Pizza is a beloved food for many, with its warm, cheesy, and saucy flavors. Digiorno is a popular frozen pizza brand, with options like their rising crust pepperoni pizza. For those watching their calorie intake, the number of calories in a pizza can be an important factor in deciding when and how much to indulge. This article will break down the calorie count in a Digiorno rising crust pepperoni pizza and provide tips for enjoying pizza while managing calories.
Calories in a Digiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza
According to the nutrition information on the Digiorno website, the calorie count for one Digiorno rising crust pepperoni pizza is as follows:
- Serving size: 1/5 pizza (1 slice)
- Calories per serving: 320
For the entire pizza:
- Total calories: 1600
So in total, a full Digiorno rising crust pepperoni pizza contains around 1600 calories.
This calorie count is for the standard frozen pizza option. Calories may vary slightly for specialty or limited edition Digiorno pizzas.
Breakdown of Calories by Macronutrients
Calories in food come from three main macronutrients:
- Carbohydrates (4 calories per gram)
- Protein (4 calories per gram)
- Fat (9 calories per gram)
Here is the macronutrient breakdown for a serving of Digiorno pepperoni pizza:
- Total fat: 13g
- Saturated fat: 6g
- Calories from fat: 117
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Dietary fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 3g
- Calories from carbs: 132
- Protein: 14g
- Calories from protein: 56
As you can see, the majority of calories in a Digiorno pepperoni pizza come from carbohydrates, followed by fat and then protein. The pizza crust contributes significant carbs, while the cheese and pepperoni provide most of the fat.
Calorie Density of Pizza
In addition to total calories, looking at calorie density can be useful for weight management.
Calorie density is defined as the number of calories per gram of food. Foods with higher calorie densities provide more calories in a smaller amount of food.
For a Digiorno pepperoni pizza:
- Calories per serving: 320
- Grams per serving: 122g
- Calorie density: 320/122 = 2.6 calories/gram
The calorie density of pizza is moderately high, since it packs a fair amount of calories into a relatively small physical portion.
For comparison, here are the calorie densities for some other common foods:
- Broccoli – 0.7 calories/gram
- Pasta – 1.5 calories/gram
- Beef – 2.7 calories/gram
- Nuts – 5.5 calories/gram
- Oil – 9 calories/gram
Eating foods with lower calorie densities, like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, can help support a calorie-controlled diet.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Pizza
For pizza lovers trying to lighten up their favorite food, there are several tweaks to reduce the calories in a Digiorno pepperoni pizza:
Choose Thin Crust
Switching from a rising crust to a thin crust pizza saves around 60 calories per slice, since the thinner crust contributes fewer carbs and calories.
Reduce Cheese
The cheese on pizza can account for up to 50% of the calories per slice. Requesting light cheese or half cheese can trim 100 or more calories.
Load up on Veggies
Adding extra veggie toppings like mushrooms, onions, peppers, and tomatoes boosts nutrition while adding minimal calories.
Limit Meat Toppings
Pepperoni, sausage, bacon and other meats pack a lot of fat and calories. Sticking to veggies and lighter meats like chicken or shrimp can cut calories.
Slice Control
Practice portion control by only eating 1-2 slices and saving the rest for later. Also, consider sharing a pizza instead of eating a whole pie yourself.
Dip Lightly
Drizzling slices lightly in olive oil and brushing with garlic, herbs or spices offers flavor for few calories compared to dunking in thick, creamy sauces.
Healthy Eating Tips for Pizza Lovers
Here are some healthy eating tips to keep pizza in a balanced diet:
- Make pizza a sometimes food instead of an everyday meal
- Focus on getting plenty of vegetables, fiber and protein throughout the day
- Pair pizza with a side salad for added nutrition
- Balance pizza with lighter meals before and after
- Savor each slice and stop when satisfied instead of overeating
- Split pizza with a friend or loved one
With some moderation and smart choices, you can still enjoy the delicious taste of pizza as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Nutritional Benefits of Pizza
Despite its reputation as a junk food, pizza can provide some important nutrients, especially when topped with veggies. Here are some of the potential nutritional benefits of pizza:
Protein
The cheese and meat toppings provide a good dose of satiating protein. Protein helps keep you energized and full.
Vitamin A
Cheese made from whole milk is an excellent source of vitamin A, which supports eye health and immune function.
Calcium
The cheese in pizza abounds with calcium, which is essential for building and maintaining strong bones.
Antioxidants
Tomato sauce provides the antioxidant lycopene. Veggie toppings like peppers and mushrooms also boost the antioxidant content.
Probiotics
Some brands make pizza crust with yeast starters and probiotic cultures that support digestive health.
So while pizza is high in calories, fat, carbs and sodium, it can fit into your diet in moderation and provide some key nutrients, especially if you pile on the veggies!
Pizza for Weight Loss?
Can you really eat pizza and still lose weight? The answer is yes, provided you practice portion control and make smart choices.
Here are some tips for enjoying pizza in a weight loss diet:
- Opt for thin crust over thick, pan or stuffed crust
- Ask for half the cheese or light cheese
- Load up on low-calorie vegetable toppings
- Skip fatty meats like pepperoni and sausage
- Limit yourself to 1-2 slices
- Pair it with a big salad with low-calorie dressing
- Don’t eat the whole pizza in one sitting
- Opt for pizza only occasionally, not routinely
The key is moderation. When eaten in reasonable amounts alongside other nutritious foods as part of an overall healthy diet, pizza can definitely be part of an effective weight loss plan.
The Best Options for Low-Calorie Pizza
To make pizza as waistline-friendly as possible, go for these low-calorie options:
Thin Crust
Thin crust pizzas have fewer calories than rising, stuffed or pan crusts. Aim for thin crust with around 50-70 grams of carbs per pizza.
Vegetable Toppings
Load up your pizza with low-calorie veggies like mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, peppers and broccoli.
Chicken or Shrimp
Instead of greasy pepperoni and sausage, opt for lean protein like grilled chicken breast or shrimp.
Part-skim Mozzarella
Using part-skim rather than full-fat mozzarella cheese cuts a significant amount of calories and fat.
Light on the Cheese
Ask for half the usual amount of cheese or light cheese to save on one of the most caloric parts of pizza.
DIY Healthy Pizza
For the ultimate healthy pizza, make it yourself with a thin whole wheat crust, pile of veggies and part-skim mozzarella or goat cheese.
Should You Avoid Pizza for Weight Loss?
Pizza doesn’t need to be completely avoided for weight loss, but it might be best limited to once a week or so.
Here’s the scoop on pizza and weight loss:
- Pizza is high in carbs and calories, so it’s easy to overeat. Moderation is key.
- Greasy, thick-crust pizzas are diet disasters. Opt for thin crust and load up on veggies.
- Eat just 1-2 slices and avoid late night binges and massive portions.
- Be mindful of your total calories for the day when you eat pizza.
- Balance pizza with lighter, healthier meals before and after.
- Don’t make it a daily habit. Once a week in reasonable portions is more diet-friendly.
The bottom line? You definitely don’t need to ban pizza entirely if you’re watching your weight. Just be mindful of portions, ingredients, and how often you indulge.
Healthy Pizza Crust Alternatives
If you want to lighten up your pizza, get creative with healthy crust alternatives like:
- Cauliflower crust – Made from riced cauliflower, eggs, cheese and spices for fewer carbs.
- Zucchini crust – Grate zucchini, drain liquid and combine with eggs and cheese to make a veggie crust.
- Butternut squash crust – Similar method as zucchini crust, using grated butternut squash.
- Eggplant crust – Slices of roasted eggplant as the crust or base.
- Portobello mushroom caps – Larger mushrooms can stand in for mini crusts.
- Sweet potatoes – Thinly slice and bake sweet potato rounds as the base.
These creative crusts pack extra nutrition and fiber while saving on carbohydrates and calories compared to traditional pizza dough.
Should You Eat Pizza on a Low-Carb Diet?
On low-carb diets like keto, pizza is usually off the menu due to all the carbs in the crust. But you still have options if you really need your pizza fix:
- Use a keto-friendly cauliflower pizza crust.
- Opt for a cheese crust pizza without any dough.
- Consider a zucchini, eggplant or portobello mushroom crust.
- Eat just the toppings and skip the crust altogether.
- Choose low-carb protein toppings like chicken, shrimp or beef.
- Pile on low-carb veggies like peppers, spinach and tomatoes.
- Stick to just 1-2 small slices.
While traditional pizza is limited on keto, you can still find low-carb ways to enjoy the delicious taste of pizza on special occasions. Focus on the flavorful toppings and consider some creative crust alternatives.
Is Pizza Good for Building Muscle?
Can pizza help you build muscle? Here’s what to know:
- Pizza provides carbs, protein and calories needed to fuel workouts and build mass.
- The protein in cheese and meat toppings contributes to muscle protein synthesis.
- You need to meet increased calorie needs to gain muscle, and pizza packs a caloric punch.
- Excess calories from pizza can lead to fat gain in addition to muscle.
- Too much pizza could displace other high-protein foods needed for muscle growth.
- Veggie toppings provide antioxidants for recovery.
The verdict? While the occasional slice of pizza can provide fuel and protein for muscle growth, it shouldn’t be a dietary staple. Focus on getting sufficient protein from leaner sources like chicken, fish, eggs and Greek yogurt to support fitness goals.
Conclusion
A Digiorno rising crust pepperoni pizza contains around 1600 calories for the entire pie. A single slice provides 320 calories, consisting mostly of carbohydrates from the dough, fat from the cheese, and protein from cheese and pepperoni. While pizza can fit into a balanced diet, those watching calories and carbs need to practice portion control and choose healthier toppings to reduce the calorie density. With some sensible modifications and restraint, even pizza lovers can enjoy an occasional slice along with an overall nutritious diet and active lifestyle. So savor a slice of your favorite pizza now and then without derailing your healthy eating goals.