In honor of one of our favorite foods, we thought giving pizza a little healthy makeover would be fun! With the fun days fo summer here you might want to reach for fun fast food, and unfortunately that can mean foods typically high in fat. Instead of reaching for the phone and dialing up your favorite pizza delivery, try satisfying your cravings instead by giving your favorite food a makeover. Chances are you’ll satisfy your craving and get in a balanced meal at the same time.
Pizza - From Greasy to Healthy!
Two slices of a popular "supreme" pizza can add up to 900 calories and 50 grams of fat! Make your own pizza at home instead and save hundreds of calories and shave off tons of fat grams by:
- Start with homemade whole wheat crust or try a store bought brand such as Boboli or pre-made dough from Trader Joe's.
- Color your pizza and go garden style. You can find green bell peppers, onions and mushrooms on any regular old vegetarian pizza. Be a little more adventurous and try veggie toppings such as roasted red peppers (you can buy them bottled), artichoke hearts (marinated in water), fresh chopped basil, spinach or arugula, roasted garlic (you can buy bottled) and eggplant. You’ll get in a veggie serving or two and save hundreds of calories by skipping fatty meat toppings!
- Experiment with cheeses. Try stronger flavored cheeses such as feta or goat cheese (try goat cheese) and skip the jack, cheddar and mozzarella. With stronger flavored cheeses, a little goes a long ways and that means less fat.
- Add a flavor burst. Adding flavorful ingredients can help you cut back on high fat toppings and feel satisfied from just a slice or two. Instead of plain onions, try caramelized onions (tastes great with goat cheese and figs). Spread a thin layer of olive tapenade over the crust or add a tablespoon or two of pesto to the marinara sauce. Or, add a little heat to your pizza with crushed red pepper flakes or experiment with different herbs such as fresh cilantro (great on bbq chicken pizza) and oregano (an Italian staple).
- Choose lean, be lean! If you can’t imagine a pizza without the meat, stick with lean meats such as chicken breast, Canadian bacon or try soy based alternatives to pepperoni and sausage.
- Keep portions in line and enjoy a slice or two with a large green salad!
To find healthy pizza recipes, visit the following sites:
www.cookinglight.com
www.mealsmatter.com
www.goveg.com
Please note: The information in this article is not to be followed asmedical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physicianor primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personalhealth and necessary treatments.
