Here's Why Your Kids Probably Shouldn't Eat Too Much Pizza

Pizza might seem like a harmless enough snack for kids, but did you know it's also one of the highest calorie available options? A new study from the Illinois Prevention Research Center shows that pizza is the second highest source of calories for children between the ages of 2 and 17 years old and only behind grain foods.

The study looked at higher calorie intake in children and teenagers, ranging from 84 through 230 calories a day from pizza alone, which oftentimes contains excess calories, saturated fat and sodium. 

"The adverse dietary effects of pizza consumption found in this study suggest that its consumption should be curbed and its nutrient content improved," researchers noted, in a news release.

For the study, researchers analyzed questionnaires completed by children between the ages of 2 and 19 during 2003 and 2010. The data obtained showed pizza consumption had decreased 25 percent during these years but continued to remain part of 20 percent of the participant's regular diets.

Researchers also found that snacking on pizza had the maximum impact.

"Pizza consumption as a snack or from fast-food restaurants had the greatest adverse impact on TEI," researchers said while adding, "For children and adolescents, respectively, pizza consumption was significantly associated with higher net daily TEI (84 kcal and 230 kcal) and higher intakes of saturated fat (3 g and 5 g) and sodium (134 mg and 484 mg) but not sugar intake."

Everything in moderation, of course. 

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Pediatrics.

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