Mountain Mike’s Pizza is a popular pizza chain located primarily in California, with over 200 locations across the state. They offer a variety of pizza options, from classic pepperoni to specialty pizzas loaded with toppings. However, many health-conscious customers want to know: how many calories are actually in a Mountain Mike’s pizza?
Calories in Pizza
In general, the number of calories in a slice of pizza can vary greatly depending on the size of the pizza, the thickness and type of crust, and the toppings included. Pizza can range from around 300 calories per slice for a thin crust cheese pizza to 500 calories or more per slice for a thicker, loaded pizza topped with meats and extra cheese.
Some factors that affect the calorie content in pizza include:
- Type of crust – Thin crust generally has fewer calories than thick, pan, or stuffed crust.
- Size of the pizza – Bigger pizzas mean bigger slices with more calories.
- Cheese – Extra cheese adds a significant amount of calories.
- Meat toppings – Pepperoni, sausage, bacon and other fatty meats pack on the calories.
- Veggie toppings – Onions, mushrooms, tomatoes add fewer calories than meat.
- Extra toppings – The more toppings, the higher the calorie count.
So when looking at Mountain Mike’s nutrition information, keep in mind that factors like crust selection and toppings will impact the calories per slice.
Nutrition Information for Mountain Mike’s Pizzas
Luckily, Mountain Mike’s provides nutrition calculators on their website to help estimate the calories and other nutrients in their pizzas. They break it down by each individual topping choice for more accurate estimates.
Here is an overview of calorie ranges for some of Mountain Mike’s most popular pizzas:
1. Cheese Pizza
- 6 slices – 250-350 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 200-300 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 180-240 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 140-200 calories per slice
A basic cheese pizza at Mountain Mike’s ranges from about 140-350 calories per slice, depending on the size of pizza you select.
2. Pepperoni Pizza
- 6 slices – 300-400 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 240-340 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 220-300 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 170-250 calories per slice
Adding pepperoni will tack on about 50-70 extra calories per slice compared to cheese pizza.
3. Vegetarian Pizza
- 6 slices – 280-380 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 230-330 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 210-280 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 170-240 calories per slice
Veggie pizzas with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers have slightly fewer calories than pepperoni pizzas.
4. Supreme Pizza
- 6 slices – 350-450 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 300-400 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 270-360 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 210-300 calories per slice
Supreme pizzas with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and black olives range from 210-450 calories per slice depending on size.
5. Hawaiian Pizza
- 6 slices – 310-410 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 260-360 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 240-320 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 190-280 calories per slice
Hawaiian pizzas with ham and pineapple are slightly lower in calories than supreme or meat-heavy pizzas.
Calories for Mountain Mike’s Pizza Crusts
In addition to toppings, the type of crust you choose will impact the calorie count per slice. Here’s how the basic crust options at Mountain Mike’s compare:
Thin Crust Pizza
- 6 slices – 140-190 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 110-160 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 100-140 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 80-120 calories per slice
Original Hand-Tossed Crust
- 6 slices – 160-210 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 130-180 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 120-160 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 100-140 calories per slice
Pan Pizza Crust
- 6 slices – 190-240 calories per slice
- 8 slices – 150-210 calories per slice
- 10 slices – 140-190 calories per slice
- 12 slices – 120-170 calories per slice
As shown above, thin crust generally has the fewest calories, followed by the original hand-tossed crust, while pan pizza crust adds around 50+ extra calories per slice since it is thicker and has a buttery pan.
Low Calorie Pizza Options at Mountain Mike’s
If you’re trying to watch your calories, here are some tips for ordering lower calorie pizzas from Mountain Mike’s:
- Choose thin crust over pan crust
- Opt for a smaller pizza with 6-8 slices
- Load up on veggie toppings instead of fatty meats
- Ask for light cheese or half the normal cheese amount
- Avoid extras like double crust, cheese-stuffed crust, or extra dipping sauces
- Order a house salad with light dressing instead of garlic bread for a starter
- Stick to one or two slices and take the rest home
Some of the lowest calorie options at Mountain Mike’s based on their nutrition calculator include:
- 6-inch personal thin crust cheese pizza – around 700 calories total
- 10-inch thin crust veggie pizza – 180-240 calories per slice
- 8-slice thin crust Hawaiian pizza – 260-360 calories per slice
Overall, a thin crust cheese or veggie pizza in a small 6-8 slice size will be your best bet if watching your calorie intake.
Nutritional Benefits of Pizza
While pizza is high in calories, fat, and carbs, it does provide some nutritional value:
- Protein – Cheese, meat toppings, and the crust supply protein for energy and muscle repair.
- Calcium – The cheese contains a significant amount of calcium, important for bone health.
- Antioxidants – Tomato sauce provides the antioxidant lycopene.
- Vitamins & minerals – Veggie toppings like peppers, onions, and mushrooms add vitamins A, C, and K along with minerals like potassium and folate.
So while it is a high calorie food, pizza does offer a quick and convenient way to get some protein, calcium, antioxidants, and nutrients from veggies into your diet.
Tips for Healthy Pizza Eating
Here are some tips if you want to enjoy pizza as part of an overall healthy diet:
- Opt for thin crust instead of thick, pan, or stuffed crust to save calories
- Load up on vegetable toppings instead of going heavy on the meat and cheese
- Stick to one or two slices of pizza and pair it with a salad for a more balanced meal
- Avoid extra oil or butter on the crust
- Skip the dipping sauces like ranch, garlic butter, or nacho cheese
- Drink water instead of soda to avoid excess sugar and calories
- Split a pizza with friends or take leftovers home to control portions
- Balance pizza nights with healthier meals based on lean proteins, veggies, and whole grains
While pizza is high in calories, you can definitely still fit it into a healthy diet when paying attention to portions, crust and topping selections, and pairing it with lighter sides and beverages.
Healthy Homemade Pizza Options
To lighten up pizza even further, you can make healthier versions at home. Here are some ideas for lower calorie homemade pizzas:
Cauliflower Crust
Replace traditional pizza crust with a crust made of riced cauliflower, egg, and cheese. This cuts down on carbohydrates.
Whole Wheat Crust
Choose a whole wheat pizza crust or make your own using whole wheat flour. This adds fiber and nutrients.
Chicken Crust
Use cooked, shredded chicken breast as the pizza crust for a protein-packed option.
Veggie Crust
Make a veggie-based crust with shredded zucchini or spaghetti squash.
Portobello Mushroom Caps
Use whole portobello mushroom caps instead of crust. Top them like a pizza.
Extra Veggies
Load up the pizza with unlimited veggies like peppers, onions, broccoli, spinach, etc.
Light on Cheese
Use reduced-fat mozzarella or part-skim ricotta and go light on the amounts.
Swap in Turkey Pepperoni
Replace regular pepperoni with turkey pepperoni to slash fat and calories.
Chicken & Veggies Instead of Red Meat
Choose lean grilled chicken breast, turkey sausage, or veggies over bacon, ground beef, and sausage.
Greek Yogurt Sauce
Swap out tomato sauce for a lower fat Greek yogurt sauce seasoned with garlic and herbs.
Making pizza at home allows you to control the ingredients and nutrition. With some creative substitutions, you can still enjoy this favorite food while maintaining a healthy diet.
Conclusions
So how many calories are actually in a Mountain Mike’s pizza? It can range quite a bit based on the size and specific toppings selected, but here are some key takeaways:
- A slice of cheese pizza can range from 140-350 calories
- Pepperoni, meat, and supreme pizzas are on the higher end around 300-450 calories per slice
- Veggie and Hawaiian pizzas are lower in calories, averaging 200-400 per slice
- Thin crust has the fewest calories, followed by hand-tossed then pan crust
- Opt for smaller 6-8 slice pizzas over larger sizes
- Load up on veggie toppings and go light on the meat and cheese
While pizza is high in calories, fat, and carbs, it can be worked into a healthy diet in moderate portions. To keep calories in check, customize your pizza and ask for light cheese and extra veggies over meat and fatty toppings. Thin crust styles are ideal if you want to keep calories down. Splitting a pizza and taking leftovers home can also help control portions. And balancing out pizza nights with home-cooked meals based on lean proteins, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats is key to overall good nutrition.
