The Real Carb Count of MOD Pizza’s Cauliflower Crust (Decoding Diet Myths)

Even though cauliflower crust sounds like it may be keto, don’t blindly fall for this scam because a cauliflower crust doesn’t automatically equal keto-friendly, and the same lies true for MOD Pizza.¹

However, by paying attention to ingredients in so-called low carb or keto foods, those dining out on keto can tell the difference between what’s keto and what’s not to customize their order for the lowest carb options at MOD pizza and elsewhere.

Mod Pizza Keto Crust Availability

There is no crust at MOD Pizza that is labeled as keto or low carb. In fact, no items on the MOD Pizza menu are listed as keto, but according to their nutrition facts, there are many items that can align with keto guidelines.

The ketogenic (keto) diet has been at the top of the list of trending diets for decades; it consists of higher fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrates. The body typically burns glucose for energy, which is obtained from carbohydrates that have been consumed, but during keto, there is so little carb consumption, that the body produces an alternative energy source from fat, called ketones.²

By shifting from burning carbohydrates to burning fat, the body promotes weight loss. However, the amount of weight you can reduce on a Keto diet varies greatly based on how strictly it’s adhered to.

The biggest drawback of this diet is the extreme importance of consuming no more than 50 carbs per day. If too many carbs are eaten, then the body is no longer in ketosis and any additional calories and fat that were included in meals may lead to weight gain instead of weight loss.

Is Mod Pizza’s Cauliflower Crust Keto-Friendly?

The answer to whether MOD Pizza’s cauliflower crust is keto-friendly is a resounding no. According to the MOD Pizza cauliflower crust nutrition facts and calories, there are 84 net carbs in one serving of their cauliflower crust, which includes no sauce or toppings.³

The keto diet counts net carbs, which are grams of dietary fiber subtracted from the total carbohydrate count. Although fiber is a carb, the body can’t digest it, therefore it is not included in the final carb count.⁴

The total amount of carbs in the cauliflower pizza crust is 87 grams along with 3 grams of fiber, which accounts for 84 net carbs, which is still nearly 2 times the allowable amount of carbs per day for keto.

What’s The Difference Between Mod Pizza Cauliflower Crust vs Regular Crust?

Source: bhofack2 via Canva.com⁵

The differences in nutritional facts between the MOD Pizza cauliflower crust and their regular crust can shed some light on which, if either, could be worked into a low-carb diet.

Table Comparing To Regular Crust (Is Mod Pizza’s Cauliflower Crust Keto-Friendly?)

When comparing the two, the biggest differences are seen in calories, fat, and sugar. Ultimately, those participating in a keto diet would be no better off ordering a cauliflower pizza over a pizza with regular crust.

Mod Pizza Cauliflower Crust Ingredients vs Regular Crust

A closer look at the ingredients in the MOD Pizza cauliflower crust vs the regular crust can clue diners in on what is contributing to the nutritional values.

Cauliflower Crust Ingredient List

• Cauliflower
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Rice Flour
• Tapioca Starch
• Water
• Egg Whites
• Rice Starch
• Modified Food Starch
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Salt
• Cultured Brown Rice
• Garlic Powder
• Italian Seasoning
• Xanthan Gum⁶

Regular Crust Ingredient List

• Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour
• Water
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt
• Dough Improver
• Yeast

While the first two ingredients of the cauliflower pizza are lower carb, there are many remaining additives that are used to bind the dough that is not keto friendly. In fact, it’s clear that the cauliflower crust requires many more ingredients than the regular crust, which contributes to the higher fat, calorie, and sugar content.

How To Find Keto Mod Pizza Dishes That Are Right for You

MOD Pizza’s menu consists of 12 classic pizzas that are prepared and served as-is, or, there is an option to create a custom pizza with the choice between 8 different sauces and 40 toppings. In addition, the menu lists 5 salads to choose from, or, like the pizzas, there is the option to customize one, along with cheesy garlic bread, cake, and a large variety of beverages.

Upon discovering that MOD Pizza’s cauliflower crust is not keto-friendly, the most reliable way to identify which dishes at MOD Pizza are suitable for a keto diet is by checking the restaurant’s nutritional information, which is accessible on their website.

MOD Pizza provides their pre-calculated nutrition facts for their classic pizzas broken down by their 3 most popular crust choices, which are the Mini, MOD (regular), and Mega Dough.

What if the Pizza I Want Isn’t Listed in the Nutrition Facts?

To calculate the nutritional information for the classic pizzas based on their cauliflower crust, gluten-free, or Pizza Salad options, it would be necessary to determine the calories, fat, carbs, etc. for each classic pizza without the crust, then add the details of the desired crust.

For example, the Calexico Pizza with a regular MOD crust has 860 calories, 28 grams of fat, and 95 carbohydrates. To find out the nutrition facts of the pizza without the crust, it is necessary to subtract the MOD crust details listed above, which are 490 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 88 carbohydrates.

Calexico Pizza Toppings

860 calories – 490 calories = 370 calories

28 grams of fat – 6 grams of fat = 22 grams of fat

95 carbohydrates – 88 carbohydrates = 7 carbohydrates

The Calexico Pizza topping’s nutritional data can then be added to any of the remaining pizza crusts to determine the complete nutrition facts of that pizza. Below are the details of the toppings added to the cauliflower crust.

Calexico Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

370 calories + 590 calories = 960 calories

22 grams of fat + 14 grams of fat = 36 grams of fat

7 carbohydrates + 87 carbohydrates = 94 carbohydrates

How Do I Calculate the Nutrition Facts of Custom Pizza & Salads?

Figuring out the nutrition facts for custom pizza and salads is actually a bit easier than the above classic pizza calculations because there is no subtraction. Simply choose the desired pizza or salad base and add the calories, fat, carbs, etc. from each sauce or topping to determine the complete nutritional profile.

The information below lists an example of a custom order that has used the provided nutritional information for each ingredient to determine the data for the entire pizza.

Mini Crust Toppings

• Calories = 210
• Carbs = 38
• Fat = 2.5
• Protein = 7

Red Sauce

• Calories = 5
• Carbs = 2
• Fat = 0
• Protein = 0

Mozzarella

• Calories = 90
• Carbs = 1
• Fat = 7
• Protein = 7

Ground Beef

• Calories = 210
• Carbs = 3
• Fat = 15
• Protein = 18

Green Bell Peppers

• Calories = 5
• Carbs = 2
• Fat = 0
• Protein = 0

Mushrooms

• Calories = 0
• Carbs = 1
• Fat = 0
• Protein = 0

Total Calories: 520
Total Carbs: 47
Total Fat: 24.5
Total Protein: 32

What Is the Best Way To Find Keto Menu Items That I Can Eat?

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When determining what meals to eat at MOD Pizza when following Keto weight loss rules, there are some variables that need to be determined to ensure that the menu items chosen fit the parameters of the dieter.

To stay in ketosis and continue to burn fat, staying below 50 grams of carbohydrates is imperative; although, for many individuals, 50 carbs are too many and net carbs might need to be reduced down to as low as 20 net carbs per day.⁸

Many following the keto diet do so loosely and only pay attention to carbs, while stricter keto weight loss solutions consist of adhering to a set amount of calories and macros, as well as carbs. Because MOD Pizza has a wide variety of menu options that display detailed nutritional information, it is easy to piece together a meal fit for any lifestyle.

While anyone should be able to find something delicious to eat at MOD Pizza, it may be necessary to split a pizza or choose a salad to fit into specific dietary needs.

Mod Pizza Cauliflower Crust Keto Alternatives

Learning that MOD Pizza’s cauliflower crust isn’t keto-friendly might have been disappointing. When advertised, it might have felt like the restaurant was trying to scam its consumers into believing the crust was low carb. However, to their credit, the cauliflower crust is not labeled or advertised as low carb; plus, there is a wide variety of MOD Pizza keto options that can serve as an alternative to the high carb cauliflower crust.

While there is no keto-labeled crust, the mini 6-inch crust comes in at 38 carbohydrates. Because a majority of the toppings are low in carbs, it is simple to keep an entire mini pizza below 50 carbs. In fact, many of the classic pizzas with their mini dough are between 41 and 45 carbs, which leaves an additional 5 to 9 carbs for the remainder of the day.

If a diner needs to stay well below 50 carbs, there is always the option to split a mini pizza in half or a regular pizza into quarters and share with companions or take the remaining home. If this isn’t satisfying, supplementing with a salad loaded with low-carb options could prove to be a satisfying compromise.

If pizza proves to be intruding too much on the day’s carb count, sticking with just a salad can ensure that macros are perfectly met. While the MOD-sized classic salads range anywhere from 14 to 31 carbs, creating a custom salad with less than 10 carbs is nearly effortless due to the wide range of low-carb toppings and dressings as seen below.

Mixed Greens Toppings

• Calories = 5
• Fat = 0
• Carbs = 1
• Fiber = 0
• Protein = 0

Pepperoni

• Calories = 50
• Fat = 4.5
• Carbs = 0
• Fiber = 0
• Protein = 2

Salami Toppings

• Calories = 90
• Fat = 8
• Carbs = 1
• Fiber = 0
• Protein = 5

Cucumbers

• Calories = 10
• Fat = 0
• Carbs = 2
• Fiber = 0
• Protein = 0

Roasted Red Peppers

• Calories = 15
• Fat = 0
• Carbs = 3
• Fiber = 0
• Protein = 1

Italian Dressing

• Calories = 70
• Fat = 8
• Carbs = 0
• Fiber = 0
• Protein = 0

Total Calories: 240
Total Fat: 20.5
Total Carbs: 7
Total Fiber: 0
Total Protein: 8

Whether choosing to indulge in a pizza alone, pairing a piece of pizza with a small salad, or creating a sizable custom salad, adding a zero-carb beverage will ensure the efforts that went into planning a meal won’t be wasted. MOD Pizza has a large variety of drinks, but sticking with unsweetened tea, diet cola, or water will ensure that no calories or carbs are wasted.

Upon discovering that MOD Pizza’s cauliflower crust isn’t keto-friendly, rather than feeling disheartened or deceived, consider exploring the range of keto-friendly menu options that MOD Pizza offers. Enjoying a satisfying meal from their selection can align well with almost any diet.