A Papadia is a sandwich sold by Papa John’s pizza chain. It consists of pizza toppings like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms etc. stuffed between slices of Papa John’s original dough. Papadias make for a convenient meal, but are they a healthy choice? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional profile of a Papadia to find out.
Calories in a Papadia
The calorie content of a Papadia can range quite a bit based on the specific toppings you choose. An average Papadia contains around 700-800 calories. To give you a better idea, here is the calorie count for some popular Papadia options:
| Papadia | Calories |
|---|---|
| Pepperoni Papadia | 730 |
| Sausage Papadia | 800 |
| Chicken Alfredo Papadia | 760 |
| Meatball Papadia | 820 |
As you can see, most Papadias contain 700-800 calories. This is quite high when you consider that a single meal should aim to stay under 500-600 calories.
Fat Content in a Papadia
In addition to being high in calories, Papadias also contain high amounts of fat, especially saturated fat. Here is the fat content breakdown for some popular options:
| Papadia | Total Fat (g) | Saturated Fat (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperoni Papadia | 32 | 14 |
| Sausage Papadia | 36 | 16 |
| Chicken Alfredo Papadia | 28 | 12 |
| Meatball Papadia | 34 | 15 |
Nutrition experts recommend limiting your daily saturated fat intake to no more than 13g. As you can see from the table, just one Papadia can provide nearly your entire recommended saturated fat for the day! The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 120 calories from saturated fat per day. A Pepperoni Papadia alone contains over 350 calories just from saturated fat.
Sodium Content of Papadias
Most Papadias are also very high in sodium, containing over 1,000mg in a single sandwich. For comparison, the recommended daily sodium limit is 2,300mg.
Here is the sodium content for some popular options:
| Papadia | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|
| Pepperoni Papadia | 1280 |
| Sausage Papadia | 1360 |
| Chicken Alfredo Papadia | 1180 |
| Meatball Papadia | 1400 |
As you can see, just one Papadia can contain well over half of your daily recommended sodium intake. High sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Most nutrition experts recommend staying under 1500mg of sodium per meal.
Protein in a Papadia
The one redeeming quality of Papadias nutrition-wise is that they do contain a good amount of protein. Here is the protein content in some options:
| Papadia | Grams of Protein |
|---|---|
| Pepperoni Papadia | 32 |
| Sausage Papadia | 28 |
| Chicken Alfredo Papadia | 30 |
| Meatball Papadia | 25 |
Most Papadias provide 25-30g of protein, which is about half of the recommended daily intake for most adults. Protein helps keep you feeling fuller for longer after a meal. It also helps maintain and build muscle mass.
Vitamins and Minerals in a Papadia
When it comes to vitamins and minerals, Papadias don’t offer too much. Here is the vitamin and mineral content in a Pepperoni Papadia:
| Vitamin/Mineral | Percentage Daily Value |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 2% |
| Calcium | 15% |
| Iron | 10% |
As you can see, Papadias only provide small amounts of vitamins A and C. You get some calcium and iron, but not significant amounts. Overall, Papadias are lacking when it comes to providing beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Papadia Ingredients
To get a better sense of why Papadias are so high in calories, fat and sodium, let’s look at the ingredients that go into them:
– Dough – Enriched bleached wheat flour, water, high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, salt, yeast, maltodextrin, sodium stearoyl lactylate.
– Sauce – Tomatoes, sugar, salt, extra virgin olive oil, spices, garlic powder, citric acid.
– Cheese – Low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes).
– Pepperoni – Pork, beef, salt, contains 2% or less of water, corn syrup, paprika, spice extractives, dextrose, lactic acid starter culture, sodium erythorbate, flavoring, sodium nitrite, BHA, BHT, citric acid.
– Sausage – Pork, water, textured vegetable protein (soy flour, caramel color), salt, spices, sugar, paprika.
As you can see, many refined grains, sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats go into making a Papadia. There is very little in the way of fresh, whole food ingredients.
Papadia Health Claims
Despite their poor nutritional profile, Papa John’s does make some questionable health claims about Papadias:
– “Better-for-you” option
– “Quality meats and veggies”
– “Papadia baked to crisp, golden perfection”
However, as we analyzed above, Papadias are far from a healthy or “better-for-you” choice. They contain refined grains, processed meats, artificial flavors/preservatives and minimal vegetables. They are also deep fried rather than baked.
Papadia Health Risks
Regularly consuming Papadias may negatively impact your health in the following ways:
– Weight gain – Their high calorie, fat and sodium content can easily lead to weight gain over time.
– High cholesterol – The large amounts of saturated and trans fats can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
– High blood pressure – Excess sodium intake is directly linked to elevated blood pressure.
– Heart disease – High sodium, cholesterol, saturated fats and calories raise your risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
– Diabetes – Frequent blood sugar spikes from refined carbs can increase your risk of insulin resistance.
– Inflammation – Processed meats and fried foods cause systemic inflammation in the body.
– Cancer – Nitrites used to cure meats are carcinogenic compounds.
Healthier Papadia Alternatives
If you enjoy the convenience of Papadias but want a healthier version, consider making your own at home. Here are some healthier recipes to try:
– Grilled chicken papadia – Use a whole wheat pita, add grilled chicken breast, tomatoes, onions, spinach and feta cheese.
– Veggie papadia – Fill a whole grain flatbread with roasted veggies, avocado, hummus and mixed greens.
– Turkey papadia – Stuff a spinach wrap with roast turkey, peppers, olives, cucumber and goat cheese.
– Buffalo chicken papadia – Fill a multigrain bun with shredded chicken mixed with hot sauce and ranch dressing. Top with lettuce and tomato.
– BBQ jackfruit papadia – Make a pulled jackfruit filling mixed with BBQ sauce. Stuff in a pretzel bun with cabbage slaw and grilled onions.
Conclusion
Based on their high calorie, fat, sodium and processed ingredient content, Papadias cannot be considered a healthy meal option. Frequent consumption is linked to increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Those looking for a convenient but nutritious meal on-the-go are better off preparing their own sandwich on whole grain bread stuffed with lean proteins and fresh produce. Portion control is also key when indulging in a Papadia occasionally. One should aim to share with a friend or only eat half in one sitting.
