Most South Africans don’t have much of a choice as to what to eat for breakfast and would have a bowl of porridge or a sandwich to get them through the day. And if you have a choice, many people may be misled by food items that are marketed as healthy. Eating a slice of pizza for breakfast rather than a bowl of cereal, may not be considered a healthy lifestyle choice. However, some cereals might be just as unhealthy or even worse due to the sugar or fat content.
According to dietitian and online nutrition coach, Chelsey Amer from New York, an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal contain nearly the same number of calories. She furthermore states that she is not recommending pizza for breakfast every day, but in a situation where you have either leftover pizza in your fridge or cereal in your cabinet, one should maybe consider the pizza.
Her main aim for speaking about this topic is to make people aware that certain food that may be deemed unhealthy, can be consumed more healthily.
More pizza, please
If you eat pizza, you are most likely to feel full and for longer. It has the capability of satisfying your appetite for longer, due to the high number of protein it contains.
Precious Mhlongo from Mpumalanga says she prefers having pizza for breakfast to a bowl of cereal, as it keeps her energised and satisfied for longer than a bowl of cereal.
“I feel more energised and prepared for campus when I eat pizza for breakfast since it keeps me fuller for longer than cereal does. Although I normally have cereal for breakfast, I may eat and enjoy some leftover pizza occasionally. I would definitely have pizza for breakfast more if I could afford it regularly,” she says.
“Pizza is not the healthiest option, but when compared to cereal, pizza wins this nutrition war. Pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you full and satisfy your appetite throughout the morning.”
Health For Mzansi reader Precious Mhlongo
Michayla Damons from Pretoria highlights a different preference, as she tells Health For Mzansi that she prefers having cereal for breakfast because it makes her feel less bloated and keeps her full for longer. Although she usually eats and prefers cereal for breakfast, she says if there is leftover pizza from the night before, she does enjoy having it for breakfast.
Homemade is better
Johannesburg-based dietitian Taneesha Murray explains that depending on how the pizza is made, which toppings are chosen, and if it is homemade or bought from a restaurant, it can have a higher protein option compared to most store-bought cereals.
“Some cereals may be healthy and good for sustained energy and it is one of the most convenient options to get in nutrients in the morning as it is quick to put together and no cooking is required.
“However, when making your own breakfast pizza, you can be creative with what you use to make the base, the toppings, and sauces. If choosing healthier options for your pizza, it can be a better choice for breakfast depending on your nutritional needs.”
Dietitian Taneesha Murray
Murray advises making your own pizza instead of take-away because then you can have control over your own nutrition.
“Healthy breakfast pizza options would be to make your own pizza at home using small amounts of sauce and cheese, lean protein options, and loading your pizza with your favourite veggie options and healthy fats such as avocado,” she says.
Watch out for salt in pizza
While pizza may be lower in sugar and higher in protein than a bowl of cereal, it can be very high in fat and salt. Cereals are said to then be high in sugar but less in fat.
“The great thing about nutrition is you also get to make the choice. Food should not always be looked at in the view of good food and bad food because everything can be consumed in moderation. Pizza contains more saturated fat, which if consumed in excess and can have an effect on our health, just like eating sugar in excess can also affect our health. However, both sources eaten in moderation provide the energy that is needed by the body. It is very important to remember that nutrition is very individualised from person to person,” Murray concludes.
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