A nutritionist says pizza is a healthier breakfast than most cereal

We're all guilty of enjoying a slice of cold leftover pizza for breakfast. Or two. Maybe even three. And while we all feel guilty for indulging immediately after, it turns out that a slice of pizza could be a better and more nutritious breakfast than a bowl of cereal. Luckily it doesn't really matter what kind either. Frozen or delivery, most are created equally.

At least according to Chelsey Amer, a nutritionist who spoke to The Daily Meal about our breakfast habits. "It’s got protein," editor Holly Van Hare explains. "It’s got carbs. It might even have vegetables. That hot slice of cheesy goodness is a balanced breakfast if we’ve ever seen one."

“You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories,” Amer explained. “However, pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you full and boost satiety throughout the morning.”

“Plus, a slice of pizza contains more fat and much less sugar than most cold cereals, so you will not experience a quick sugar crash,” Amer continued. 

According to Harvard, protein helps you stay full for longer, and the fat works with the hormones in your body to tell you that you don't need to eat any more.

Now, pizza isn't exactly the best thing you could be eating for breakfast. Amer just considers it a good alternative to breakfast cereal because so many cereal staples are loaded with sugar. Froot Loops, for example, can contain as much as 13 grams of sugar and 120 calories per serving. And let's be honest, who has just one serving? 

Compare this to a healthier cereal like Shredded Wheat, which contains no sugar, and pizza doesn't have a chance.

You're also not going to get away with having a triple-cheese-stuffed crust or whatever latest gimmick it is that Pizza Hut has on their menu. If you really want to eat pizza for breakfast, go light on the cheese and load it with plenty of veggies. 

The United States Department of Agriculture also advises people not to leave leftover pizza in the box overnight, or even for more than two hours. Pathogenic bacteria, the kind of bacteria that will have you leaning over a toilet all day, breeds best at temperatures between 40F and 140F. Put your pizza in the fridge, people or that morning snack may just not be so fun.

Editor's Note: The article was originally published in July 2020.