How To Make A Healthier Pizza

Can Pizza Be Healthy?

It is possible to enjoy healthier pizza, but probably not at a restaurant. One slice of pizza usually has at least 300 calories, so it doesn't take long to eat most of your day's calorie needs in one sitting. Interestingly, since it is also difficult for many people to estimate portion sizes for wedge-shaped foods, overeating can be very easy.

We don't typically think of pizza as a component of a healthy diet because it is high in total fat, saturated fat, sodium and calories. This is important to remember when planning family menus because high-fat diets lead to being overweight and obese.

If you do order a pizza at a restaurant, be sure to eat a healthy green salad first so that you feel fuller before indulging -- and don't end up eating half of the pizza.

Making a Healthier Pizza

You can easily make your own healthier pizza at home. You may find that one slice really does fill you up without adding lots of unwanted calories and fat. Cut back on high-fat ingredients and add lots of low-calorie, high-fiber vegetables.

Try these useful tips:

1. Use a whole grain crust. You can purchase a pre-made whole-wheat pizza crust, or make your own by substituting whole-wheat flour for part or all of the white flour in your bread-maker pizza crust recipe. Whole grains add fiber, which will keep you feeling full longer and is crucial for a healthy digestive system.

2. Use lots of sauce. Tomato sauce is an excellent source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may help to prevent some chronic disease.

3. Cut back on the cheese. Although cheese is an excellent source of calcium, a lot of the calories of a pizza come from the cheese. Use just a light sprinkling of cheese, or choose a lower-fat type of cheese to cut calories and saturated fat.

4. Don't use greasy processed meats. Pepperoni and sausage are high in fats, and processed meats are associated with stomach and colorectal cancer.

5. Choose lean topping options, such as chicken or shrimp, or skip the meat altogether and make a delicious vegetarian pizza.

6. Load the pizza up with vegetables. Since they are nutritious and low in calories, use generous amounts of vegetables as toppings. Some delicious choices include sun-dried tomatoes, onions, broccoli, spinach, olives, spinach, peppers and mushrooms. Really, any of your favorite vegetables would make the perfect choice.