Pizza is a popular food that is loved by many. It comes in different varieties, with the most common being pepperoni pizza and sausage pizza. When trying to watch your calorie intake or follow a diet plan, it’s important to know the calorie content of the foods you eat. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of the calories in 2 slices of pepperoni and sausage pizza.
Calories in Pizza
The number of calories in pizza can vary greatly depending on the type of crust, sauce, cheese and toppings used. On average, one slice of a 14-inch pepperoni or sausage pizza contains between 220-320 calories. This is because pizza is high in carbohydrates from the dough, high in fat from the cheese and meats, and contains a decent amount of protein too.
Some factors that affect the calorie content in pizza include:
- Type of crust – Thin crust has fewer calories than thick, deep-dish crust.
- Portion size – Larger slices or more toppings mean more calories.
- Type of cheese – Regular mozzarella has more calories than low-fat cheese options.
- Meats/toppings – Pepperoni, sausage, bacon pack a lot of fat and calories.
- Cooking method – Pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven tends to have less oil versus pan or deep-dish pizza.
Knowing the average calorie content in one slice of pizza allows us to estimate the calories for 2 slices, depending on the type of pizza it is.
Calories in 2 Slices of Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni pizza is a very popular pizza variety. It is typically made with a plain tomato sauce, regular mozzarella cheese, and loads of sliced pepperoni on top.
Some nutrition facts on pepperoni pizza (1 slice):
- Calories: 280-320
- Total Fat: 10-14g
- Carbs: 30-40g
- Protein: 15-20g
Based on this, 2 slices of a 14-inch pepperoni pizza would contain:
- Calories: 560-640 calories
- Total Fat: 20-28g
- Carbs: 60-80g
- Protein: 30-40g
As you can see, just 2 slices of pepperoni pizza contain over half your daily calorie needs in addition to large amounts of carbs, fat, and sodium.
The high calorie content is mainly due to the pepperoni, which is greasy and loaded with saturated fat, in addition to the cheese and the dough. If trying to eat healthy, you may want to avoid eating multiple slices in one sitting.
Calories in 2 Slices of Sausage Pizza
Like pepperoni pizza, sausage pizza is also a common type of pizza served at most pizza places. It is made with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and crumbled or sliced sausage on top instead of pepperoni.
Here are some nutrition facts in 1 slice of sausage pizza:
- Calories: 270-310
- Total Fat: 9-12g
- Carbs: 30-38g
- Protein: 15-18g
Based on this data, 2 slices of a 14-inch sausage pizza would contain roughly:
- Calories: 540-620 calories
- Total Fat: 18-24g
- Carbs: 60-76g
- Protein: 30-36g
Sausage pizza has a similar calorie content as pepperoni pizza for 2 slices. It is high in saturated fat, carbs, sodium and calories, and lower in nutrients.
As a guideline, 2 slices of any meat-based pizza will provide between 500-650 calories along with nearly all your daily recommended saturated fat intake. Consuming multiple slices in one meal is not recommended when wanting to eat healthy or lose weight.
Ways to Make Pizza Healthier
While pizza is not the most nutrient-dense food, there are ways you can make it a bit healthier while still enjoying a slice or two. Some tips include:
- Choose thin crust instead of deep dish or pan pizza.
- Load up on veggie toppings like mushrooms, onions, peppers, spinach.
- Opt for lower-fat cheese options.
- Pick healthier meats like grilled chicken over sausage or bacon.
- Use lighter sauce and drizzle olive oil over crust.
- Add pineapple or other fruits for more nutrients.
- Stick to 1-2 small slices per meal.
You can also make homemade pizza with whole wheat dough, low-fat mozzarella, and tons of veggie toppings for a more nutritious meal. But for the most part, traditional pizza remains a high calorie food.
Daily Calorie Needs
To put the calorie counts for pizza slices into perspective, here is a look at the average daily calorie needs for different individuals:
- Women
- Sedentary (little exercise): 2,000 calories
- Moderately Active: 2,200-2,400 calories
- Active (exercising most days): 2,400-2,800 calories
- Men
- Sedentary: 2,500 calories
- Moderately Active: 2,700-3,000 calories
- Active: 3,000-3,500 calories
As shown above, the 500-650 calories in just 2 slices of pizza make up a substantial portion of your daily calorie intake if you are watching your weight. Consuming high calorie foods like pizza makes it much harder to stay in a calorie deficit for weight loss.
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are actually in 2 slices of pepperoni and sausage pizza?
- Pepperoni pizza (2 slices) = 560-640 calories
- Sausage pizza (2 slices) = 540-620 calories
Two slices of either pizza option contain over half the calories an average sedentary adult needs in an entire day. Pizza is consider a high calorie food due to the refined carbohydrates in the dough, high fat content from cheese and fatty meats, and sodium from toppings and sauce.
While pizza can be enjoyed in moderation, restricting yourself to just 1-2 slices per meal and loading up on vegetable toppings can help reduce the calorie density. Going for thin crust over deep dish can also trim some calories. Be mindful of your total daily caloric intake if weight loss is a goal.
