For many people, pizza is a go-to convenience food that’s quick, easy, and delicious. Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza is a popular frozen pizza option that can be heated up in minutes. But with its crispy French bread crust, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, how many calories are actually in one of these pizzas?
Calories in a Stouffer’s French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
According to the Stouffer’s website, one 5.5 oz Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza contains 270 calories.
This calorie count is for one frozen pizza that is heated according to the microwave oven heating instructions on the packaging. Calorie contents can vary slightly depending on the weight of the pizza and exact ingredients.
270 calories per pizza may sound low compared to some other frozen pizza brands. For reference, here are the calories for some other popular frozen pepperoni pizzas:
| Frozen Pepperoni Pizza | Calories per pizza |
|---|---|
| DiGiorno Thin & Crispy Pepperoni Pizza | 290 calories |
| Red Baron Classic Crust Pepperoni Pizza | 280 calories |
| Totino’s Party Pizza, Pepperoni | 520 calories |
| Tombstone Original Pepperoni Frozen Pizza | 310 calories |
As you can see, Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza is on the lower end of the calorie scale compared to other popular frozen pepperoni pizzas. The thin, crispy French bread crust means fewer calories than a thicker, doughier crust.
Nutrition Breakdown
Now let’s take a closer look at the nutrition facts for a 5.5 oz Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza:
Calories: 270
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 4.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 20mg
Sodium: 710mg
Total Carbohydrates: 33g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 3g
Protein: 15g
As you can see, one Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza contains 270 calories, with 120 of those calories coming from fat.
It also contains 710mg of sodium, which is 31% of the daily recommended value. Most of that sodium is naturally present in the pizza’s cheese and pepperoni.
The 33g total carbohydrates includes 1g of fiber and 3g of sugar. The rest of those carbs come from the pizza’s dough.
With 15g of protein, this frozen pizza provides a good amount to help you feel satisfied. The protein comes mostly from the cheese and pepperoni.
So while the calorie count is fairly low, this frozen pizza still packs a decent amount of fat and sodium. The thin, French bread crust does help lighten it up a bit compared to a thick, pan pizza crust.
Pizza Portion Size
When considering the calorie content of this Stouffer’s pizza, it’s important to pay attention to portion size.
The nutrition information provided is for one 5.5 oz Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza. This is about 1/4 of a large 17.6 oz pizza.
Here is how the calories and fat break down for different portions:
| Pizza Portion | Calories | Fat (g) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 of large pizza (5.5 oz) | 270 | 9 |
| 1/2 of large pizza (11 oz) | 540 | 18 |
| 3/4 of large pizza (16.5 oz) | 810 | 27 |
| Entire large pizza (17.6 oz) | 858 | 29 |
As you can see, the calories and fat increase as the portion size increases. Consuming a whole 17.6 oz pepperoni pizza would provide 858 calories and 29g total fat.
So paying attention to portion sizes is important for managing calories. Sticking to a single serving of 1/4 to 1/2 of a large pizza is best for keeping calories in a healthy range.
Ways to Make This Pizza Healthier
While Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza is relatively low in calories for a frozen pizza, there are some simple ways to lighten it up even further:
– **Load up on veggie toppings.** Add your own extra vegetables like onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, or spinach to boost nutrition and fiber.
– **Swap out the pepperoni.** Try a vegetable or chicken topping instead of higher-fat pepperoni to cut back on calories, sodium, and saturated fat.
– **Use part-skim mozzarella.** The pizza uses regular mozzarella, so switching to part-skim mozzarella cheese can trim some fat and calories.
– **Cut back on the cheese.** Use a light sprinkling of cheese rather than a thick, cheesy layer to save calories and fat.
– **Enjoy half the pizza.** Cut the pizza in half and save the other servings for later to control portions and calories.
– **Add a side salad.** Pair it with a salad or non-starchy veggies like broccoli, carrots, or cauliflower to add nutrition and fullness.
With some simple modifications, this already reasonably light frozen pizza can be made even healthier!
Health Impact of Frequent Frozen Pizza Consumption
While an occasional Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza can fit into a healthy diet, regularly eating frozen pizza may negatively impact your health. Here are some downsides of frequent frozen pizza consumption:
– **Weight gain:** The extra calories, fat, carbs, and sodium in frozen pizzas can easily lead to weight gain over time, especially if portion sizes are too big.
– **Nutrient imbalances:** Frozen pizzas are low in nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K that come from fresh vegetables. Heavy pizza diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
– **High sodium intake:** The 700+ mg sodium in a frozen pizza can quickly add up if you eat them frequently, increasing risk of high blood pressure.
– **Higher cardiovascular risk:** Regularly eating highly processed foods like frozen pizza is linked to poor heart health. The saturated fat in pizza can also drive up cholesterol.
– **Blood sugar spikes:** High carb counts quickly break down into simple sugars, increasing blood sugar and potentially insulin resistance.
– **Gut health imbalance:** Frozen pizza lacks beneficial fiber while providing hard-to-digest cheese and fatty pepperoni that can promote gut imbalance and inflammation.
To limit these risks, frozen pizza should be an occasional convenience meal rather than a dietary staple. Avoid eating it more than 1-2 times per week for the best health.
Healthier Pizza Alternatives
When you’re really craving pizza, there are some much healthier do-it-yourself options that are almost as quick and convenient as frozen pizza:
– **Cauliflower pizza crust:** Swap dough for a veggie-based crust made from riced cauliflower. Top with sauce and veggies galore!
– **Butternut squash pizza crust:** Shredded squash makes a delicious low carb crust. Top with just a sprinkle of cheese and pile on the veggies.
– **Zucchini pizza bites:** Slice zucchini into rounds, top with sauce, cheese and pepperoni or veggies, and bake for mini pizzas.
– **Pizza lettuce wraps:** Use large lettuce leaves as the crust, pile on pizza toppings, and fold or roll up.
– **Portobello mushroom pizza:** Grill portobello caps and add favorite pizza flavors for a meaty, veggie “crust.”
With some creativity in the kitchen, you can make pizza that’s still satisfying but much lighter than frozen pizza. Your body will thank you!
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are in a Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza? A 5.5 oz frozen pizza contains 270 calories and 9g fat. That’s relatively low for frozen pizza, but can still add up if portions are too large.
While an occasional Stouffer’s pizza can fit into a healthy lifestyle, frequent frozen pizza meals may negatively impact your health and waistline over time due to extra calories, fat, carbs, sodium, and lack of nutrients.
Making healthier homemade pizza with veggie crusts or toppings is a good way satisfy pizza cravings while avoiding the pitfalls of frozen varieties.
At the end of the day, savoring a slice of Stouffer’s French Bread pepperoni pizza from time to time is fine – just be mindful of portions and how often you indulge. Your body and taste buds will thank you.
