are about to bite into a tasty freshly baked flatbread pizza.
Pizza is certainly one of the most loved dishes by Italians and by now the millions of pizzerias open all over the world testify to it and it is a versatile and widespread food also thanks to the great variety of ingredients with which it can be accompanied.
The combinations are infinite and increase more and more thanks to the imagination of the pizza chefs. In short, it is a food known to everyone, some more, some less. However, it seems to have one major flaw: calorie intake. Obviously given the incredible breadth of recipes and ingredients it does not seem possible to decipher the actual general caloric intake of a pizza but it is possible to define which of the most common ingredients tend to have the highest caloric load, 'weighing down' the dish.
Let's start by analyzing the various component parts of a pizza one by one, identifying their respective nutritional and caloric values.
At the base of every good pizza we find a good dough. The variations are also innumerable, often created by the pizza chefs themselves in search of originality. Whether it is wholemeal, kamut, five-grain flour, with or without gluten .. etcetera! The possibilities of choice seem to increase day by day, especially after the introduction of alternative flours, yet these are not the ingredients that determine the caloric intake of our dough, but the dosage of the different components. A good pizza chef must be able to perfectly dose the salt, water, yeast and oil present in the dough, without abusing them and ending up weighing down the entire pizza.
As for the various ingredients that make up the filling, we are talking about a variable related to the choices of the buyer, since between a pizza 'alla marinara' and a four-cheese pizza, for example, there is an abyss when it comes to calories !
Here are some statistics, just to get an idea of the average calorie intake in different pizza recipes.
A slice of margherita pizza, considering an average weight of 100 g, provides approximately the same calories as the typical sandwich or cheese toast served in bars and clubs: we are talking about between 240 and 270 calories. Bringing this number into proportion, taking into account the fact that a round and medium-thin pizza can weigh up to 200-350 grams, the number of calories seems to go up a lot, rising in altitude up to about 700-800.
A marinara pizza or a vegetarian one already brings fewer calories, measuring about 600 to 700.
INRAN (National Research Institute for Food and Nutrition) has stated that a pizza with tomato and mozzarella has an average of 271 calories per 100 grams. The INRAN also declares that for those on a diet it would be preferable to consume a red pizza, at 243 calories (always every 100 grams), and avoid white pizzas (302 kcal per 100 g).
This value does not take into account all those calories deriving from the additional filling ingredients, whether it is vegetables, fish, meats or cheeses.
Unfortunately, making the number of calories in a single pizza 'rise' is really easy, since even a single tablespoon of oil could make 150/200 kcal.
Summing up, the least caloric pizza appears to be the marinara, providing 240 calories per 100 grams, while the one that appears to be the heaviest seems to be the quattro cheese.
Here is the list of average calories made by the most common pizzas that we can find at the restaurant or pizzeria:
In reality, we already knew that pizza was a caloric food, but eaten without too much assiduity (and with the right precautions!) Should not be a problem in most diets. Here's how we can minimize the calorie intake, to be able to enjoy it without too many feelings of guilt.
If you are on a diet, avoid eating the edges by consuming the thinner central part, as the greater the thickness, the greater the caloric intake. A thick pizza like a focaccia can in fact contain up to 200 kcal more. If you leave the cornice without eating it, you can save 50 or even 100 kcal, again in relation to the thickness of the latter. A wholemeal pizza brings fewer calories and more fiber that will absorb fats and carbohydrates, lightening it even more for our body.
As for the possible intervention on the filling, the quantities could be halved! Whether it is less mozzarella or the elimination of cured meats, you can deduct from the total intake 80 and more kcal! A vegetarian pizza, with grilled vegetables including courgettes, spinach, peppers and more, are certainly preferable to ham or sausage, not to mention the frankfurters. In general, since foods of animal origin are rich in saturated fats, it would be better not to overdo it. You could also dab the pizza with a paper towel to absorb excess oil if necessary.
For those not particularly keen on extravagant and heavy toppings, enjoying a marinara or vegetarian pizza with only vegetables shouldn't be a particular problem.
By following these simple steps you can reduce the calorie intake of your pizza enormously, cutting off more than 30%! Your dish will be lighter, but always tasty and healthy.
In any case, even if you are on a diet, feel free to indulge in the pleasure of pizza every now and then, especially if you are vegetarian or seafood.
