Take any food you like, make it with cauliflower and you will be magically healthy. Or at least that’s what most people think about pizza. But is Is cauliflower pizza crust healthy?
The fear of carb consumption has led to an explosion of creative carb substitutes, cauliflower pizza crust being one of many.
“People are very anti-carb and think that white flour is not good for your health. Then they wonder, ‘How can we keep eating pizza?’” she says. Keri Gansauthor of The diet of small changes. “[Cauliflower pizza crust] “It also has a halo of health because it is associated with a vegetable.”
But look beyond that halo and check the labels. Then you can really see if cauliflower crust is better for you than regular crust.
Is cauliflower pizza dough healthy?
Compared to regular pizza crust, cauliflower crust tends to have less sodium. But when you dig into other nutritional data, the results don’t totally favor the plant-based substitute.
By way of comparison, we will look at some of the Best-selling pizza dough brandsas Boboli and COLIPODER. The chart below shows how some of the most popular regular dough brands compare to cauliflower pizza dough brands.
As you can see, store-bought cauliflower pizza dough is a little confusing when it comes to the nutritional information. Some brands of cauliflower crust are lower in carbohydrates, but not all.
So if you don’t check the label, you may end up consuming as many carbs as a slice of white or whole wheat pizza dough. The same goes for calories: cauliflower pizza dough isn’t always lighter.
And even if it were, think about how important it is for you to save, say, 40 calories (about the amount of a pound). little apple), especially if you don’t enjoy the flavor as much, Gans says.
But what about fiber? Vegetables are usually packed with fiber, right?
Well… one cup of raw cauliflower has 2 grams of fiber, and some cauliflower pizza crusts have only 1 gram per serving. So in this case, the whole wheat crust actually provides more fiber.
Lastly, whole wheat crust protein-wise tends to be king. However, some cauliflower pizza crusts have a good dose of protein if they contain eggs (like the Cali’flower Foods option in the box above).
So what’s the main takeaway here? Read the label. There is so much variation between brands that you can’t just assume that each and every cauliflower pizza crust is the same, or even healthier than regular or whole wheat options.
And when it comes to specific ingredients, some brands add eggs and/or cheese to help the cauliflower come together and add flavor. So if you have any food allergies or follow a specialized diet, you need to make sure you know what you are consuming.
Should I buy cauliflower pizza dough?
“When it comes down to it, what is the reason for choosing it?” Gans asks. Whether you want to save calories or reduce carbs, or are trying to eat more vegetables, be sure to read the nutritional information so you can confirm that you are achieving what you want.
It’s also important to consider the slice size and toppings, he adds, since that’s the other part of the pizza.
“You can’t eat the whole pie and you can’t throw all the other health ‘guidelines’ out the window,” Gans says. “Are you prepping your pizza and turning it into a healthy vehicle for more vegetables, or are you adding processed meats like pepperoni and sausage?”
To make the pizza healthier (regardless of the crust), he recommends choosing lots of vegetables, such as fresh tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and artichoke hearts.
