Healthy Pizza Recipies
You probably already know that pizza is a high-calorie food with all the cheese, meat, and other toppings. But what you may not know is that the crust–yes, the crust of all things–accounts for half of the calories of a slice of pizza, containing 200 calories to 300 calories.
While loading a pizza with cheese and other toppings can create a nutritional disaster and jeopardize your weight-loss goals, that doesn’t mean you can’t order or create a healthier version of one of the world’s most popular junk foods. From going with a thinner crust to going easy on the cheese to being picky with your toppings, you can have your pizza and eat it too.
Keep reading to learn more about how you can order or make a healthier pizza the next time you come down with a severe case of the munchies.
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Thinner Crust
Since the crust tends to be where most of the pizza calories reside, why not opt for a thin crust when ordering or making pizza? Sure, you might like a thick crust that you can dip into creamy garlic sauce. But you can save a lot of calories if you go with a thin crust. While you’re at it, try whole grain crust or cauliflower crust for a change. If you’re in a rush and don’t want to make the pizza dough from scratch, use a pita as the foundation for a mouth-watering pizza. It’ll simplify the process of making a pizza, and you’ll be able to cut down on some calories.
Skip the Cheese
It might seem like sacrilege to suggest skipping the cheese on a pizza. But cheeseless pizza is a thing. In fact, one type of cheeseless pizza is called pizza marinara. It includes the dough, tomato sauce, oregano, and garlic that has been thinly sliced. While you can always call your favorite pizza joint and ask them to go easy on the cheese, give cheeseless pizza a try. Some pizzerias have it on their menus. You might actually like it.
Load Up on the Veggies
Another way to eat a healthier pizza is to load up on the veggies. Consider a combination of olives, broccoli, red onions, spinach, and other vegetables. Loading your pizza with different kinds of fresh produce can give you the recommended amount of vegetables for the day, and it’ll fill you up. And, let’s face it – the right combination of produce will enhance the pizza. If you have kids who act like being made to eat veggies is akin to punishment, add some to their pizza. The chances are good that they’ll enjoy tomatoes, mushrooms, or green peppers on their pizza.
Add Healthier Protein
A pizza topped with pepperoni, ham, and sausage might get your mouth salivating, but too much of a good thing isn’t such a good thing as far as your health is concerned. One way you can get your meat fix is by adding healthier protein such as grilled chicken to your pizza.
If you’re open to the trend of going vegetarian or vegan at least once a week — Meatless Mondays, anyone? — then you can try plant-based protein like veggie pepperoni. Meatless alternatives to meat are getting tastier and tastier. So, if you’ve never tried them before, what are you waiting for? Of course, you still need to be mindful of sodium when using vegetarian and vegan alternatives to meat products. Enjoy in moderation for good health!
These are just a few things you can do to enjoy a healthier meal the next time you get the urge to buy or make a delicious pizza pie. If you’re interested in making your own pizza, you could do so in your oven. But another option is to get yourself an outdoor pizza oven for better results.
