Pizza for dinner – great! However there’s pizza, and there is pizza. Will dinner consist of a deep-fried pan base, loaded with double cheese and pepperoni – and just to top it off a freebie 2L bottle of Coke and a dozen deep-fried mozzarella balls (correctly referred to as fat-bombs)?

Or…the pizza might be homemade – a whole-wheat base (made or bought) topped with healthy organic pasta sauce, some cheese and lots of veggies. The drink will be sparkling water with a dash of lime-juice, and the accompaniment – a Greek salad.

I won’t go into the specifics of each choice on calories*, unhealthy fats (including trans fats), sugars, additives, preservatives, healthy fiber and other nutrients – but needless to say, the differences are not only significant but huge. And you know that.

A diet consistently in line with the first option impacts negatively on your weight, your energy levels, your appearance, your current wellness and long-term health. Providing such meals on a frequent basis puts our kids on the wrong path; both in terms of educating them on healthy matters, and in giving them the brain and physical energy they deserve. As parents we must take responsibility for our kids’ health – obesity in children is becoming a real concern, so much so that we now refer to the phenomenon as “Globesity”.

However, there is hope. The healthier option here can be put together quickly, and costs far less than the alternative. All it takes is some commitment and planning on your part – learn the basics about good nutrition; have access to healthy, quick and simple recipes, understand food labels, and stock healthy ingredients at home. There are ways to make meal planning and cooking easy and fun, with just a little effort. You have the choice; please make the right one for health’s sake.

*I know you’ve got to know (although I don’t encourage calorie counting)
Based on 2 slices of 12” pizza, 3 mozzarella balls and 250ml coke – total estimated calorie intake is 940. The healthier option, with a generous side of Greek Salad, comes in at 520.

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^{This article was originally published on Health and Vitality blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.} 

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