Who doesn’t love pizza? This quintessentially Italian-American dish has become world-renowned because of how simple and delicious it is–but it is also famously unhealthy. If you’re trying to figure out how to make it yourself, you might want to keep some of these little tricks in mind to make it healthier.
Use Lean Meats
Meat is one of the most popular toppings for pizza. Traditionally, you can find just about everything on a typical pizza slice–ham, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, and much more. The key is knowing which kinds of meat contain less gratuitous fat and sodium. Beef can indeed be lean meat, although it’s best to avoid sausage. Avoid bacon and pork. Chicken and other white meat are delicious and relatively healthy options to consider. If you want something more traditional (like pepperoni), fear not! Grocery stores should have low-sodium and low-fat alternatives.
Add Vegetables
Vegetables are not only a classic topping for pizza, but they also happen to be almost universally healthy! A lot of vegetables pack a ton of great nutrients. Some of the most widely used include mushrooms, onions, peppers, olives, tomatoes, artichokes, and so on. There are also leafy green options like basil and spinach. Leafy greens are among some of the best foods for your teeth as well. The different flavors and textures that vegetables bring mean that you can experiment with different kinds of fun combinations. For example, you could make a greek-inspired pizza with olives, artichokes, tomatoes, onions, and feta cheese–just to name a few possibilities.
Make a Whole-Wheat Dough
Good dough can make or break your pizza. Homemade recipes tend to be far better than frozen or chain restaurant alternatives. The key here is to understand where and how to make your dough healthier through simple but effective means. One of the first things you can do is replace your white flour with whole-wheat flour. This contains a lot more nutrients than the white version. You also can make sure that you use the correct amount of olive oil, which is a relatively healthy oil that can improve your cardiovascular health. Make sure you get advice from more experienced pizza-makers so you know what to do!
Trying to eat healthier doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your meals anymore. There are healthy alternatives that are delicious to all of your go-to treats. While it might take some time and effort to make them, you’ll undoubtedly be happy with the result.
Check out this article on how to feel better about the food you eat!