Emma Miller
Many of us are guilty of eating leftover pizza first thing in the morning, but it may not be the worst thing we can choose for breakfast. According to New York City nutritionist Chelsea Amer, eating pizza for breakfast is actually better than a few plates of sugary cereal.
Of course, pizza is not a substitute for healthier breakfast foods such as muesli and other low-sugar cereals, but it can be an acceptable substitute for anything with sugar. “A slice of pizza with plain cheese contains a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. A bowl of sugary cereal with skim milk is mostly sugar and extremely high in carbohydrates.”
Dr. Lauren Kelly also studied the claims on the same TV network and immediately pointed out that pizza is not particularly good for you, but that most cereals available today are even worse. Lauren also insisted that Chelsea’s claims about pizza were designed “to ’emphasize the low nutritional value of cereal'” rather than praise pizza.
She added, “not that pizza is the best choice either, but people generally think of pizza as chit-food-the opposite of a healthy choice.” And Chelsea agreed, saying that she “doesn’t recommend pizza as a daily breakfast” and instead tries to discourage people from eating sugary cereals.
She explained: “People should focus on a balance of high-fiber carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats to stay full throughout the morning. “It’s shocking that pizza is comparable, if not higher in protein, than the food many kids eat for breakfast every morning.”
Lauren and Chelsea say it’s best to think about what you eat and try to choose healthy foods at every meal. Dr. Kelly said: “The important takeaway is to be more mindful of what is in our food and eat a balanced breakfast high in protein and low in carbohydrates from added sugars and fried foods.”
And Chelsea added: “It’s also important to note that there are some great breakfast cereals on the market. “Look for whole grains and less than 5 grams of sugar per serving, checking the nutrition facts label.”
