Healthy Makeover: Pizza
Should we really feel guilty about enjoying a slice or three of pizza? We all need carbs, and cheese is a great source of calcium. Plus all that tomato sauce, onione and pineapple has to be good for us....right? Sadly with around 1000 calories and 20 grams of sugar in most ready-made pizzas, it's not a particularly healthy choice. Add your chilli beef, pepperoni and salami, the situation only gets worse!
Luckily, pizza is one of the easiest foods we can make at home ourselves. Do yourself (and your waistline) a favour by giving this Saturday night classic a healthy makeover.
The Crust
Use whole wheat flour instead of refined white flour to make a fibre-rich crust. It tastes just as good (provided you don't make it too thick), and is infinitely more satisfying knowing you’re taking in added nutrients with every slice. Alternatively, go gluten free and make a cauliflower base. Pulse raw cauliflower and a clove of garlic in the food processory, and add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Press down into a baking tray, bake at 180 for fifteen minutes, then add your chosen (healthy!) toppings.
The Sauce
Jarred tomato sauces are usually packed with sugar and salt, and rarely tastes as good as a simple sauce made with onion, garlic and passata. So make your own instead! Making your own is cheaper and tastier too. You could even try using different sauces such as homemade barbecue sauce or a pesto base - both can be made quickly with fresh ingredients. Add a splash of garlic or chilli oil from the cupboard to liven things up!
The Toppings
We all love pizza loaded with cheese. But most of us are guilty of going over the top. Try halving the amount of cheese you'd normally use on your pizza - you'll enjoy it just as much. Avoid processed meats such as pepperoni, sausage, bacon or poor-quality chicken. Instead, load-up with healthy vegetables such as tomatoes, olives, onion and spinach. Anchovies are a good choice because they're rich in healthy oils, just don't over-do it, as they're pretty high in salt.
The Extras
Stay clear of deep fried chips and onion rings. Deep fried anything is pretty much a recipe for disaster when it comes to healthy eating! Swap chips for a vibrant salad - cover your pizza in rocket or have a side salad full of bright veggies. Ditch the mayonnaise and creamy salad dressings in favour of olive oil and vinegar.
See, pizza can be healthy after all! Do you have any healthy makover tips to share? Let us know, by leaving a comment below!
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