Not one person can deny that if there were ever a list of the top 10 comfort foods, pizza would top it by a huge margin!Pizza is hands-down one of the most popular dishes, not just for Americans but the world over. Statistics say that about 350 slices of pizza are consumed every second.This means that around 21,000 slices of pizza are consumed nationally in just one minute. Originally originating from Naples, Italy, pizza is a dish made out of flatbread that is generally based on leavened wheat flour and topped with sauce and various pizza toppings such as tomatoes, corn, pepperoni, cheese, onions, mushrooms, and the list goes on. It’s pretty certain that you could top it with any vegetable and people would still love it. After all, people even love pineapples on pizza!The term ‘pizza’ was first recorded in the 10th century. However, modern pizza came much later, and today it has become a fast-food staple, and one of the most popular dishes in the world. In 2017, the world pizza market was worth $128 billion, and in the U.S. alone, it was worth over $44 billion, spread across 76,000 pizzerias. Overall, 13% of the young U.S. population aged two years and above consume pizza on any given day.In spite of its great popularity, one cannot really change the fact that pizza is still fast food, and like every other junk food, it is not really the healthiest thing to put in your body, considering its ingredients and the calories. In fact, for fast food that is consumed so widely, it is quite bizarre that the layman is not well aware of what goes into a pizza, what its nutritional value is, or how many pizza calories go into just one pizza slice.Fret not, for we’ve got you covered. Here is everything that you would possibly want to know about pizza.If the following pizza facts tickle your fancy, you must also further read our pepperoni nutrition facts, and pancake nutritional facts, here at Kidadl.Fun Facts About PizzaAmerica’s most popular fast food actually had a very humble beginning. In fact, it was nowhere near the cheese-oozing slices that we eat today. It was the lower-income people of Naples who would put slices of tomatoes on the dough and top it with cheese in order to eat a low-cost meal for their families.The low cost was due to the fact that tomatoes were thought to be poisonous during those days, which is why pizza was considered a cheaper food. Also, pizza was hardly popular in America before World War II. In fact, it was former WWII soldiers that took a great liking to the dish while being stationed in Italy and who later brought this dish to America and made it so popular.Pizzas have not remained the cheapest food around the corner, either. Though pizza prices vary greatly depending on factors such as the toppings you use, where you live, and where you get your pizza. None of the factors mentioned can, however, justify an expensive $12,000 pizza. That’s $3000 for a single pizza slice. Master Chef Renato Viola is the one who creates the most expensive pizza in the world. Tastefully called the Louise XII, the pizza can be found in his gourmet pizzeria in Italy. The pizza has some exotic toppings to its name, like lobster, buffalo mozzarella, three types of caviar, squilla mantis (a Mediterranean shrimp), and pink Australian salt.A deep-dish pizza is a thick, classic Chicago-styled pizza, pan-baked and layered in order with cheese (loads of melting cheese), meat and veggie fillings, and sauce. This pizza has a tall crust. The crust is usually 2-3 in (5-7.6 cm) tall and gets filled with loads of meat and toppings!Nutritional Facts About PizzaThere is one thought that crosses the mind of every pizza lover: how many calories are contained in a slice of pizza.On average, there are about 280 calories in a slice of pizza.The nutritional profile and calorie content of pizza vary depending on the type of pizza you are consuming. For example, a sausage pizza would be higher in calories than a vegetarian cheese pizza. Take, for instance, fast food pizzas, which are also the most popular type. They contain about 460 calories per slice. On the other hand, one slice of frozen pepperoni pizza contains 380 calories. Both fast-food pizzas and frozen pizzas have a very high sodium content and preservatives in them. Pizzas that are made fresh in pizzerias have calorie counts depending on the ingredients put in. They are probably the healthiest type of pizza that can be consumed due to the fact that they do not have any added chemical preservatives in them. In addition, many pizzerias also offer a varied menu for the diet-conscious, including dairy-free pizzas and gluten-free pizzas.When it comes to vitamins and minerals, our beloved comfort food does not really offer much more than loads of sodium.Most pizzas are high in sodium and calories. This is because they are topped off with cheese, salty processed meats, and other high-calorie toppings. In addition, some pizza bread and sauces are also loaded with sugar. According to research, one serving (1/4 pizza) of a certain barbecue chicken pizza contained a whopping 0.8 oz (21 g) or 4 teaspoons of sugar. In addition, whether you put extra cheese on your pizza or fatty toppings like sausage, it will ultimately affect your pizza calories. Pizzas are also loaded with saturated fat. Some types of pizza have been linked to increased fat percentage and cholesterol because of unhealthy components such as saturated fat and high sodium, preservatives such as MSG, and added sugar. These can be hazardous to heart health.Different Types Of PizzasPizzas come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, whether you like thin crust or regular crust, or extra cheese, or whether you want pineapple on your pizza or pepperoni. Pizza has something for everybody. We all have one favorite pizza that can be the answer to all our sorrows. From a bad workday to a broken heart, one pizza seems to have the power to solve almost any problem.The types of pizza are mainly based on two things:Firstly, the type of crust. Pizzas can either be thick-crusted or thin-crusted. The crust is the bottom of the pizza, and it may vary widely according to style. It can be thin crust, as in a typical hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza, or a thick crust, as in a deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. Secondly, they can differ based on the cheese used in them. Pizza types are sometimes named after the toppings that are used on them as well as the style in which the pizza is made. There are hundreds of varieties of pizza. Some popular varieties include pizza Margherita, the plain cheese pizza, calzone, the half-folded pizza, and pizzettas, which are tiny pizzas.Alternatives To PizzaEveryone gets a little crazy for a cheese pizza loaded with lots of cheese. However, referring to the nutritional facts of pizza, it is clear that they might not be the healthiest choice.Consuming an occasional slice of fast food or frozen pizza won’t do much harm. However, when you eat them regularly, they can lead to increased weight and fat gain and may increase your chances of chronic health conditions. It is for this very reason that people have started shifting towards healthier alternatives.When made traditionally, this dish can be high in fat, calories, and sodium when made with whole grains and healthy toppings. When made from scratch, pizza can be quite healthy. When making homemade pizza, the key is to use nutrient-dense veggies to enhance the nutrition of your dish.As stated earlier, the cooking method and ingredients of pizzas determine the number of calories they will have. Hence, tweaking the ingredients to your suit can help you make them into a healthy dinner option with an optimum calorie count. In addition, you can also make gluten-free and dairy-free recipes to suit your nutrition requirements. You can also switch the regular tomato sauce for pesto sauce to zing it up further.White pizza is also known as white pie. ‘White pizza’ is an Italian pizza that doesn’t use any tomato sauce. In addition to keeping the calories in check, always be mindful of the serving size.All in all, traditional pizza is not harmful. However, mass-produced pizza chains and frozen pizzas have ruined the essence of the dish. Tweaking the ingredient list to ditch unhealthy toppings such as processed meat and sausage can help enhance nutrition, cut down on the fat and calorie count, and bring back the glory to this cult favorite food. Adding in veggies can be a bonus.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 111 pizza nutrition facts: hazards, contents, and other useful trivia then why not take a look at mozzarella nutrition facts, or hamburger nutrition facts.
Not one person can deny that if there were ever a list of the top 10 comfort foods, pizza would top it by a huge margin!
