We all understand that if we deny ourselves the foods we enjoy, we will never consistently maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. For example, pizza is one of the most enjoyed dishes but is frequently associated with fast food alongside burgers and fries. However, it is possible to create a healthier pizza that tastes good!
There are a few tips and tricks or minor modifications to make your pizza slightly healthier. But, most significantly, they will not change the familiar and beloved doughy cheese flavor. In addition, consult your sports nutritionist for more healthy alternatives for your cravings.
Here are five modifications you can try to make your pizza guilt-free and delicious at the same time.
- Add lots of vegetables to your pizza for extra nutrients
Consider pizza a delicious way to get tons of vegetables. Incorporate most vegetables as they're full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You can enjoy adding all vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, artichokes, olives, and basil to the classic red sauce pizza. You get a meal packed with the nutrients your body needs to grow.
One example is mushrooms, which are an excellent source of vitamin B3. This multipurpose vitamin also supports the health of your nervous system, skin, and digestive system. At the same time, bell peppers offer vitamin and fiber that keeps your digestive system in good shape.
Therefore, for a satisfying and vitamin-rich pizza, add more vegetables.
- Add a whole-grain crust to it
Going for a wheat-based dough is a hack you can start with. You can get those extra fibers and protein in every delightful slice. When white flour is refined, the fibrous outer layer of the wheat is removed, leaving only the starch. This is easily converted to sugar by our bodies. Instead, if you use whole wheat flour – a complex grain – you receive all the nutrients, leaving you feeling satiated for longer. Avoid placing a stuffed crust order. A stuffed crust looks and tastes great, but it frequently contains cheese or butter, raising calorie and fat content.
- Go for a veggie-based crust
Vegetable crusts are another excellent choice. Even though a cauliflower crust differs from a standard one, the cheese and sauce are delivered just as effectively. Again, this swap is about finding a pleasant and satisfying method to balance your food choices and help you meet veggie targets, which most of us fall short of, not depriving yourself of your favorite meals or being restricted.
You can either go for the handmade crust or store-bought alternative pizza crusts and improve your intake of vegetables. Examples include cauliflower, broccoli, and beet. But, of course, that implies that you could, for variety's sake, have a slice of pizza with a vegetarian crust and a piece with a regular crust.
- Be careful of the cheese you select
Most pizza enthusiasts will tell you that a good pizza needs a lot of cheese. Nevertheless, it's crucial to choose your cheese wisely. You could use a blend of part-skim mozzarella, sharp provolone, and naturally lower-fat parmesan for amazing taste and fewer calories. You may be able to choose a half-portion if you can ask for an extra serving of cheese on your pizza. Excess saturated fat and calories would be saved in this way.
While cheese gives you protein and calcium, it also contains saturated fat; therefore, be careful of the quantity of the cheese on your pizza.
- Select leaner meats
There is no need to sacrifice the meat on your pizza. Instead, substitute thinly sliced, leaner slices of salami, turkey bacon, chicken breast, seafood, extra-lean beef, and chicken sausage for fatty meats like pepperoni and pork sausage. The idea is to avoid any sort of fatty meats. Your pizza already has protein from the cheese, but many people also top their pizzas with other protein sources, so be selective about what you choose to do.
Last but not least, try topping your pizza with different greens. You can get an extra nutrient boost from spinach, chard, kale or arugula.
If you’re one of these watchful eaters with immense knowledge, you could now help several others maintain their lifestyles by getting certified. There are many different options in terms of nutrition and fitness courses offered by the American Sports & Fitness Association.
