I love pizza, especially homemade pizza. I would eat it everyday if I could. I’d probably even eat frozen pizza if I didn’t have the choice.
Tonight for dinner, my husband and I are making a homemade Hawaiian pizza with sliced ham and pineapple. For me, it’s worth the time and energy to make a pizza at home instead of ordering out or popping a frozen one in the microwave. I love the experience of selecting the toppings, layering the ingredients, and seeing, smelling, and tasting my pizza masterpiece. Plus, when I make my own pizza, I can choose the most nutritious ingredients, like fresh Lisanatti mozzarella (NuVal score: 76), bell peppers (NuVal score: 94), and broccoli florets (NuVal score: 100).
Even though pizza sometimes gets a bad rap, it can be a delicious and nutritious meal. Here’s how I increase the nutritional profile of my pizza:
I choose a whole wheat crust
A whole wheat pizza crust is nutritionally “superior” to one made with refined white flour. Whole grains are less processed, which means that they retain more of their nutrition value. Plus, whole grains have more fiber, which keeps me feeling full longer. Pre-made whole wheat pizza dough is widely available in supermarkets, but it’s also easy to make at home by simply substituting whole wheat flour for part (or all) of the white flour in a pizza crust recipe.
I try unconventional cheeses and blot if needed
Not all cheeses are created equally, so selection is important when it comes to nutrition. It’s easy to reduce saturated fat by substituting low-fat mozzarella for regular, but sometimes I miss the strong flavor. Feta and goat cheese, for instance, are not only less oily (and fattening) than mozzarella, but they taste just as good. I think they taste even better!
When dining out, I make sure to order my pizza with “light cheese” to reduce extra calories and fat. Using a napkin to soak-up the oil also cuts down on this excess. Of course, it’s not the prettiest way to start a meal, but blotting-off the grease helps make my pizza a little bit healthier.
I experiment with interesting flavors
Toppings make or break my pizza! Piling on fresh veggie adds extra nutrients, filing fiber, and interesting flavors. For instance, substituting fresh tomatoes for store-bought sauce reduces sodium content while packing my piece of pie with lots of nutrients. Experimenting with fresh herbs, like basil and oregano, and even fruit, like pineapple, figs, and apples, up the flavor factor of my pizza while adding nutritional value.
How do you increase the nutritional profile of your pizza?
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I definitely use a whole wheat crust, as well as veggies and 2% mozzarella with a little feta on top. Yum!
I could eat pizza everyday too! It’s the greatest!
I looove pizza, I just can’t turn it down. When I make it at home I use WW flour and add flax seed for some added fiber. I also ‘fancy shred’ my cheese using the smallest size cheese grater, it makes a little cheese go a long way!
This is the healthiest way to eat pizza! I use this fabulous olive oil whole wheat crust recipe and it’s amazing everytime!
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2009/05/easy_olive_oil_tart_crust.php
I also add lots of veggies to the pizza and sometimes use shredded gruyere instead of mozzarella!
I share your love of pizza! I love seeing how all the foods score when reading your blog, especially the surprising ones!
i used a pita the other day for a crust and today i tried using a whole wheat wrap, it cooked up crispy and very fast…i enjoyed them both. my kids like having their “own” pizzas to make as well and the pita’s are sturdy enough for that
My husband (who hails from New Jersey, where I guess the pizza is a little greasy) is a big-time blotter. Since having kids, we’ve gotten a little lazy and always order our pizza out. Reading your post today is inspiring me to go back to making our own, just as we did BC (Before Children).
I also love pizza! I was that girl in college who could eat the majority of a greasy cheese pizza by myself! But, times have changed and I am all about eating healthy. My favorite wedding gift was our pizza stone. I love to make my own whole wheat honey crust, or buy the trader joes whole wheat crust. Then top it with homemade sauce, tons of veggies and a little feta and mozzarella cheese. I love that bell peppers get such a high NuVal score!!
Even if I’m eating premade pizza I add extra veggies. And my favorite toppings are feta, roasted red pepper, and aspargus.
I’m addicted to Hawaiian pizza as well as BBQ chicken pizza! I always pile on the red onions when I make my own pizza.
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