Before you guys start yelling at me – I get it. I’m a pizza blog writer talking about frozen pizzas and for many of you that is punishable in a court of law. But hear me out.
More people enjoying pizza is a good thing for everyone, right?
That means more people trying different, delicious flavor combinations and sharing that with the world, so we all benefit.
But not everybody has time to cook fresh pizzas for dinner, and not everybody has the money to order from a local pizzeria. So where does that leave them?
Well, if they’re like me, walking down the frozen aisle of a store picking up a frozen pizza in disguise in case any of you guys see me…
But today I’m taking off my disguise and admitting it: sometimes I eat frozen pizza.
And now that I’ve said it, we can explore the really important things about frozen pizza like ‘Is frozen pizza bad for you?’ ‘Is frozen pizza healthy?’ ‘Are they safe?’
These are all important questions to answer. So, if I haven’t just shocked you all into exiting my blog, join me below because the answers might just surprise you…
Is Frozen Pizza Bad For You: The Short Answer
No, frozen pizza isn’t necessarily bad for you. Like anything, if you eat too much of it then sure, it’s bad for you.
But there’s actually no reason to class frozen pizza as being any worse for you in terms of your health than a pizza from a pizzeria or one you’ve made at home.
As with anything, it’s about making healthy choices and eating in moderation.
The Long Answer
I couldn’t just leave it there though folks, so let’s dive into that answer a little more. Because there are some things you can do to make sure the frozen pizza you choose isn’t as bad for you as it could be.
The Less Healthy Bits
I’m not here to champion frozen pizza as the next best health craze. It isn’t. And there are lots of things about this frozen, processed food that isn’t good for you.
Does that mean you should never eat a frozen pizza again? Of course not! Just that you need to eat them sparingly.
So, what are the less healthy bits of frozen pizza? Well, the three main areas are sodium, saturated fat, and refined carbohydrates.
All of these are present in a frozen pizza, but the concerning thing is how high some of those levels are.
If you consistently eat frozen pizza as part of your diet, then the chances are you’ll be eating way more than your daily recommended amount of these three things.
That can cause some health problems down the line.
Eating too much-saturated fat raises cholesterol levels (of the dangerous kind) and this can increase your risk of a stroke or heart disease considerably if you keep eating lots of food that’s high in saturated fat.
Likewise, too much sodium in your diet can increase your blood pressure dramatically, which will also increase the risk of heart disease or stroke in an individual.
And more recently, a diet high in refined carbohydrates has been found to increase the risk of multiple worrying conditions: heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and even type 2 diabetes.
What does that all mean, then?
Well, if you’re eating frozen pizza that’s high in saturated fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates all the time, then it’ll have some potentially serious consequences for your health.
But don’t worry, there are things you can do.
Read Your Nutritional Labels
The best thing you can do when picking out a frozen pizza as a treat (and they should only ever be treats – not something you eat every day) is check the nutritional labels.
Look at the amount of saturated fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates in the frozen pizza, and concentrate on the % of your daily recommended amount that it is.
Also, be mindful of the fact that some frozen pizza companies will tell you the amount per slice of pizza, and others will tell you the information as a whole.
The best companies will tell you both to make it easier for you to work out how much-frozen pizza is too much, but that’s a debate for another day.
My point is, if you want a quick, tasty pizza with none of the fuss and for a much cheaper price, then sure, have a frozen pizza.
But practice mindful eating – look at the nutritional labels and know what you’re putting into your body.
Make Healthier Choices
If you eat more mindfully, then you can make healthier choices.
You can find the frozen pizzas in your local store that have the least amount of saturated fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates, and choose that one every time you have a frozen pizza instead.
By making healthier choices, even when you’re treating yourself to a frozen pizza, you’ll be making sure you’re being as healthy as you can be.
And hey, sometimes you might choose to make pizza at home because that way you know exactly what’s gone into it, and that’s the healthiest type of pizza you can have.
Is Frozen Pizza Safe To Eat?
After hearing how food high in saturated fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates can negatively affect your health, you might be wondering why I said frozen pizzas aren’t bad for you at the start.
But it’s all about healthier choices and moderation.
No, frozen pizza wouldn’t be safe to eat if you had it every day because it would seriously increase your risk of some nasty health conditions.
But if you have it occasionally as a treat, then, of course, they’re perfectly safe to eat! And hey, judge me all you like, some are pretty tasty…
If it’s the frozen element of the pizza that makes you worry about its safety, then you can relax about that too.
All the ingredients on a frozen pizza are frozen when they are at their freshest, meaning all the good nutrients and healthy bits are locked in them too.
Taking your frozen pizza home from the store and then storing it in your freezer at home is all perfectly safe, and so long as you cook it according to the package instructions, it’ll still be perfectly safe.
Just don’t overdo it on the frozen pizza, and everything will be fine.
Final Thoughts
Frozen pizza isn’t healthy or bad for you – they just are what they are. So long as you don’t eat them too often, then they can still be a part of a balanced diet, so long as you’re eating well and exercising.
So, no, I don’t think frozen pizza is bad for you, so long as you continue to make healthy choices and eat mindfully, then I see no problem with cooking a frozen pizza now and then.
And even you die-hard homemade pizza fans out there shouldn’t see a problem with it either – enjoying pizza in all its forms is a good thing – just make sure you enjoy all its forms in moderation.
