When I think of healthy foods, pizza isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. However, when I’m planning a menu and ask my kids what they’d like for me to put on it, pizza is pretty much always the first thing that comes to their minds!
Thankfully, there are little things that we can do to prepare flavorful, nutrient-packed pizza that is lower in saturated fat, calories, and sodium than traditional pizza. Here are 6 simple ways to make pizza healthier.
Ways to make healthy pizza
Change the crust
Many of the calories in pizza are contained in the crust. However, beyond simple carbohydrates, the crust often contains few nutrients. This doesn’t have to be the case! Here are some healthier crust options:
- Thin crusts. Thin pizza crusts typically contain about half the calories of their thick counterparts.
- Whole-grain crusts. Whole-grain pizza crusts contain more protein, fiber, and vitamins than their traditional counterparts.
- Cauliflower crusts. Cauliflower pizza crusts can be higher in nutrients and much lower in calories than their traditional counterparts.
Experiment with cheeses
Some cheeses contain less fat than others. Using these cheeses, namely part-skim mozzarella, parmesan, and provolone, means the pizza will contain less fat and fewer calories. Moreover, using a creative mix of cheeses sometimes adds a complex flavor that allows you to use less cheese overall.
Pile on the veggies
In my house, we often opt for pepperoni pizza, which means we are missing out on the opportunity to load our pizzas with nutrients and flavor. There are so many delicious veggies we can put on pizza that boost its nutritional content. Commonly used veggies include roasted garlic, bell pepper, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, sliced Roma tomato, mushrooms, spinach, and olives. Less commonly used veggies that are worth a try include artichoke hearts, broccoli, zucchini, jalapenos, and chives. If your family is somewhat averse to veggies like mine, then consider cutting the veggies into tiny pieces before putting them on the pizza. It’s a lot easier to get them in my kids (and my husband) when I do this!
Be mindful of meats
The meats commonly used on pizza, including pepperoni, Italian sausage, and bacon, aren’t particularly healthy. These tend to be laden with nitrates and high in both sodium and saturated fat. We can swap these out for healthier options including chicken, turkey bacon, chicken sausage, and thin slices of lean salami.
Practice portion control
One reason pizza is so unhealthy for many of us is that we eat so much of it! We don’t eat one or two slices; we eat three or four! This means the calories really add up, even if the pizza is made with a nutritious crust and topped with lots of veggies. If we limit ourselves to one or two slices, we’ll consume a more reasonable amount of calories and saturated fat. One strategy that can help with portion control is to slow down and really savor the flavor of the pizza while eating. Another strategy is to serve the pizza alongside a healthy side dish.
Serve alongside salad or veggie sticks
Many tend to view pizza as being an entire meal by itself. However, it is healthier to pair it with a nutritious, veggie-rich side. Doing so makes it much easier to practice the portion control described above. Additionally, it makes sure we get extra nutrients. Salad is a great option, as are veggie sticks served with a yogurt-based ranch dip (you can see a recipe for my favorite homemade ranch dip here).
Final thoughts
Pizza is absolutely delicious, so I’m grateful there are ways to also make it nutritious. I already serve it alongside salad or another veggie, but I’m going to try some of these other strategies including changing the crust and topping it with more veggies.
For additional ideas, check out my sources:
- Is Pizza Healthy? Nutrition Tips for Pizza Lovers
- 10 Ways to Make a Healthier Pizza
- 8 Easy Ways to Make Pizza Night Healthier
Does your family like pizza? If so, what things do you do to make it healthier? What are your favorite flavors?
Found your post on the Encouraging Hearts link up. Making homemade pizza tonight. Need to pile on the veggies and go lighter on the cheese and meat. Maybe if I cover the veggies with some pepperoni, my Prince C. won’t notice!! Thanks for the great tips.
I think if the veggies were cut into tiny pieces, then covering them with pepperoni might work. I’ll probably give this a try! 🙂
We switched to the cauliflower crust and we really like it. We’ve also taken to sauteing the veggies ahead of time adding the garlic, green onions, and even some ginger at the end to add to the health benefits.
The crust we get is smaller so its perfect to cut into 4 pieces and I find I’m fuller longer than I am with traditional pizza.
Adding a little ginger sounds interesting! I like the idea of sauteing the veggies so they are nice and soft (otherwise they stay kind of crisp and that is not my preference).
Thanks for the suggestions!
Yep! I’ve started making either Skinnybiz crust or using the Weight Watchers 2 ingredient dough for making pizza crusts and we really pile on the veggies. I also mix part skim mozzarella with fat free shredded cheese for a lighter fat cheese option and always serve our mini individual pizzas with a large salad. Thanks for sharing these great tips with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.
It sounds like you’ve perfected your approach, Joanne! Hopefully I can get my kids on board so this will work for us, too.