How many of you remember Juhi Chawla’s ‘Baingan Pizza’ ad? I’m sure many of us do remember the iconic ‘Baingan? Pizza mein?’ to inspire mothers to switch to Kellogg’s for a healthy breakfast instead of trying to make junk food healthier. The campaign slogan, ‘Paushtik khilao, don’t chhupao’ was relevant in 2013 at the time of it’s release and is relevant now, however with a completely different spin on it. Have you ever considered eating pizza for your first meal of the day? Doesn’t sound healthy, does it?

Well, nutritionist Chelsey Amer suggests that starting your day with a slice might not be such a bad idea after all. 

Pizza
Image Source: Taste of Home

Cereal has always been the go-to breakfast option. It’s easy, quick and time-efficient. The variety it offers has also been brilliant in terms of wanting a different taste and not having enough time to prepare a full meal. But is it the healthiest option? 

Nutritional Benefits of Pizza Toppings

According to Amer, the answer might surprise you. She points out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories, but when it comes to nutritional balance— pizza takes the lead. 

Cereals, especially those high in sugar, are often low in protein and fibre. This leads to a quicker onset of hunger and a subsequent energy crash. Pizza, on the other hand, offers a more substantial protein constitution, thanks to it’s cheese and if present, meat toppings. Protein helps sustain energy and keeps you full till you decide you’re ready for a next meal, instead of burning up quicker. 

But the most important part of a pizza lies in the toppings. Vegetable toppings and lean meats can provide a variety of nutrients and tomato sauce is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant. 

However, not all cereals are full of sugar. There are healthier cereal options that can be considered, and if so they can provide a balanced diet without the need for a slice. Realistically, the only metric of comparison stems from the same calorie count bracket. If you decrease it, then there’s a lot of other things you can still choose to eat much healthier than sugar-extensive cereal or pizza. 

Although interesting, Amer’s thoughts are not an endorsement for consuming pizza indiscriminately. It’s just a conversation starter for what we consider healthy and why, and also tackles the important subject of how other things with similar levels of nutrition aren’t considered healthy. 

Everyone should be more aware of what they’re consuming and how it’s affecting their bodies. There are healthier alternatives for everything, just a little research away. 

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