Papa John’s is one of the most popular pizza chains in the United States. Their pizzas are known for being tasty and having generous toppings. One of their signature pizzas is the Hawaiian – it has a sweet and savory combination of ham, pineapple, and cheese. If you are wondering just how many calories are in a Papa John’s medium Hawaiian pizza, this article will provide the answers.
Papa John’s Pizza Nutrition Information
Before looking specifically at the Hawaiian pizza, it helps to understand Papa John’s overall nutrition information. Papa John’s makes nutrition facts available for all of their pizzas. Here are some key things to know:
– Papa John’s uses original fresh, never frozen dough for their pizzas. Their original crust is listed at 140 calories per slice.
– They use a classic pizza sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes. A serving of sauce contains around 15-20 calories.
– Cheese is another major component. Papa John’s uses a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. About 1 ounce of cheese is around 100 calories.
– Toppings will add more calories. Meat toppings like ham and bacon pack the most calories per ounce. Vegetables provide fewer calories by comparison.
So the dough, sauce, cheese and toppings all contribute to the total calories in a Papa John’s pizza. The more toppings, the higher the calorie count.
Nutrition for a Medium Hawaiian Pizza
Now let’s look at the nutrition information for a medium Hawaiian pizza specifically. Here are the key nutrition facts:
– Total slices: 8
– Calories per slice: 320
– Total calories for the whole pizza: 2,560
As you can see, a medium Hawaiian pizza from Papa John’s contains 320 calories per slice. With 8 slices in a medium pizza, the whole pizza contains 2,560 total calories.
This compares to Papa John’s regular cheese pizza, which contains 280 calories per slice and 2,240 calories for the entire medium pizza.
So the Hawaiian pizza has about 40 more calories per slice compared to a cheese pizza. This reflects the extra calories from the ham and pineapple toppings.
Calories from Each Topping
To better understand where those extra calories come from, let’s break down the nutrition contribution of each topping:
– Ham – The ham on a Hawaiian pizza is lean cured ham, similar to Canadian bacon. A single slice of this type of ham may have around 40-50 calories. Given there is ham on every slice, it likely adds about 50 extra calories per slice.
– Pineapple – Fresh pineapple has about 50 calories per cup. There is probably around 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pineapple per slice. So the pineapple may contribute 10-25 calories per slice.
– Cheese – Since this is a meat lover’s pizza, it likely has slightly more cheese than a regular cheese pizza. Maybe 1-2 ounces more per slice, adding 50-100 extra calories of cheese across the whole pizza.
So combining the ham, pineapple and extra cheese, the toppings appear to contribute approximately 125 extra calories per slice compared to a typical cheese pizza.
Other Ways the Calories Can Vary
It’s important to note the actual calorie count can vary beyond the baseline 320 calories per slice, for these reasons:
– Size of the slices – The nutrition information is based on pizza cut into 8 equal slices. If the slices are cut smaller or larger, the calories per slice would differ.
– Extra toppings – Adding extra toppings beyond the basic ham and pineapple will add more calories per slice.
– Leftovers – The calories may change when reheating leftover pizza, depending on factors like how it is stored and reheated.
– Special requests – Asking for extra sauce or cheese, or a well-done crust can potentially increase the calories per slice.
So your actual calories may be a bit higher or lower than the 320 calorie baseline, based on these factors. But the published information serves as a good benchmark.
Does Pizza Size Matter for Calories?
Papa John’s offers Hawaiian pizza in small, medium and large sizes. Does getting a larger size impact the calories per slice?
Here is a comparison of how the calories differ by size:
| Size | Slices | Calories Per Slice | Total Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 6 | 360 | 2,160 |
| Medium | 8 | 320 | 2,560 |
| Large | 10 | 285 | 2,850 |
As you can see, the medium pizza has the lowest calories per slice, at 320. The small pizza actually has the most calories per slice, at 360.
So while the large pizza has the most total calories overall, each individual slice has the fewest calories. This is because the larger pizza is stretched across more surface area.
Therefore if you are concerned with limiting calories, choosing a larger size with more slices may be helpful to keep the calories per portion lower. However, having more pizza around may lead to eating more overall. Going with a medium or small may be better for controlling overall intake.
Tips for Enjoying Hawaiian Pizza While Limiting Calories
Hawaiian pizza has a great sweet and savory flavor profile. Here are some tips for enjoying it while limiting the calorie impact:
– Stick with thinner crusts, like the original hand-tossed crust, as thicker crusts add more calories.
– Order a small or medium pizza instead of large. This helps control calories per slice and overall servings.
– Fill up on lower calorie sides like salad with light dressing or air-popped popcorn.
– Share the pizza with others instead of eating multiple slices alone. Split 2-3 slices.
– Take home leftovers immediately. Don’t be tempted to overeat in one sitting.
– Reheat a couple slices at a time when ready for more. Don’t eat straight from the fridge.
– Try lighter dipping sauces like marinara instead of higher calorie ranch or garlic butter.
– Savor each bite thoroughly so you feel satisfied with less. Eat slower.
– Burn extra calories later by taking a walk or doing other active movement.
With smart balancing and moderation, you can satisfy a Hawaiian pizza craving without going overboard on calories.
Nutrition Benefits of Hawaiian Pizza
While the focus is often on calories with pizza, the Hawaiian style does provide some valuable nutrition:
– Protein – The ham and cheese provide a good serving of satisfying protein. This helps support muscle growth and keeps you feeling fuller longer.
– Vitamin C – Pineapple is packed with vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports immunity and skin health. One slice can provide close to your whole daily vitamin C needs.
– Potassium – The tomato sauce and pineapple contain lots of beneficial potassium, which is important for controlling blood pressure.
– Probiotics – Fermented pizza dough, like Papa John’s original crust, contain probiotics that benefit digestive health.
So along with being tasty comfort food, Hawaiian pizza can deliver valuable nutrients when consumed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. It provides energy to fuel your day or night.
Conclusion
To summarize key points:
– A medium Papa John’s Hawaiian pizza contains about 320 calories per slice, or 2,560 calories total.
– The ham, pineapple, and extra cheese add approximately 125 extra calories per slice compared to a basic cheese pizza.
– Larger pizzas have fewer calories per slice, though more pizza may lead to overeating. Smaller sizes help control portions.
– Enjoy Hawaiian pizza in moderation along with other balanced nutrition. Consider lighter crusts, dipping sauces, and portion sizes.
– Hawaiian pizza does provide beneficial protein, vitamins, minerals and probiotics despite also being high in calories.
So savor Hawaiian pizza mindfully and responsibly as part of an overall balanced diet. Now that you know the calorie content, you can better plan your intake. Enjoy a slice of sweet and savory Hawaiian goodness.
