What could possibly be better than pizza for dinner? Well, pizza for breakfast, of course. Whether it’s taken straight out of the refrigerator and eaten cold or warmed up so the cheese is ooey gooey again, pizza for breakfast is honestly delicious. Although, you’ve probably heard that having pizza as your morning meal might not be the best choice. But wait — according to New York-based nutritionist Chelsey Amer, that cheesy, carb-filled slice of goodness may actually be a better option for breakfast than your favorite breakfast cereal.
Amer credits the high sugar content in the common breakfast cereal and its lack of protein and healthy fats as the culprit for its “nutritionally bleak” standing, Delish reports.
“You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories,” Chelsey Amer, MS, RDN, CDN told The Daily Meal on Monday. “However, pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you full and boost satiety throughout the morning.”
Common breakfast cereals, which are packed with sugar, will lead you to have a sugar crash and leave you hungry later, but a slice of pizza is fatty and rich with protein, keeping your stomach full and sustaining you longer into the day.
“I am not endorsing pizza as the healthiest breakfast option,” Amer wrote to MUNCHIES via email on Wednesday. “Many cereals marketed for breakfast contain as much sugar as a candy bar.”
But Amer noted that not all breakfast cereals and pizzas are created equal, with some cereals actually being preferable, such as an oat bran.
“I look for less than 5 [grams] of added sugar and at least 5 [grams of] fiber,” the nutritionist said of her own shopping habits for cereal. “Also, 100 percent whole grains should be the first ingredient. Then, pair your cereal with a good source of protein, such as Greek yogurt, milk, or a small handful of nuts and seeds, and sprinkle some berries on top for added fiber, vitamins and minerals.”
But can we still eat that slice of pizza?
“I believe people should eat according to their cravings,” Amer said. “Honoring a pizza craving for breakfast can prevent binging on an entire pizza pie later in the day.”
In the end, is pizza the best option to have for breakfast? Probably not. But at least we can now feel a little bit better for having that morning slice of cheesy pizza.