How To Make Homemade Pizza Healthier

Although many Americans love pizza, some stay away from it because they are afraid of all the calories and fat content. However, if you cook your pizza at home and choose healthier ingredients, pizza doesn’t have to ruin your diet. Here are some helpful tips on making a homemade pizza healthier:

Don’t use as much cheese
There’s no argument that cheese makes the pizza, but using too much can pack on the calories. Women’s Health suggested to reduce the amount of cheese you use.

“Even reducing 25 percent of the cheese will really lower the calories and fat in each slice, but it’s a small enough cut that you’ll barely even notice a taste difference,” Miyahara said.

Add healthy toppings
If you want your pizza to be healthier, it’s important to include healthier toppings on it. Instead of throwing sausage or pepperoni on your pizza, try more nutritious toppings like broccoli or spinach. If you are craving protein, ham is a great option. According to AskMen, ham not only has fewer calories than ground beef, bacon and sausage – it also has more protein.

Choose the right sauce
There can be a lot of calories in sauce, so it’s important to pick the right one. Molly Kimball, registered dietician, told NOLA.com red sauce usually packs the least amount of calories. She suggested to look for sauces made without added sugars or salt.

“Other better-for-you sauces include low-sugar barbecue sauce or pesto, or keep it simple with just a brush of extra-virgin olive oil,” Kimball added.

Keep it thin
You should forget about stuffed crust or deep dish if you are trying to keep your pizza healthy. No matter what kind of pizza you decide to cook, make one with a cracker-thin crust. You can still get the same yummy taste of a traditional pizza without the extra calories of a thick crust.

Skip the dough
It might sound peculiar at first, but consider forgoing the dough all together. Instead of using a crust that’s full of carbohydrates, Brooke Alpert, R.D., nutrition expert and author of “The Sugar Detox: Lose Weight, Feel Great and Look Years Younger” recommended in Rodale Inc. to substitute a crust with eggplant slices or Portobello mushrooms. She said these options reduce calories while adding antioxidants and fiber.