Whether it’s a birthday party or a late night gathering, pizza is an easy food to serve and share.
However, it is not often considered healthy and is more likely to be compared to a burger and fries than a salad.
But health experts say it’s possible to make pizza nutritious too.
amy kimberlainA registered dietitian said. daily health Composed of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, pizza contains “all the ingredients found in a normal meal” and can provide energy and flavor.
Here’s how to make your next pizza healthier.
Let’s make it at home
“When you make (pizza) at home, you have control over how it ends up,” Kimberlein said. daily health.
dana angelo whiteA registered dietitian dietitian also agreed with this statement. food network: “With homemade pizza, you can control the quality, but what’s more important is the quantity of ingredients. Pizza is also the ultimate opportunity to reduce food waste. All you have to do is rummage through your fridge on Friday and make your own choice.” You can choose.”
be careful with the crust
Avoid choosing high-carb, high-sodium crusts and choose lower-carb or higher-fiber options instead.
cleveland clinic We have listed some healthy options.
- cauliflower skin.
- Spelled flour crust.
- Whole wheat pita.
Similarly, very well fit We recommend choosing whole wheat or sourdough dough. The whole grain crust provides extra fiber and helps keep you fuller longer. Sourdough crust, on the other hand, promotes healthy gut bacteria through the fermentation process.
Please select the appropriate source
cleveland clinic We recommend using olive oil, pesto, sofrito sauce, or tomato sauce and avoiding barbecue sauce as it may have added sugar and sodium.
“Traditional red sauce provides vitamins A and C along with the antioxidant lycopene,” Kimberlein said. daily health. Lycopene has been linked to reduced risk of stroke and certain cancers.
Pesto is also beneficial. Because it’s made with pine nuts, it may help lower levels of bad or LDL cholesterol. daily health.
cheese
Kimballen said: daily health The cheese “provides protein and calcium” but urged pizza lovers to be careful about how much they use “as it also contains saturated fat”.
Aside from mozzarella cheese – which may be lower in fat and calories – Today’s medical news states that feta and ricotta are healthy cheese choices.
- Feta cheese: In addition to being low in calories, feta cheese contains high amounts of phosphorus, which is important for bone health as well as calcium.
- Ricotta cheese: Ricotta cheese is made with whey protein, which helps reduce LDL cholesterol.
Enjoy colorful toppings
Vegetables can increase the nutritional value of pizza. For example, leafy greens like spinach and kale can help you get vitamins A, C, K, potassium, and fiber. cleveland clinic.
“Heaping on the vegetable toppings or serving it with a salad makes for an incredibly balanced pizza,” says Angelo White. food network.
Regarding meat, very well fit Especially if you are watching your cholesterol levels, it is better to choose lean meat options, such as chicken, shrimp, or even tofu.
Julia Zumpano, preventive cardiology nutritionist, said: cleveland clinic“The best way to increase the nutritional value of pizza is to remove processed meats that are high in calories and unhealthy fats.”
