5 Tips to Make Pizza Healthier

administrator — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:26:41 +0000

Since we basically had to get rid of the rest of the veggies in the fridge, I decided to make big salads for lunch and throw together whole wheat English muffin pizzas. I heart how quick and easy English muffin pizzas are. They are literally ready in minutes and come perfectly portioned! A bonus? Kids LOVE to help put them together. The more toppings to add the better! To ours I added diced green pepper, onions, and banana pepper! Then my salad consisted of green leaf lettuce, tomato, carrot, raisins, mozzarella, onion, and green pepper. Safe to say there are now no more veggies in the fridge and we are ready for a grocery shop!

English muffin pizzas are a great way to keep it healthy at home, but what about when you are out at a pizza joint? Eating pizza doesn’t have to be “off limits” when you are trying to lose weight but here are 5 tips to make that pizza healthier!

1. “Have it YOUR way.” As the famous Burger King commercial goes…have it your way! Customize your pizza and be in charge of the toppings. Avoid the heavy meats (sausage, pepperoni, ham) and opt for adding more vegetables. Instead of extra cheese, ask for more sauce and half the amount of cheese, you can always add a few sprinkles of Parmesan!

2. Take a trip to the salad bar. If you entertain your taste buds with a salad first, you are not only contributing to the “5-9 fruits and vegetables daily” recommendation, but you will also be curbing your hunger. By taking the edge off your hunger, you are more likely to eat only a slice or two.

3. Eat slowly. Use a fork and knife to cut your pizza and put utensils down between bites. Enjoy the conversation around you and don’t rush through the meal. The slower you eat, the more time your body will have to process that it’s full!

4. Ask for water. I know this might sound like a “given,” but if you order water or tea for your beverage, you will be saving yourself anywhere from 100-500 calories. I personally would rather EAT then DRINK my calories.

5. Thin Crust Pizza. I am not going to tell you to order thin crust pizza. In my personal opinion, pizza is not pizza without a substantial crust. I think most thin crust pizza tastes like cardboard. Pan or deep dish pizzas get a bad rap because they are baked in lots of excess oils and that can make each slice extra high in fat and calories. My suggestion is to order the regular or original crust and save the pan or deep dish pizzas for an occasional splurge. You could also ask the waitress how the pizza is prepared and see if they might be able to bake with less oil. . (It doesn’t hurt to ask!)

Enjoy Yourself. I’m not going to lie, pizza is one of my favorite foods. When I go out for pizza, I try not to think about the fat and calories. Life is too short. Even if you are trying to lose weight, just watch your portions, and savor every bite!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

administrator — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:57:14 +0000

It’s no secret that I can always go for a slice of pizza. I am definitely a crust girl, so thin, cardboard slices need NOT apply. I like a hearty crust. *sigh, goo-ga-ly eyes*

However, back in college, I discovered BBQ Chicken Pizza. I only needed to sample one slice and I was hooked. MMMmmmMMMMmm. In my opinion, this is probably the only kind of pizza that goes BEST with a thinner crust. So last night, I set out to make my own! And to add some nutritional value? How about a homemade whole wheat crust?

Both Brandon and I agreed that it was not the most flavorful crust. I really think incorporating a little honey to the mix could have added something extra. But it was the perfect thickness for a BBQ Chicken Pizza and for being whole wheat, it does the job! Very dense and hearty!

This was my first time ever making my own crust…it was kind of fun (although Brandon had to do all the kneading since my hands are malfunctioning). I’m not gonna lie though, we did have a spare pre-made crust in the fridge JUST in case. ha

But luckily we were both pleased with our efforts overall and Brandon rated it a 7 out of 10 (not bad). It made about 4 larger slices (I cut one slice in to TWO) and I brought the last large slice in for lunch today.

What is YOUR favorite kind of pizza?????????????

BBQ Chicken Pizza on Whole Wheat Crust

Makes 4 large slices or 8 small slices

~1 cup cubed grilled chicken breast
~2-3 T BBQ sauce
~1/2 cup Pizza Sauce
~3/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
~1/4 cup low-fat blue cheese
~1 T chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions:
Place BBQ sauce in a bowl, add chopped chicken, stir to coat, and let marinate for at least 10-20 minutes. After baking the whole wheat crust for ~10 minutes (see recipe below), spread pizza sauce evenly over crust, add mozzarella cheese, chicken, and blue cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for ~10 minutes. Remove from oven and slice. Sprinkle with fresh parsley, if desired.

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (Makes 2, 8-10″ crusts)
Again, forget where I got this recipe from!! I am awful!!

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 packet Baker’s dry active yeast
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup ground flax seed

Directions:
Mix flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a medium bowl, gradually add water. Knead with your hands until smooth and then add the olive oil and flax seed. Roll out on to lightly floured surface and knead for ~ 7 minutes.
Transfer dough into a new bowl coated with cooking spray, cover with saran wrap, and leave to rise in a warm spot ~2 hours ( I preheated my oven to 350, shut it off, and placed the bowl in the oven with the door slightly cracked). Punch down, and allow to rise another hour. (I found it does not rise that much). Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees F. before adding toppings.

Nutritional Profile (based on if one pizza was cut into 4 slices)
1 slice = 226 calories, 7.1 g Fat (3.2g sat, 1.4g poly, 2.0g mono), 31mg cholesterol, 505 mg sodium, 229 mg potassium, 25g carbohydrate, 4.1g Fiber, 17.0 g Protein
*High sodium

The Healthy Apron » pizza

5 Tips to Make Pizza Healthier

BBQ Chicken Pizza