The frozen pizza section is generously stocked in supermarkets. Several new products appear every year. The vegetable pizza is popular with many. Focus on the best choices!
Ten varieties of pizza were the subject of this test bench. A reference portion of 200 g was used (equivalent to about half of a 10-inch pizza).
For this portion, frozen vegetable pizzas provide:
- Between 370 and 487 calories
- Between 9.5 g and nearly 20 g of fat (from 1 to just over 8 g of saturated fat)
- Between 40 and 74 g of carbohydrates
- Between 3 and 6 g of fiber
- Between 6 g and nearly 21 g of protein
- Between 583 mg and 1120 mg of sodium
* Opting for a vegetarian pizza often reduces the saturated fat and salt content (because deli meats are considerable sources). So these are often better options.
The best choices
Gusto Italiano Végétale thin crust pizza with olive oil Irresistibles is the least salty product in our analysis. It has a sodium content of 583 mg per 200 g serving, which is a quarter of the tolerable upper intake level. This pizza also stands out for its protein content, which is the highest of the products evaluated, nearly 21 g of protein per serving. Despite its slightly higher than average saturated fat content, it defends its place at the top of the charts well.
Thin and crispy vegetable, spinach and goat cheese pizza President’s Choice Blue Menu ranks a close second in sodium content. It has 637 mg of sodium per 200 g serving and is also among the lowest fat pizzas (12 g total fat and 3.3 g saturated). Finally, its protein content, a little over 15 g per 200 g serving, allows it to constitute a balanced meal. A good choice !
The worst choices
The brand’s cheeseless four-vegetable thin-crust pizza President’s Choice Organic is the saltiest product of our analysis. All the same surprising given the absence of cheese on the product! Each serving provides 1120 mg of sodium, which is half the tolerable upper intake level for this nutrient. Given its list of ingredients with no source of protein, it is not surprising to find that one serving provides only 10 g of protein.
With a sodium content of 930 mg per serving, Signature Squash, Kale & Beet Flatbread President’s Choice is found among the least interesting products. This product also occupies the second position of the most caloric products (465 calories per serving) and is also the second most fatty product with nearly 20 g of lipids (and a little more than 8 g of saturated fat).
The signature dairy-free and gluten-free grilled vegetable pizza Daiya also disappoints. This is the most caloric product in our analysis (487 calories per serving). This pizza is also the lowest in protein: as little as 6.1 g of protein per serving… which is far from covering the average requirement for a meal. Unless you are celiac and need to exclude gluten from your diet, Daiya pizza is not an option of choice.
The homemade pizza
Want a delicious homemade pizza? No need to have a pizza dough on hand to prepare everything! A whole-wheat tortilla or whole-wheat pita bread can serve as the crust. As a bonus, we improve the fiber content of our meal. Simply place the tortilla or pita on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, top with tomato sauce, add your favorite vegetables, and top with low-fat cheese. We can also make a cauliflower crust to reduce the carbohydrate content of our meal!
Instead of eating several slices of pizza, it is better to start with a moderate portion and accompany everything with a nice green salad. You can also add pumpkin seeds to the salad, to add protein. Since the pizza remains relatively high in carbohydrates, people with diabetes will avoid finishing the meal with a dessert.
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