Breaking Down Everything That's Wrong With Chuck E. Cheese's New Frozen Pizza
Chuck E. Cheese is bringing the fun home. Well, a man in a mouse suit isn't going to come to your house and dance around for you (thank goodness), but the restaurant chain known for its kids' birthday parties and games has started selling pizza in your grocer's freezer section, according to Comicbook. When children with fond memories of birthdays at the chain see that wide-eyed cartoon rat on boxes of Chuck E. Cheese's cheese or pepperoni pizza, their heart rate is sure to quicken with excitement.
That is just one problem with Chuck E. Cheese's new frozen pizza, according to Piper Gibson, a doctor of advanced holistic nutrition, board certified doctor of natural medicine, functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, and founder of Regenerating Health.
"When they see Chuck E. Cheese pizza in the store, they associate it with fun, so they are more inclined to be drawn to it," Gibson told Mashed. "Children also see it on commercials, and maybe they have never been to Chuck E. Cheese. Having this pizza makes them feel like they are not missing out." Okay, so Chuck E.'s branding works. Why is that such a bad thing? As Gibson explains, Chuck E. Cheese's frozen pizza isn't a healthy food option.
Chuck E. Cheese frozen pizza has a lot of sodium and processed flour
Piper Gibson at Regenerating Health pointed out a couple problems with the nutritional value of Chuck E. Cheese's frozen pizza. "The amount of sodium in a quarter of the pie is 740 mg, which individuals should take into account in regard to their daily total salt intake," she said, adding that the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.
Piper is not a fan of the enriched flour in the Chuck E. Cheese frozen pizza, either. The flour was "stripped of essential nutrients in processing, and synthetic nutrients have been added," she said. "Some people have a hard time processing these in synthetic form."
Piper suggested a healthier alternative. "Cauliflower crust is a great option, and you can opt for low-sugar sauce, organic cheese, and even add nitrate-free pepperoni." She even said this recipe would be "more delicious" than Chuck E. Cheese pizza, but you'll need to see for yourself if you can get your kids to believe it.