Is This the End of Pizza as We Know It?
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Jaime Herndon
Pizza has long been a kid-favorite, but new findings show that many kids are consuming too much of it and limiting pizza consumption is beneficial for kids’ health.
A new study from the Illinois Prevention Research Center found that pizza is a major source of calories, salt, and saturated fat in children’s diets. Kids eat pizza more often than adults do, and it is one of the foods that is the greatest source of calories for kids. The study found that on any given day, 20 percent of kids and teens eat pizza – and on the days they do so, they consume more saturated fat, more salt, and more calories overall than on the days they don’t eat pizza. These findings are similar to those that are found when kids eat fast food.
Pizza doesn’t need to be cut out entirely from diets; as with everything else, moderation is key. If you eat pizza with your nieces and nephews, pair it with some veggies or a salad, and keep the consumption to a slice or two each. Choose healthy toppings like vegetables, and go easy on the cheese. Better yet, why not make it a family affair? Making pizza at home is a healthier choice than ordering out – you can control the ingredients and serving sizes – and it’s fun to do with the kids.
Published January 20, 2015
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