Enjoying Pizza While Keeping Calories Low
Pizza is a beloved food for good reason - it tastes amazing. The combination of cheesy, saucy, doughy goodness is hard to resist. However, with its high calories, fat and carbs, pizza has often been seen as an unhealthy junk food. But it doesn't have to be! With some simple tricks and swaps, you can still enjoy delicious pizza while keeping calories under control.
Use Thin Crust Dough
One of the easiest ways to cut calories in your pizza is to opt for a thin, crispy crust instead of a thick, doughy one. Thin crust has fewer calories and carbs since less dough is used. A thin whole wheat crust makes your pizza even healthier. Or try making the crust out of cauliflower or butternut squash for an ultra low-carb pizza base.
Load Up On Veggies
Piling your pizza high with healthy vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, artichokes and tomatoes is an effective way to add nutrients, fiber and bulk while avoiding high-calorie meats and excess cheese. Going light on the cheese and heavy on the veggies cuts the calories significantly.
Use Chicken or Shrimp Instead of Sausage
Sausage, pepperoni, bacon and other fatty meats taste great on pizza, but they can also add a tremendous number of calories. Swapping in some grilled chicken breast, shrimp or Canadian baconrather than high-fat meats keeps the flavor while providing plenty of protein with a fraction of the calories and fat.
Choose Lower-Fat Cheese
Oozing, melted cheese is many people's favorite part of pizza. But traditional cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar, while delicious, pack a lot of calories and saturated fat. Opting for reduced-fat cheese varieties lets you still get that satisfying cheesy experience without all the extra calories. Part-skim mozzarella or a cheese alternative are great options.
Add Some Protein
Adding some extra protein to your low-calorie pizza helps fill you up. It also balances out blood sugar response compared to pizza loaded with simple carbs. Sprinkle on some grilled chicken, shrimp, tuna, turkey pepperoni or even beans for a nutritious protein punch that keeps you feeling satisfied.
Dip Crust in Marinara
If giving up the buttery garlic dipping sauce feels too hard, create a lighter alternative by dipping your crust in some plain marinara sauce instead. Much lower in fat and calories than buttery dipping oils, marinara gives you that rich, tomatoey flavor without the excess calories.
Make Individual Pizzas
Make your pizzas small by opting for individual sized pizzas instead of large ones to share family-style. Individual pizzas allow proper portion control, so you don't overeat. Mini pizzas on pita bread or English muffins are also a clever way to keep portions in check.
Easy On the Oil
Oiling the pizza pan lightly rather than heavily before baking can trim away excess calories and fat. Voluminous toppings also help limit the amount of oil that soaks into the crust. Brush crust lightly with olive oil after baking instead of before for maximum flavor without excess grease.
Stick to One or Two Slices
This might seem obvious, but sticking to just one or two slices of pizza makes a big difference calorie-wise compared to polishing off half a pizza by yourself. Load up your slices with veggies to make them more filling and resist going back for slice after slice out of habit rather than actual hunger.
The Takeaway
You can still enjoy satisfying pizza without sabotaging your healthy eating goals. With some easy pizza tweaks like using vegetable toppings, thin crust and reduced-fat cheese, you can craft pizzas that clock in at well under 500-600 calories per slice. So go ahead and scratch that pizza itch the healthy way!
FAQs
How many calories are in a slice of low calorie pizza?
A slice of low calorie pizza made with thin crust, lots of veggies and reduced-fat cheese typically contains around 400-500 calories per slice.
What are some low calorie pizza toppings?
Great low calorie pizza toppings include vegetables like mushrooms, onions, spinach, tomatoes, artichokes, bell peppers as well as lean proteins like grilled chicken, Canadian bacon or shrimp.
Can you make low carb pizza crust?
Yes, there are many options for low carb pizza crust made cauliflower, almond flour, butternut squash or thin whole wheat crust. These cuts carbs and calories compared to regular crust.
Is frozen pizza low calorie?
Some frozen pizzas can be low calorie, especially thin crust vegetable pizzas. But beware of fatty meats, thick crusts and creamy sauces which can add excess calories to frozen pizzas.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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