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According to Time, takeout pizza’s popularity in the U.S. can be traced back to the 1940s. In addition to takeout food’s availability and popularity growing at this time, members of the military came back to the States wanting more of the Italian cuisine they had experienced while overseas during WWII. But as Dr. Caroline Cederquist, a board-certified physician in family practice and functional medicine, told Men’s Health, typical restaurant and frozen pizzas tend to be “high in calories, simple carbohydrates, sugar, sodium, and fat.”
In addition, registered dietitian nutritionist Anna Smith cautions that a pizza’s toppings (e.g., ham, pepperoni, and sausage) can make it a less healthy option. However, registered dietitian Amy Kimberlain told Everyday Health that loading up pizza with vegetables is a good way to increase its nutrient and fiber content. For example, broccoli is packed with vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as B vitamins like B6, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin, via WebMD. It’s also a good source of minerals like zinc, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and iron. Plus, broccoli has fiber. Peppers are also a good choice; no matter what kind you choose, you’ll get a good dose of nutrients like vitamin C and potassium, as well as fiber (per WebMD).
If you want to add a little protein to your pizza, Food Network suggests picking healthier toppings, like grilled chicken. You can also do a combination of vegetables and healthy protein.
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