Tips to Make Pizza a Healthier Option

Last updated on April 1, 2019 by Liza Hawkins

Chef Christopher is back with another guest post, and this time it’s about one of my favorites: PIZZA.

Now, as you know, I’m not much of dieter (in fact, I don’t diet). That said, many of you are looking for ways to not only eat healthier (which I’m totally down with), but also to watch calories and such.

Hopefully you can glean a takeaway or two from this post!

It’s true that there are a large number of people out there who savor pizza.

It’s a main source of nutrients and calories, as many people include it as a main part of their diets.

Pizza is called “junk food” by many, but if you manage to prepare or order it properly, it can turn out to be a healthy option.

Here are some tips to make pizza a healthier option!

Use vegetable toppings.

Going for veggie toppings is a better option compared to meat toppings, like pepperoni or sausage.

The veggie option will have fewer calories, so you can have them more in quantity.

For better nutritional value go for peppers, tomatoes, onions and broccoli. These vegetables are loaded with lots of fiber and Vitamins A and C.

Go for mozzarella cheese.

When it comes to cheese, mozzarella has comparatively less fat content than other cheese options.

Moreover, going for fresh mozzarella cheese will be better as it contains less sodium compared to the pre-shredded and processed ones.

If you’re not a big fan of cheese, then ask for less cheese or no cheese at all.

Go for whole grain bread.

Lots of pizza chains out there offer whole grain options now. This type of pizza crust can be healthier as it contains more fiber and nutrients.

It even tastes almost the same, so you can enjoy it the same way.

Other crust options include wheat, gluten-free and low-gluten options, and using coupon codes or vouchers can help make extra cost more affordable.

If you are planning to make healthy pizza at home, you can buy the ready-made dough from the stores, or do it from scratch.

Go for thinner crust.

When it comes to the calorie game, a pizza’s crust is the main player.

So, if you’re watching your caloric intake, it’s better to avoid the thick crusts in your “everyday” diet, but enjoy them on special occasions if you really want to.

Pizzas with thinner crust taste good, too, so you don’t have to compromise on the taste. You can go for options like wood-fired pizzas, cracker-thin crusts, and Neapolitan thin crusts.

Adding better toppings will make the dish all the more interesting.

Go for low-fat meat toppings.

If you want to add some meat to pizza, go ahead!

Opt for low-fat meat like turkey breast, lean ground beef, and roasted chicken—which are all healthy and taste good.

You can even try grilled shrimp and top the pizza with cilantro, green onions, some feta cheese and garlic.

Go for spices and herbs.

Now make your pizza more exciting by adding herbs, spices and other flavors to the toppings, like oregano, minced garlic, crushed red pepper, fresh basil, powdered cayenne pepper, etc.

The pizza will taste so yummy that you won’t notice that it’s missing those high-calorie ingredients.

There’s nothing wrong with having pizza. Having a healthier one, though, can help you keep control of your waistline.