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Who doesn’t like pizza? Nearly every mouth waters at the thought of sweet tomato sauce, tangy toppers, and that rich golden-brown crust, baked to perfection. This combination food can be a healthy choice, filled with complex carbohydrates, B-vitamins, calcium, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin C. However it often ends up being an indulgent, high fat, calorie-packed nightmare. Whether you're starting from scratch, opening a convenient frozen creation, or placing an order at your favorite pizzeria, the following pizza pointers will surely come in handy. Consider the Crust Crust is the foundation of your pizza, so be creative and open your mind to new crust possibilities, such as lower calorie versions. Keep in mind that whole-grain breads or crusts add fiber and additional nutrients to your pizza as well.
Pizza sauce is loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid thought to protect against several cancers, heart disease, and possibly bone loss. Many tasty, low-sodium versions are now available. Load It Up Pile on the vegetable and fruit toppings—mushrooms, olives, green peppers, broccoli, onions, spinach, pineapple, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers—for less fat, less calories, more fiber and more vitamins A and C. If Meat is a Must… While pepperoni may be the favorite, opt for leaner meats such as ground turkey, extra lean ground beef, white meat chicken, lean ham, or Canadian bacon instead. Cooking meats first and draining the excess fat (grease) will save lots of fat and calories. Seafood lovers can try water-packed shrimp, tuna, or crab. But everyone should skip that pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and prosciutto. Say "Cheese…Just a Little, Please" Use part-skim mozzarella, part-skim ricotta, a little Parmesan, or reduced-fat varieties. When ordering, ask for light cheese, and when unpacking a frozen delight, brush off some of the excess cheese before baking. Don’t be afraid to blot off some of the grease with a napkin—you’ll save even more calories and fat, but retain taste and texture. Frozen Pizza Delights Over the years, frozen pizza has come a long way. Gone are the cardboard crusts, tasteless sauces, and skimpy toppings. However, today’s frozen pizza can tip the scales when it comes to calories, fat and sodium. To improve your odds, select a frozen pizza that is loaded with vegetables and follows these guidelines for each serving— be sure to look at the number of servings on the box. Even a small or personal size pizza can be 2 or more servings:
If you are looking for a quick way to pacify your pizza taste buds, then try the Spinach Feta Personal Pizza. This lickity-split pizza recipe is ready in 5 minutes or less! |
