Pizza is one food that I could never give up. Despite my dieting and efforts to limit carbohydrates, I indulge my craving for pizza once a week. However, I also found a few tricks to give pizza a makeover for a low calorie version to slim it down. If you thought reducing calories for a typical pizza was impossible, then you’ll be pleased to know there are ways to curb the amount of fat and carbs without sacrificing that delicious taste we all crave.
Unlike some people, I make my own homemade pizza dough. I found it easy and much cheaper than buying a frozen crust or box that you have to assemble with other ingredients anyway. Besides that, I have more control over the ingredients that I use such as a healthier oil or too much sodium, sugar and avoid the preservatives and other questionable ingredients.
Another advantage of making your own pizza dough is that you can roll it out as thin as you like for reducing calories in the pizza unlike buying a prepared crust. If that option doesn’t work for you, then cut the recipe in half.
You can also substitute some whole wheat flour, grind up some quick cooking oats to mix with the flour for a healthier pizza crust.
As to the toppings for a low calorie pizza, here are few different ideas that help. Instead of overloading with lots of mozzarella cheese, try using less and substitute more fresh vegetables. Onions, slices of red and green peppers, jalapeno peppers, fresh mushrooms are delicious ways to cut some calories.
Believe it or not, you can also use some cooked beans that you put in the food processor or blender along with just a bit of tomato sauce or pasta sauce to spread over the dough first before adding your cheese and toppings. You’ll pump up the protein content and treat the family to extra needed fiber.
Cooking your own homemade pizza sauce also helps you keep track of the sodium, sugar and other unhealthier ingredients you may want to avoid. Try browning an onion and garlic in olive oil before adding a can of tomato sauce, fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, and a tad of sugar, salt and pepper for a quick sauce to replace commercial pizza or pasta sauce.
You can also just take a teflon bristle bush to lubricate the finished pizza crust before spooning on some tomato slices or canned tomato pieces, fresh vegetables, pineapple slices, and just some grated cheese, only not as much.
My Bavarian pizza recipe is something you definitely need to experience. It has sauerkraut, caraway seeds, lots of onion, turkey sausage among the ingredients before finishing with the mozzarella cheese. Trust me, but the taste is awesome.
If fried pizza rolls are what you long for, I make a healthier substitute. Check out my recipe for pizza rolls.
Though I adore pepperoni, I only eat it occasionally. Unfortunately, pepperoni is loaded with saturated fat, calories, preservatives, sodium, and sugar. Nonetheless, if you miss that meat topping such as pepperoni or sausage, try a vegan or turkey sausage that can be sliced as a healthier, low calorie substitute.
A pizza makeover takes only a few simple changes, but it can keep you enjoying a healthier, low calorie pizza without depriving yourself while dieting.
