Question:
Is there a restaurant that makes a healthy pizza or are you talking about making it yourself? Most people don’t want to take the time to make dough and all the rest when they want a pizza. I have seen some frozen thin vegetable pizzas but they are frozen??
Answer:
Stephanie – thank you for your question.
I am not aware of any particular restaurant that makes a “healthy” pizza in particular, but that doesn’t mean none do!
The trick is to simply follow my guidelines when you are ordering, and then virtually any pizza can be healthy! Remember to look for toppings like grilled meats and fresh veggies, and ask for a ½ serving or a reduced amount of cheese. If you have a choice of crust, go with the thinner version and stay away from the deli meats. As with all foods, watch the portion sizes and perhaps accompany your steamy slice with a nice fresh salad and some fresh garlic, oregano and olive oil for dressing (that will help fill you up).
If you’d like to give your own culinary skills a whirl, the sky’s the limit! I’m sure you could make your own dough, but frankly I haven’t found that to be necessary.
Experiment with different store-bought pizza crusts that you’ll find in the freezer section.
Look for 100% whole grain crust and read the ingredients for any additional sugars,
chemicals or extra fillers. Stick with the basics. Amy’s (name being just a coincidence) is one of my favorite brands of frozen pizzas and all frozen foods. Yet my absolute favorite is Nature’s Highlights Brown Rice Pizza Crust made with whole grain rice. However be forewarned, rice crust is a very different consistency than the traditional doughy, white crust, but I love how crispy it bakes up and I don’t feel sluggish and stuffed after I eat it.
When I make my own pizza I also PILE on the vegetables and use two different types of cheeses so I can enhance the flavor while controlling the calories and fat. I like organic parmesan and part-skim, organic mozzarella.
The beauty of making your own food is you can control the quality, calories and the portions, and it’s easier than you’d think. Also, it’s really fun to get the kids involved. As with all cooking it’s a blend of science and art and you’ll find your own favorites and short-cuts with a little practice.
So whether ordering out or making it yourself, just be sure to follow my Healthy Pizza guidelines and you can customize your little slice of yumminess to your own tastes and weight-control needs.
Happy eating!
