Pizza has long been a staple in the diet of most collegestudents, another helper in the "freshman 15" weight gain ritual.But in an effort to keep up with an increasingly low-fat, low-carbconscious country, at least one pizza place is introducing a newproduct.
Pizza Hut recently introduced the Fit 'n Delicious, a pizza withabout 150 calories compared to the stuffed crust pizza, which hasabout 450 calories, according to an article in USA Today. The Fit'n Delicious has 25 percent less fat than Pizza Hut's healthiestpizza, the Thin 'n Crispy.
It took Pizza Hut six months to come up with the pie, which isbasically the same as a normal one but with less cheese, more sauceand fewer fattening toppings such as pepperoni and sausage.
Erin Corrigan, University of Memphis Student Health Servicesnutrition educator, said people are getting more health conscious,and fast food organizations are responding to that need.
"Pizza can be incorporated into a healthy diet," she said."Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, vegetables havevitamins and minerals, and tomato sauce is high in lycopene, anantioxidant."
Corrigan said if you are going to eat pizza, the Fit 'nDelicious is a good choice.
Pizza and fast food, especially for students, can be aconvenient and inexpensive -- but not usually healthy -- mealoption.
"When I order fast food, I'm not looking for something healthy,"said U of M senior Allison Barron.
Pizza Hut also plans to begin delivering Fresh Express baggedsalads next year. Domino's and Papa John's told USA Today that theyhave something similar to the Fit 'n Delicious in the works.
"Fit 'n Delicious sounds like an oxymoron," said junior NiaBeasley. "But I guess it could be done."
The Pizza Hut Web site has not yet introduced the Fit 'nDelicious on its menu options but does have nutrition informationon all of its other pizzas and a nutrition calculator.
Fast food chains have joined the health food craze and arecontinually adding healthier options to their typically fat-filledmenus or labeling the nutrition facts of their menus, showing whatcombinations of items can make up a lower calorie meal.
McDonald's has salads with low-fat dressings, fruit and yogurtparfaits and reduced fat ice cream. Wendy's has salads withfat-free dressing, chili and baked potatoes, and Burger King hassalads and veggie burgers with egg-free mayonnaise.
Regardless of where people eat, Corrigan emphasized that what ismost important whether trying to gain, lose or maintain weight isto watch the amount of calories in comparison to the amount burntin a day.
