Let’s face it, pizza is the real deal, and that’s not changing any time soon.
To put pizza love into perspective, statistics reveal that one in eight adults in America regularly eat pizza. Even more interesting, children eat more pizza than adults.
Here’s the thing, the love for pizza is not unfounded. If you’re wondering why everyone is so fond of something generally considered junk food, there are many reasons. Just to name a few:
- It’s super convenient and easy to make
- It’s ridiculously tasty
- It’s affordable and can feed many without hurting your wallet
- It doesn’t require serving tools
- It has countless versions to suit everyone
- It’s widely available with fast delivery
Since there’s no way of avoiding pizza when it’s a huge part of our tradition, the question remains.
Is there a way to make this amazing food healthier?
The simple answer is a big yes!
You see, just like any other food, what would make pizza unhealthy is its ingredients. And not all pizzas are unhealthy either. Many people are now striving to cut out the problematic stuff, replacing them with healthier alternatives.
This post will take you through five easy ways to make a healthier pizza.
1. Make Simple Crusts
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Crusts are the big bad of pizzas as they can carry huge amounts of calories. It won’t matter how healthy your toppings are if the crust has high calorie and sodium content.
If you prefer getting ready-made crusts, go for the simplest ones containing flour, salt, and yeast. Avoid crusts with additives, and if possible, get a thin crust. Remember, the thinner the bread, the lesser the calorie intake.
Also, consider the type of dough. We suggest Whole Wheat as it’s low in calories and rich in fiber.
However, you should probably make your own crust because then you get to control what goes in, and you can make the bread as simple as possible.
2. Limit the Cheese
Cheese makes a pizza what it is. It’s unlikely most people will do away with it because then you have a cheeseless pizza, which is healthier but doesn’t taste like pizza anymore.
Use your favorite cheese but limit the amount. You’ll still have a good and tasty pie but without a whole lot of saturated fats.
The best and healthiest cheese is Mozzarella. It melts well and has low sodium and calorie content compared to the rest.
Additionally, try to avoid the unhealthy tradition of blending Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Parmesan. Sure, it makes the pizza tastier but less healthy.
3. Use Lots of Veggies
Vegetables are at the core of healthy eating. So when making your pizza, be as generous as possible with the greens. Besides, lots of veggies won’t make the pizza any less delicious.
Think about it, a single slice of pizza with a thin crust and heaps of veggies has all of your dietary needs and the right proportions. You have high vitamin and mineral content from veggies, carbs and fiber from the pie, a bit of fat and proteins from the cheese, and extra proteins from your choice of meat.
Try using different varieties of vegetables for increased benefits. Vegetables like cauliflower, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, and pepper will be an interesting combination for sure.
4. Use Lean Meats
Nowadays, pizzas tend to have too much protein. You want to cut that down by using lean meats like chicken, lean beef, and shrimp.
Keep in mind that cheese is rich in protein as well, so you can balance things by limiting the meat.
While Pepperoni, Salami, and Bacon are much loved, they are packed with saturated fats and sodium.
5. Make a Healthier Sauce
You don’t want to ruin your healthy pizza by pairing it with the sauce you bought at the store. Make your own sauce with natural ingredients minus the additives.
Healthy pizza sauces are easy to make. The only ingredients you really need are fresh tomato puree, onion and garlic powder, salt, and maple syrup.
By the way, if you’re a cannabis fan, a homemade sauce gives you the best opportunity to replace the olive oil with cannabis-infused oil. Check out this page for more ways of adding cannabis to your pizza.
Final Thoughts
As we mentioned earlier, what makes a pizza unhealthy is what you put into it. When you use healthier ingredients in proper quantities, you’ll find it easier to prepare nutritious pizzas.
