Are Prepared Cauliflower Pizza Crusts Alright for My Postop Diet

By Michelle Hoeing Bauche, MS RDN LD CSOWN

 

Cauliflower pizza crusts are a healthy-sounding trend in supermarkets nowadays. However, what really has people freaking out is that this stuff is also very delicious!  But are these alternative pizza crusts really any better and do they fit into your post-op bariatric diet?

 

The first thing to do is to read the nutrition facts label and ingredient list. Just because it advertises that it’s made with cauliflower, doesn’t mean they haven’t also added many other ingredients as well. Have you ever tried to make cauliflower crust yourself? If you don’t add some kind of binding agent, it’s likely to fall apart and be mushy. Therefore, you may find that some cauliflower pizza crusts have just as much flour and starch as the regular version.

 

The next thing to do is to consider how the macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat) fit with your personal bariatric diet and lifestyle. Are you following a strict carbohydrate controlled diet? Or do you allow more carbohydrates in your diet because you are more active and can tolerate them? Not all cauliflower crusts will be created equal. Let’s take a look at a few examples to see what you’re actually putting side your body:

 

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Ingredients - Cauliflower, Brown Rice Flour, Rice Flour, Water, Corn Starch, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Eggs, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sugar, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Xanthan Gum, Yeast, Vinegar, Salt.

Macronutrients (for 1/3 crust) – Calories 170, Fat 5 g, Carbohydrate 29 g, and Protein 3g

 

Green Giant Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Ingredients - Cauliflower, Rice Flour, Corn Starch, Corn Flour, Cornmeal, Canola Oil, Salt, Black Pepper.

Macronutrients (for ¼ crust) – Calories 80, Fat 1 g, Carbohydrate 16 g, and Protein 2 g

 

Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Crust

Ingredients – Cauliflower, Corn Flour, Water, Cornstarch, Potato Starch, Olive oil, Salt.

Macronutrients (for 1/6 crust) – Calories 80, Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 17 g, and Protein 1 g

 

Outer Aisle Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Ingredients – Cauliflower, Whole eggs, Parmesan Cheese, Nutritional Yeast, Garlic, Basil, Oregano

Macronutrients (1 piece) – Calories 120, Fat 6 g, Carbohydrate 4 g, and Protein 10 g

 

Real Good Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Ingredients – Cauliflower, Almond Flour, Egg, Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Coconut Flour, Salt, Xanthan Gum

Macronutrients (1/3 crust) – Calories 200, Fat 15 g, Carbohydrate 7 g, and Protein 11 g

 

Overall, these options can certainly fit into a healthy bariatric post-op diet once you have finished your program’s diet progression. Just be sure to always check the nutrition facts label before purchasing or you may unintentionally eat something that’s not healthy.