How many calories does Mellow Mushroom pizza have?

Mellow Mushroom is a popular pizza chain known for its unique and flavorful pizzas. With locations across the United States, Mellow Mushroom offers a variety of creative pizza options made with quality ingredients. However, while Mellow Mushroom’s pizzas taste great, many health-conscious customers wonder about the calorie content.

Calories in Mellow Mushroom’s Pizzas

The number of calories in a Mellow Mushroom pizza can vary greatly depending on the type of pizza and size. Mellow Mushroom allows customers to customize their pizzas with a variety of meats, vegetables, cheeses, and sauces. The more toppings you add, the higher the calorie count. The type of crust and size of the pizza also impact the calories.

To get an idea of the calorie range, here are some estimates for a few of Mellow Mushroom’s most popular pizzas:

Pizza Small (10″) Medium (14″) Large (16″)
Cheese Pizza 700 calories 1,100 calories 1,400 calories
Pepperoni Pizza 850 calories 1,350 calories 1,700 calories
Veggie Pizza 800 calories 1,200 calories 1,500 calories
Meat Lovers Pizza 950 calories 1,450 calories 1,850 calories

As you can see, calorie counts range from 700 calories for a small 10-inch cheese pizza up to 1,850 calories for a large 16-inch meat lovers pizza. The more toppings, the higher the calorie count.

Factors Affecting Calories

There are a few key factors that determine how many calories are in a Mellow Mushroom pizza:

Size

Larger pizzas mean more calories. Pizzas at Mellow Mushroom come in small (10”), medium (14”), and large (16”). Doubling the size of the pizza typically more than doubles its calories.

Type of Crust

Mellow Mushroom offers original dough, thin crust, or gluten-free crust options. Original dough will have the most calories, followed by thin crust, and gluten-free crust has the least.

Cheese

The type and amount of cheese has a major impact on calories. Extra cheese significantly increases the calorie count.

Sauce

Mellow Mushroom uses a tomato sauce on most pizzas. Going light on the sauce will reduce calories slightly.

Toppings

Pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham and other meat toppings all add a considerable number of calories. Going light on toppings or choosing veggies over meats reduces calories.

Cooking Method

Mellow Mushroom bakes their pizzas in a stone deck oven. This adds some calories from oil compared to a non-stick pan pizza.

Lower Calorie Options at Mellow Mushroom

For customers watching their calorie intake, here are some tips for lowering the calories when ordering Mellow Mushroom pizza:

– Order a small or medium instead of a large pizza

– Choose thin crust over original dough

– Load up on veggie toppings instead of meats

– Ask for light cheese or half the normal amount

– Opt for red sauce instead of creamy sauces like alfredo

– Avoid the “loaded” specialty pizzas with extra cheese and toppings

– Go easy on the dipping sauces, dressings, and garlic butter

– Split one pizza between multiple people

– Take home leftovers instead of overeating in one sitting

With some simple modifications, you can enjoy Mellow Mushroom pizza while still watching your calorie intake. A small thin crust veggie pizza with light cheese and red sauce makes for a more diet-friendly option.

Nutrition Information on Mellow Mushroom’s Website

In addition to the estimates provided above, Mellow Mushroom does provide nutrition information for their pizzas on their website. The nutrition facts include calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and protein.

However, the nutrition information is not complete for every pizza combination and relies on averages. Results will vary depending on the exact toppings and crust style ordered. The website nutrition facts provide a good baseline but your actual pizza may differ slightly.

Healthiest Pizza Options at Mellow Mushroom

If you are trying to make the healthiest choices at Mellow Mushroom, here are some of the best pizza options:

– Red Sauce and Veggie Pizza – Ask for light cheese and all veggie toppings like mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, etc.

– BBQ Chicken Pizza – Topped with chicken breast, onions, cilantro and BBQ sauce. Easy on the BBQ sauce.

– Thai Dye Pizza – Features chicken, onions, cilantro,Thai sauce, and mozzarella. One of the lower calorie specialty pizzas.

– Humble Pie Pizza – A simple pizza with olive oil, garlic, spinach, and mozzarella cheese. No heavy red sauce.

– Vegan Cheese Pizza – Ask for dairy-free vegan cheese to reduce saturated fat and calories. Load up on veggie toppings.

– Cauliflower Crust – Swap traditional dough for low carb, high fiber cauliflower crust.

Focus on pizzas with lean proteins like chicken and lots of veggie toppings while limiting high-fat meats, buttery sauces, and piles of cheese. Also be mindful of your portion size.

Making Healthier Choices at Mellow Mushroom

Beyond just ordering one of the healthier pizza options, there are some other ways to cut back on calories when eating at Mellow Mushroom:

– Choose a side salad instead of fries or chips

– Ask for whole wheat bread with sandwiches

– Opt for water, unsweetened tea, or diet soda instead of sugary beverages

– Share an appetizer or dessert instead of ordering individually

– Avoid the “Mega” size appetizers and calorie-dense menu items

– Dress salads lightly or order on the side

– Be mindful of free bread – it’s easy to overdo it!

– Take half your pizza home for later

With some simple substitutions and smart choices, you can still enjoy the great taste of Mellow Mushroom without going overboard on calories.

Conclusion

The number of calories in a Mellow Mushroom pizza can vary greatly based on the size, crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings you choose. Cheaper pizzas like cheese and pepperoni tend to have 700-1,000 calories, while loaded specialty pizzas can top 1,800 calories or more for a large size. If you want to cut back on calories, opt for a small or medium thin crust pizza with lots of veggie toppings and just a sprinkle of cheese. Mellow Mushroom does offer nutrition information online, but your specific order may differ slightly. Overall, with some creative modifications and reasonable portion sizes, you can enjoy Mellow Mushroom pizza even when watching your calorie intake. Just be mindful of your choices for crust, toppings, and sides. Now go out and savor a slice!

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