1. Start with a Healthy, Wholesome Crust
Make your healthy pizza on a whole-wheat crust. Whole-wheat versions have more nutrients and a nutty taste that livens up your regular pizza crust. Look for a special whole-wheat crust recipe, or just substitute whole-grain flour for white flour in a regular recipe. Ready-to-use crusts also come in a variety of options. Choose a thin, whole-wheat or low-fat crust if one is available. Also, try making mini pizzas on reduced-fat English muffins or whole-grain pita bread.
2. Change the Cheese to Low-Fat
The best way to make your pizza lower in fat is to skip the cheese altogether. Load up the tomato sauce and place your other toppings right on top of that. If you're like most people, though, a pizza isn't a pizza without cheese. In this case, choose a part-skim mozzarella instead of a full-fat version of the same cheese. Fat-free cheese is available, but doesn't always melt as well as a high-fat cheese and has a different taste and texture. Part-skim mozzarella, however, melts well and makes a great cheese pizza. Use just enough to cover the sauce, or try sprinkling a little bit on the top of your pizza instead of an entire layer over the crust.
3. Load it Up and Make it Tasty
Load your pizza up with all sorts of veggies. Use fresh vegetables whenever possible to avoid the extra sodium found in many canned foods. Onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes are some traditional pizza toppings. Branch out a little and toss some spinach, shredded carrots or zucchini on top of your pizza. Season your pizza with some bold fat-free flavors like garlic, dried pepper flakes, fresh grated ginger or spices like oregano, thyme, cilantro and parsley. Finally, use olives if you love them but in moderation, since they are high in fat. Also beware of artichoke hearts packed in oil.
4. Protein for Your Healthy Pizza
If you want to keep your pizza low in fat and still have meat on it, you have some delicious options. Chicken breast goes well with almost any topping. Purchase pre-cooked strips from the refrigerated section of your grocery store to cut down on your pizza prep time. Otherwise, use cooked pieces of chicken as a topping on your pizza. Cooked shrimp is another possible topping that is very low in fat and high in protein. You can even find low-fat pepperoni, salami and Canadian bacon to put onto your pizza.
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