Pizza—The New Carrot?

Should pizza be classified as a well-balanced meal? Let me guess—your brain is screaming “NOOO,” but your stomach is screaming “YEESSSS,” right? Well, maybe your stomach is onto something. After all, pizza’s main ingredient is tomato sauce, which is made from a vegetable. Not to mention the added toppings (pineapple, bell peppers, mushrooms), which could also count as a serving of fruits or veggies; the cheese adds to a much-needed serving of calcium, and the crust is a serving of grains.

…So then, why does this feel so wrong?

Because it is! The two tablespoons of tomato paste hardly comes close to a serving of broccoli or carrots. Plus, it barely contains any other nutrients normally found in veggies and fruits such as fiber, vitamin C and folate. You know what pizza has a lot of though? Calories, fat, and sodium…which is never a good thing to constantly overindulge in.

In November, the U.S House of Representatives announced they’ll continue to classify pizza as a vegetable because it contains two tablespoons of tomato paste despite the U.S Agriculture Department (USDA) stating that a half-cup of tomato paste would be required to call a slice of pizza a vegetable. This debate came about during Michelle Obama’s campaign to combat childhood obesity. In other words, pizza and French fries will continue to hold their place in schoolchildren’s lunch menus because the U.S has decided to classify it as a vegetable!!! Wow!

Take away message: please eat a side of raw veggies with that slice of pizza, and don’t think for a second that you’ve met your daily recommended requirement for fruits and vegetables by eating 7 slices. If you want my tips to get more veggies on your plate, click here!

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Image courtesy of Cottonbro