You could agree with me that pizza night is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated times in any American home. After all, it is a delicious meal and has a way of bringing people together. Pizza is available in almost every country worldwide, but why is pizza so popular?
According to research, people consume around 5 billion pizzas annually, and pizza is so popular that there is a world pizza day to celebrate it.
Our article explains why pizza is popular and how it gained this status worldwide. Let’s get started!
The Origins of Pizza
The beginnings of this meal might be tricky to pinpoint because you can find it almost anywhere in the world. To begin with, do you know where the name pizza came from? You can check out the history of pizza to learn more about its fascinating roots.
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Where Did Pizza(the Meal) Come from?
Although eating pizza is widespread, this meal has an obscure beginning. Historians date the invention of pizza back to 600 BC when it was considered a street food for people living in rural areas.
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The underprivileged Greek settlers in Naples, Italy, consumed pizza. It was a simple flatbread with tomatoes, garlic, and vegetable toppings. However, it became popular among the Romans, Egyptians, and other Greeks.
So, why is it so popular?
1. Soldiers Returning from World War II Made It Popular
If you live in America, you probably have heard the history of pizza and how it came through harbors via the soldiers of World War II returning from Italy. The infantrymen were amazed by this Italian pie when they were dispatched to their country. Pizza was a simple meal they learned to cook and eat through hard times.
There is a possibility that there were too many meat toppings on the pizza back then, but it was delicious and simple. So, when these soldiers returned, they made pizza so popular in their countries—explaining why pizza is so popular in states such as New York.
2. Most Tourist Destinations Prepare Pizza
Another reason why pizza is so popular around the world is that people love it despite having different palates. If you are on vacation in a foreign country, the first meal that comes to mind after a tiresome walk is pizza.
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You can hop into a popular restaurant, and they will prepare it in minutes, and you are back on the trail. You can also visit pizza chains like Pizza Hut or Domino’s that offer delivery services to where you are. Plus, these restaurants have outlets in numerous countries.
Furthermore, if you visit other countries, Pizza Hut and Dominos’s may offer you different and unique pizza types that will blow your tastebuds. After all, some recipes are inspired by the cultures and people living there. These different pizza versions make pizza enjoyable to eat.
3. Pizza Is a Healthier Fast Food Choice
Pizza does not need a lot of preparation time. That is true since nowadays there are frozen types from DiGiorno, Totino’s, and Whole Foods 365, which will require you to microwave. Apart from that, if you want fresh pizza, you can make it yourself or get it in a restaurant in minutes.
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If you date back to the Italian roots in Naples, Italy, their original pizza recipes only had a few ingredients; they were really good and healthy.
However, today most chain restaurants strive to keep pizza healthy by putting toppings such as mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, onions, black olives, and other greens. These choices make pizza a healthier meal compared to fries or burgers.
4. Pizza Is Portable
Pizza is one meal that comes in handy when you are hungry and on the go. In addition, food delivery services have grown over the years, and you can get your pizza delivered while in any city. As a result, people can easily access pizza no matter where they are or what they are doing.
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Let’s say you are in an office doing work and want a light meal; you can order pizza via delivery apps or order from Domino or Pizza Hut.
Pizza is usually thin and can be carried easily in a box without worrying about spillages, making it easy to transport via delivery services. People can grab a pizza slice in New York and walk while eating. You might not see this in other parts of the world, but it demonstrates how portable pizza is.
5. Pizza Is Affordable to Make or Buy
Obviously, the economy is waning, and things are expensive, pizza included. However, pizza remains one of the cheaper food options with tons of health benefits.
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One of the reasons why it is so popular is that you can easily customize it to your liking. For instance, you can use the vegetables available in your house to make the topping, and voila! You have your pizza ready.
Make your own if you don’t have money to get it from a restaurant! The ingredients are cheap, and you might have them in your kitchen without your knowledge. We have a list of the 5 best pizza makers to help you prepare pizza faster.
Also, if you like eating restaurant pizza, you can choose cheaper options like pepperoni pizza or veggies. Pepperoni is not expensive, and it’s among the popular pizza toppings.
6. Pizza Is Delicious
Another reason why pizza is so popular is that it is delicious, and you can customize it to your liking, be it fresh or frozen. If you want delicious pizza, you can order from restaurants, pizzerias, or pizza chains that are keen on customers’ specifications.
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They also help build specific diets that require the food to be cooked in a particular way. Thus, it can be a terrific choice for picky eaters.
You can also get specific pizza brands that customize their pizza dough to fit specific diets. Alternatively, you can prepare delicious homemade pizza and create a bonding experience with your family.
7. Pizza Brings People Together
Both kids and adults love pizza, so there is no doubt that they will enjoy various slices of pizza together. It is almost impossible to find common foods loved by everybody making pizza more advantageous.
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Whether it’s pizza night or you are out with your family and want to eat a good meal, you can never go wrong with the delectable. You can order pizza to start your conversations, even if you are hanging out with new people or want to make new friends.
8. It Suits Any Occasion
You don’t need a special occasion to order Pizza from Domino’s or Pizza Hut; you can also make your healthy option at home with your sauce and dough. For example, it could be an ordinary day in your house, and you prepare Hawaiian pizza with spicy minced beef toppings for dinner.
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You can also include it on special occasions. For instance, pizzas are very common at birthday parties aside from the cake. Plus, kids are always happy while enjoying pizza as long you limit its greasy ingredients.
9. You Can Eat Pizza Hot or Cold
If you are looking for a meal that you can consume, whether hot or cold, pizza is the one. Pizza has grown in popularity since you can consume it hot or cold. If it is cold, you can toss it in the microwave and heat it or eat it like that, and it will still be delicious.
10. It Has Festivals To Celebrate It
You can eat pizza on any day of your life. Still, when you visit Canada, California, or other states in the U.S., you will have to celebrate the existence of pizza in ceremonies and festivals. Additionally, the festivals are associated with childhood memories that people love, thus increasing pizza’s popularity.
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These festivals are known to attract people worldwide. Also, these events are more of a celebration, and while people get attracted to these parties, pizza consumption gets more popular.
11. Preparing Pizza Is Fun and Enjoyable
You can prepare a pizza with your friends and family. Since pizza is an any-occasion food, you don’t need a reason to make it or eat it. Anyone can come up with their idea of what they want as toppings, and you can make the meal prep fun by letting everyone participate in the preparation.
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Kids love helping out in the kitchen, so you can assign them small tasks that make the whole process a bonding activity. In addition, most pizza recipes are always straightforward. Still, if you are experiencing difficulty preparing your ingredients, you can get frozen pizza crust and customize your toppings at home.
12. Eating Pizza Releases Happy Hormones
Have you ever heard of happy hormones?
They are known as endorphins. One of them is released when you eat pizza since there is content in pizza that sends signals to your brain to release it. After all, the meal is a balanced diet since it has different proportions of grease, carbohydrates, sugar, fats, salt, and tomato sauce, which can signal the release of endorphins.
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When the hormone navigates through your veins from your brain, it gives you a euphoric feeling. This feeling can be familiarized and make your body release endorphins even at the sight of pizza. Explaining why kids love pizza and adults eat it when they are stressed.
13. It Is Quick and Easy To Make
Making pizza will be easy if you have a dough-kneading machine. But, of course, it does get enjoyable since you can fully customize it. So instead of buying your favorite pizza from the local restaurant, why not handmake one?
Once you finish making pizza, you will find that it is an easy process as it only requires 10 minutes of cooking and 30 minutes of preparation.
14. Pizza Is a Balanced Meal
There has been an emphasis on why people should practice eating a balanced diet. After all, it ensures you get the most nutrients in one meal. So is pizza a balanced meal? Well, depending on the toppings and recipe you choose, it can contain many ingredients, including veggies, healthy fats such as olive oil, protein from pepperoni, or other meat toppings.
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Some pizzas even have berries and pineapples, which are a source of vitamins and minerals in our bodies.
Pizza is considered a balanced diet when it has all the necessary nutrients. Therefore, you only need to customize it, and you can have it guilt-free!
15. Pizza Is a Convenient Meal
In countries such as the United States, people are time conscious and want to live life on the move. They do not have time to cook meals since they race against schedules and meetings. Pizza is a common meal that comes in handy since it does not require long preparation hours, and you can eat it on the go.
Pizza is the fastest fast food worldwide, taking less than 40 minutes to be ready. If you had prepared your dough earlier, it would take only 10 minutes to cook in a wood-fired oven. As a result, it is the quickest option when thinking of feeding your family a light dinner.
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