The work week is usually a hectic time for most of us. Busy schedules have many families running from work to school to activities like sports, dance, or academic clubs which can leave little to no time for dinner preparation. Meals become more about convenience, but ordering out every night isn't a cost-effective option. This is where frozen food comes in handy and offers a vast selection for the family, and items like frozen pizza are usually big hits.
Frozen pizza is the perfect choice. It's ideal when you're low on time, need something quick, and it's inexpensive enough that you can appease more than one palette. Cheese, pepperoni, veggies – why pick just one, when you can have a few? However, even though frozen pizza may be convenient and delicious, it isn't always the healthiest option and there are some health risks to be aware of.
Not all frozen pizzas are created equal and not all are bad for you. Yet, there are many that are high in sodium, sugar, and calories, are highly processed, and have artificial preservatives. While having a frozen pizza on occasion isn't going to hurt you, consuming frozen pizza regularly is a concern for heart health and can put you at risk for developing heart disease.
Tombstone Original 4 Meat Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza):
- 370 calories
- 18 grams of fat
- 910 milligrams of sodium
- 35 grams of carbs
- 4 grams of sugar
As a meat lover's pizza, this pizza has a handful of different processed meats and is very high in calories, fats, sodium, and carbs.
DiGiorno Chicken Alfredo Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza):
- 640 calories
- 23 grams of fat
- 1,280 milligrams of sodium
- 83 grams of carbs
- 11 grams of sugar
This small pizza packs a ton of calories, fat, sodium, and carbs. Topped with lots of cheese and creamy alfredo sauce, just a quarter of this pizza is over half the daily recommended amount of fat and sodium.
Screamin' Sicilian Brazen Buffalo
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza):
- 330 calories
- 15 grams of fat
- 1,300 milligrams of sodium
- 31 grams of carbs
This pizza serving has the highest amount of sodium so far, so if you think one slice won't hurt, think again. One serving has 57% of your daily need for sodium.
Wegman's Bake & Rise Pizza Supreme
Nutritional information per serving (1/6 pizza)
- 360 calories
- 13 grams of fat
- 760 milligrams of sodium
- 44 grams of carbs
- 5 grams of sugar
The serving size for this pizza is smaller than the others at a sixth of the pizza. So you need to watch how many slices you eat, or the numbers will add up quickly.
California Pizza Kitchen Crispy Thin BBQ Chicken Recipe
Nutritional information per serving (1/3 pizza)
- 290 calories
- 11 grams of fat
- 640 milligrams of sodium
- 33 grams of carbs
- 9 grams of sugar
With this pizza, you get to eat a little more and not worry about adding too many more calories, fat, sodium, and carbs to your diet. The serving size is bigger at a third of a pizza. That being said, this pizza still has quite a bit of sugar and sodium.
Great Value Three Cheese Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/6 pizza):
- 400 calories
- 21 grams of fat
- 830 milligrams of sodium
- 38 grams of carbs
- 3 grams of sugar
Cauliflower crust must mean this pizza is healthy, or so you'd think. But don't let that trick you. This pizza is very high in calories, fat, sodium, and carbs, and the serving size is smaller, at a sixth of the pizza.
Red Baron Classic Crust Four Cheese Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza):
- 380 calories
- 17 grams of fat
- 710 milligrams of sodium
- 41 grams of carbs
- 8 grams of sugar
Just because a pizza doesn't have “any” toppings doesn't make it healthier. We see in this pizza, where cheese is the only topping, the calories, fat, sodium, and carb count are very high.
Screamin Sicilian Pizza Co. I'm Stuffed
Nutritional information per serving (1/5 pizza)
- 360 calories
- 19 grams of fat
- 770 milligrams of sodium
- 31 grams of carbs
- 3 grams of sugar
This pizza has a lot of cheese since it's used as a topping, as well as two and a half feet of cheese in its stuffed crust. Be careful with this one, as just a fifth of the pizza has 40% of the daily recommended amount of saturated fats.
DiGiorno Bacon Me Crazy Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza)
- 410 calories
- 21 grams of fat
- 920 milligrams of sodium
- 34 grams of carbs
- 3 grams of sugar
Yes, this pizza might have high protein content with the bacon as a topping, but its saturated fat content is very high and should be avoided.
Red Baron Fully Loaded Pepperoni Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/6 pizza):
- 390 calories
- 19 grams of fat
- 680 milligrams of sodium
- 38 grams of carbs
- 7 grams of sugar
This pizza is another option that is high in saturated fat. About 50% of its fat content is saturated fat, which is also almost half of the daily recommended amount.
Celeste Pizza For One Sausage and Pepperoni
Nutritional information per serving (whole pizza)
- 400 calories
- 20 grams of fat
- 890 milligrams of sodium
- 47 grams of carbs
- 3 grams of sugar
A small pizza for one should have fewer calories but that's not always the case. This small pizza has just as many calories, fat, sodium, and carbs as the servings of the other pizzas. But this pizza will ensure you won't overindulge because once it's gone, it's gone.
Freschetta Naturally Rising Crust Four Cheese Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/5 pizza)
- 370 calories
- 14 grams of fat
- 800 milligrams of sodium
- 48 grams of carbs
- 9 grams of sugar
The four cheese pizzas really add to the calorie and fat count. Sadly, although cheese is delicious, too much cheese increases the saturated fat content, which can become unsafe.
Tombstone Original Supreme Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza)
- 350 calories
- 17 grams of fat
- 770 milligrams of sodium
- 35 grams of carbs
- 4 grams of sugar
Although this pizza has some healthy toppings like onions, peppers, and olives, it's high in sodium and saturated fats due to the additional processed meats.
Banquet Pizza Double Stuffed Pepperoni
Nutritional information per serving (1 slice):
- 460 calories
- 22 grams of fat
- 1,300 milligrams of sodium
- 44 grams of carbs
- 5 grams of sugar
This pizza isn't a full pizza, but two slices of double-stuffed pizza. But just because there are two, doesn't mean you should eat both. This pizza has a dangerously high sodium count, and eating both would get you halfway to your daily calories and over the daily sodium limit in just one meal.
Tombstone 5 Cheese Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza)
- 370 calories
- 18 grams of fat
- 740 milligrams of sodium
- 33 grams of carbs
- 4 grams of sugar
This pizza is another cheese culprit. It's made with a third of a pound of cheddar, mozzarella, asiago, romano, and parmesan cheese. And although it's tasty and delicious, just a quarter of the pizza contains almost half the daily recommended amount of saturated fat.
Kirkland Pepperoni Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (1/4 pizza)
- 400 calories
- 24 grams of fat
- 990 milligrams of sodium
- 29 grams of carbs
- 5 grams of sugar
For all the Costco lovers, beware. Their pizza might be delicious, but it has the highest amount of fat and saturated fats of all these pizzas. And although you can get more for less money-wise at Costco, ensure you get quality as well and opt for a healthier option than this pizza.
Stouffer's French Bread Three Meat Pizza
Nutritional information per serving (one pizza):
- 460 calories
- 25 grams of fat
- 1,070 milligrams of sodium
- 40 grams of carb
- 5 grams of sugar
Often, we think a smaller meal means fewer calories. This is not true, especially when it comes to these French bread pizzas. With the extra bread content, variety of meat toppings, and cheese, the calorie, fat, sodium, and carb count on these pizzas add up very quickly.
Instead of buying one of these pizzas, you can always try making your own. It isn't as hard as you may think.
PrintWhite Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
1 unbaked pizza crust
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 Tablespoons minced garlic
2 Tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 tomato, sliced
1 bunch fresh spinach, torn
1 sweet onion, sliced
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 (6 ounce) package feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
1. Preheat oven according to pizza crust package directions.
2. In a small bowl combine butter, olive oil, garlic, pesto, basil, oregano and Parmesan cheese.
3. Spread mixture evenly on pizza crust.
4. Arrange tomato, spinach, onion and jalapeno on pizza.
5. Top with crumbled feta cheese.
6. Bake according to pizza crust package directions.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©DronG/Shutterstock.com.