Pizza, with pepperoni, from school lunch, medium crust
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic, comforting slice of school-lunch pizza, featuring a medium-thick, bready crust topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese, and savory pepperoni. The texture is a satisfying contrast between the chewy, slightly dense base and the crispy, salty edges of the pepperoni. Nutritionally, it delivers a solid protein punch from the cheese and meat, balanced by a significant carbohydrate load from the refined flour crust.
💚 Why it's loved
People adore this pizza for its universally appealing combination of savory, salty, and cheesy flavors, all on a comforting, bready base. It's a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing staple that feels like a treat, whether in a cafeteria or at home.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The refined white flour crust can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes, and the processed pepperoni and cheese are high in sodium and saturated fat. To mitigate this, pair a slice with a side salad or vegetable to add fiber, and practice portion control by enjoying one slice as part of a balanced meal.
Key benefits
- Provides a good source of protein for muscle maintenance.
- Offers calcium from the cheese for bone health.
- Contains iron from the enriched flour and meat.
- A convenient and energy-dense meal option.
- The tomato sauce contributes some lycopene.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The pepperoni used on American pizza is a distinct product invented in the US, not an Italian import; it's a spicy salami made from a mixture of beef and pork.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 45.1 g |
| Energy | 256 kcal |
| Protein | 13.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 9.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 29.8 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 4.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.8 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 178 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.6 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 46.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 310 mg |
| Potassium, K | 345 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 484 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.2 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.09 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 22.7 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.10 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.28 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.31 mg |
| Niacin | 3.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.17 mg |
| Folate, total | 57.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 38.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 20.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 84.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 30.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.7 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 59.0 ug |
| Retinol | 52.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 94.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 1902 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 22.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.80 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 8.0 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 3.5 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.10 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.09 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.13 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.15 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.51 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.7 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.71 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 2.5 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.13 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.1 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.7 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.3 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.13 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 24.0 mg |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is school lunch pizza a good source of protein?
Yes, it can be. With about 13.56g of protein per 100g, a typical 120g slice provides around 16g of protein, which is a significant portion of the daily requirement, mainly from the cheese and pepperoni.
How does the nutrition of this pizza compare to a gourmet or fast-food pizza?
School lunch pizza often has a thicker, more bready crust and may use processed cheese and meat, leading to a higher carb-to-protein ratio and potentially more sodium than a thinner-crust, artisanal version with fresh mozzarella.
Can this be part of a balanced diet?
Absolutely. Enjoy it in moderation as part of a meal that includes plenty of vegetables and fiber to balance the refined carbs and sodium. One slice paired with a large salad makes for a satisfying and more nutritionally complete lunch.