Barbecue season has basically come to an end and pizza is taking over now. While we may be tempted to order a meat lover's pizza with extra cheese (this is NOT on the Atkins Diet by the way), we should rethink our topping choices so we can still have our pizza and enjoy it too! Plus, besides pizza being yummy, it can also be really good for you (think lycopene in the tomato sauce and veggies galore).
Here are some fabulous ideas from MSN for keeping your pizza healthy and tasty:
- Vegetables are by far the best topping for a pizza and offer a wide range of options. Experiment with different varieties such as green and red peppers, zucchini, broccoli, or be adventurous and pick a fruity topping like pineapple or mango.
- Cheese belongs to the Milk and Alternatives food group and is an excellent source of calcium and protein. Keep the fat content to a reasonable amount by ordering regular cheese, rather than "double." (I personally like to order "light" cheese, most pizza guys will know what you mean.)
- Meat is a source of protein - and fat. Leaner choices are chicken and ham. Typically, pepperoni is leaner than beef and sausage. Multi-meat pizzas contain high levels of fat, calories and salt.
- Crusts made from whole wheat or multi grain are more nutritious. They deliver a boost of fiber and fewer calories than traditional dough crusts.
Ben Sherman
Miss Sixty
Farfetch
Wow. Great tips! I'm wondering if thick vs thin crust makes a difference, though.
1We made a delicious pizza last week using stir fry vegetables as topping. It's so easy because you don't have to prep several different vegetables, and you don't have to clean your cutting board afterwards!
2Too bad my favorite is margarita (margherita?) from my local place. Goat cheese, real tomato slices under the cheese, and basil on an extra thin (crunchy!) crust.
3No veggies or meat or me, please.
I actually don't really care for pizza too much. I never really have cravings for it, but if that's all there is to eat, I usually get a thin crust veggie pizza, light on the cheese. Thin crust saves you quite a few calories. I think the worst kind of pizza is probably a meat lover's stuffed crust...that has like 800 calories per slice. The thin crust veggie has only like 150 or so.
4I LOVE Primavera pizza. It's loaded w/ vegetables; from spinach, raw oninons, bell peppers, olives, tomato sauce and minimal cheese. The crust is also very thin. It's also very filling, so one slice is enough for me.
5i love thin crust pizza! it really lets you taste the flavor of the pizza, whereas thick crust just has a lot of greasy bread.
6There was a pizza place near where I went to college that had cucumbers as a topping... I was intrigued by it so I got it once, it was really good!!
7I like to make my own pizza so I can keep it healthy and put whatever topping that I like.
To make my thin crust pizza, I use lavash bread from Trader Joes (less than $3 for a pack of 6), lightly brush/spray with olive oil and spread italian seasoning. I bake the crust for 5 minutes to make it nice and crunchy.
In the mean time, I take out some turkey pepperoni, slice some red, yellow, and green bell peppers, and whatever other veggies that I have on hand.
Take out the crust, spread the sauce, put on the toppings, THEN spread sparingly some part skim mozzarella cheese, and bake for a few minutes more.
It's cheaper and healthier than delivery.., perfect for football season =)
8i love zucchini, onion, tomato, mushrooms and oregano. simple and sooo good.
9I always make my pizzas with tons of veggies and no cheese. Amy's brand vegan roasted vegetable pizza is also delicious, when I'm not in the mood to whip up my own.
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