Make Your Pizza Healthier With These Easy Nutrition Hacks

Boost the Nutrition in Your Pizza Without Sacrificing the Flavor

Pizza is a favorite food for many, but often gets a bad rap as being high in calories, fat, and sodium. However, you can still enjoy delicious pizza while boosting its nutritional value. With a few simple substitutions and tweaks, it's easy to make pizza a healthier and more well-rounded meal.

Use Whole Grain Crust

Swap out white crust for a whole wheat or multigrain crust. This adds fiber, nutrients, and protein. Look for crusts made with 100% whole wheat or try a veggie-based crust made with cauliflower or spinach. You can even make your own healthy crust from scratch.

Load Up on Veggies

Pile those pies high with nutrient-packed veggies like spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini. Roast or saute them first to boost flavor. Going light on cheese means you can add more vegetables.

Explore Healthier Proteins

Skip the sausage and pepperoni which are high in fat and sodium. Get your protein from roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, or Canadian bacon. Beans, lentils and tofu are also great meatless protein options. Try spicy turkey sausage as an alternative.

Use Quality Cheese in Moderation

A little bit of cheese goes a long way, so use high-quality, low-moisture mozzarella. Part-skim milk or soy cheese are lower in fat and calories. Sprinkle on just enough to flavor the pizza without smothering it.

Add Nutrition With Unique Toppings

Beyond classic pizza toppings, think outside the box to pack extra nutrition into your pies.

Power Up With Fruit

Fresh or grilled fruits like pineapple, apples, pears, peaches, and figs make delightful toppings. They add fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and sweetness. Dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, and apricots also pair well with pizza.

Get Creative With Greens

Nutrient-rich greens are great on pizza. Arugula, spinach, kale, basil, and cilantro add fresh flavor. Swap out red sauce for pesto or white sauce for a change. Add a boost with hummus, avocado or lemon ricotta.

Sprinkle On Seeds and Nuts

Top with nuts like walnuts, pecans or pistachios which contain healthy fats and protein. Chia, flax and sesame seeds amp up fiber, vitamins and minerals. Nutritional yeast is a dairy-free, cheese-like topping.

Use Sauce Strategically

Make your sauce healthier with pureed veggies like carrots, beets or zucchini. Opt for olive oil instead of butter. Add herbs, garlic and spices. Choose low-sodium marinara and limit the amount. Avoid cream-based sauces.

Alternative Cooking Methods for Healthy Pizza

How you cook your pizza can also impact its nutrition profile. Consider these creative cooking methods.

Grill It

Grilling pizza infuses delicious smoky flavor. The perforated grates allow excess fat and grease to drip away. Use a pizza stone on the grill for crispy crust.

Try Cauliflower Crust

For a low-carb, gluten-free option, use cauliflower to create a veggie-based crust. Cauliflower is packed with nutrients like vitamin C and fiber. Combine riced cauliflower with egg and cheese to form a crust.

Make Pizza Quiche

For a protein-packed breakfast, bake your pizza toppings into a crustless quiche or frittata. Eggs provide vitamin D, selenium, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Use Portobello Mushroom Caps

Load your favorite toppings onto meaty portobello mushroom caps in place of dough. Mushrooms offer nutrients like potassium, selenium and B vitamins.

Opt for Individual Pizzas

Make personal sized pizzas on bagels, English muffins or pitas for portion control. Use lots of veggie toppings and just a sprinkle of cheese.

Strategies for Healthier Pizza Dining Out

With a few smart moves, you can enjoy healthy pizza even when eating out at a restaurant or getting delivery.

Ask About Whole Grain Crusts

Many pizzerias now offer multigrain or cauliflower crusts. Ask if whole wheat dough is available. Load up on veggie toppings and add lean proteins.

Go For Deep Dish

Deep dish and pan crusts are thicker and sturdier so you can pile on cheese and toppings without overdoing carbs. Opt for thin, crisp crusts to save calories.

Share a Pizza

Resist the urge to eat a whole pie yourself. Split one with a friend and add a side salad to fill up on veggies. Take leftovers home.

Select Chain Restaurants Carefully

Some chains like California Pizza Kitchen offer healthier pizzas with whole grain crusts, veggie toppings and lighter cheese options.

Ask About Nutrition Info

Find out the calorie, fat and sodium content of menu items. Many restaurants now post this online or will provide it on request.

Clever Leftover Pizza Hacks

Leftover pizza makes a delicious and fast meal, but it helps to get creative so it feels fresh. Here are ideas for reinventing leftover pizza.

Pizza Omelet

Chop up leftover pizza and combine with beaten eggs for a tasty pizza omelet. You can also use leftover pizza toppings to customize your omelet.

Pizza Pasta Bake

Break pizza into bite-sized pieces and toss with cooked pasta and tomato sauce, then sprinkle with cheese and bake until hot and bubbly.

Pizza Quesadilla

Sandwich cheese and reheated pizza slices between two tortillas. Cook in a skillet until the tortillas are crispy and cheese melts.

Pizza Soup

Simmer chopped pizza crusts and toppings in broth with tomatoes, beans and spices for a hearty pizza-flavored soup.

Breakfast Pizza

Top leftover crusts with scrambled eggs, sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms and cheese for a protein-packed breakfast treat.

With plenty of vegetables, fiber-rich crust, alternative toppings and creative recipes, you really can have healthy pizza that still satisfies your cravings. The key is making smart substitutions without compromising on delicious flavors.

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.