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Why are diet "experts" so down on pizza?

Sometimes I think that some health "experts" label anything that people enjoy as automatically evil. Chocolate used to get blamed a lot with no real evidence behind it. (That was back in my youth).

Now pizza seems to be the health experts poster child for bad eating habits.

It's basically some bread, some tomato sauce, some cheese and bits of meat and veggies. Not really that bad if eaten in reasonable moderation.

I don't believe in food villains. Some of us would probably be better off eating less and especially eating less rich food. Restaurants serve huge portions these days, twice what they served when I was young--not a good thing. I always divide the meal as soon as it's served, then take some home for another meal. Obviously some attention to eating a healthy moderate diet is necessary in my country at least (USA). But I don't think pizza needs to demonized to do that.
pedrohedgerow · 61-69, M
Somebody somewhere is being paid to bad mouth pizza...a food villain,as you say.If eaten in moderation all is good.
SW-User
My guess is that dieticians when looking at what to remove from a persons diet easily using one word rather than a dietary explanation just go for pizza because in terms of both fat and salt for regular consumers removing that one item provides a significant reduction.

However, i love pizza and i think you can eat it as part of a healthy low fat diet by eating it just occasionally and made in a healthier way.

You're right too about portion sizes these days, bigger meals with bigger prices.
MaryJanine · 61-69, F
Pizza is good for you. It depends if you make your own or order one in for the taste. We used to make at home a garbage pizza. As revolting as that sounds, it was just a homemade pizza with everything you like on it.

There is a Tom & Jerry's two corners from my house. They don't offer pizza anymore, and that makes me sad. They used to make what was called a "veggie pizza" with all vegetable toppings and no meat. It was almost like eating a big salad - and the leftovers were wonderful, too.
MaryJanine · 61-69, F
Pizza is a "fun food" which can be dressed up or down, depending on what you put on it. I like my veggies on mine among other things. I am missing the pizza this one restaurant used to make, called a "veggie pizza" which contained the usual crust and cheese basics, green peppers, onion, and olives. Now they don't make pizzas anymore, and I truly do miss it.
indyjoe · 56-60, M
They always say to avoid it completely...but a little here and there won't hurt you ("everything in moderation"). I think that's why so many "diets" fail, they deprive people of all that they like and are used to which plays havoc with temptation and willpower.
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PastelHearts1412 · 22-25, F
@Greybare This reminds me of herbalife
Ynotisay · M
But it's sort of their job. Bread is empty calories and cheese is fattening. There's much better options. But moderation, like you mentioned, is the key. And other than the real hardcore diet people, who are usually pimping the latest and greatest craze, most dieticians recognize 'cheating' and push for moderation. By putting it out there that pizza isn't really healthy aids in the idea that it's a once in a while thing.
But you nailed it with portion control. We eat VERY differently in the U.S. than most other places. (And it shows).
DearAmbellina2113 · 41-45, F
It's not actually that healthy when you break it down, because it's loaded with sugar, carbs, fat, and sodium.
meJess · F
Diet experts have no fun, and they want to spread that feeling
Tminus6453 · M
[quote]Not really that bad if eaten in reasonable moderation. [/quote]

Theres the key... like all high caloric foods, moderation is the key and add up all the other foods eaten throughout the day and lack of exercise and you get fat people
MaryJanine · 61-69, F
My mom used to make what she called a "garbage pizza" - the more stuff we put on it, the better we liked it. We all enjoyed it.
SW-User
Agreed. My girlfriend eats pizza 5-6 times per week and she is in perfect health as you can see
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PastelHearts1412 · 22-25, F
But...pizza is super greasy.
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@PastelHearts1412 The cheese can be high fat though you can ask the pizza place to give you less cheese or use less cheese or lower fat cheese if you bake it yourself.
DDonde · 31-35, M
I don't know what they're saying about pizza, but I have personally noticed that it is really calorie-dense compared with other food.

 
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