Since it's rare to find the words "pepperoni pizza" and "healthy" in the same sentence, you may get the idea they are mutually exclusive. However, that certainly is not the case. With a few substitutions and whole, natural ingredients, you can make a pepperoni pizza low in fat and calories without skimping on nutrition.
Toppings
Since pepperoni itself tends to be high in fat and calories, one way to improve the nutritional profile of your pizza is to use less meat. Distribute just a few pieces of pepperoni throughout the pizza, and use other low-calorie toppings such as bell peppers, zucchini and mushrooms to fill in any gaps. The cheese you use makes a difference as well. Sprinkling on a moderate amount of low-fat, part-skim mozzarella instead of full-fat mozzarella can save hundreds of calories and also several grams of fat. Finally, consider using fresh tomatoes or a homemade pizza sauce instead of a canned variety, which is likely to have more fat and sodium.
Crust
A pizza crust made with refined white flour is not completely devoid of nutrients, but it's not as likely to fill you up and keep you full as a crust with whole-wheat flour, which contains more fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates with about the same number of calories. Food Network personality Wolfgang Puck suggests making a 100 percent whole-wheat crust with one packet of active dry yeast, ¼-cup warm water, 1 tbsp. honey, 3 ¾-cups whole-wheat flour, 1 cup cool water, 1 tbsp. olive oil and a pinch of salt. Dissolve the yeast into the warm water first and stir in the honey. Let the mixture sit for about five minutes. Next, mix the flour with the cool water, olive oil and salt. Add the yeast mixture. Knead with your hands, a stand mixer or a bread machine for about 10 minutes. The recipe makes four 7-inch pizzas.
Recipe
Whether you use store-bought pizza crust or make your own, it matters how you put together your pie. "Cooking Light" magazine suggests combining an 8-oz. can of salt-free tomato sauce with two minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp. oregano, ¼-tsp. salt and a dash of crushed red pepper. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for about 20 minutes. Roll out your pizza dough and spread it evenly with the sauce. Top with about 16 slices of turkey pepperoni, which is lower in fat than the traditional variety. Finish by adding 1 1/2 cups low-fat mozzarella and 2 tbsp. Parmesan. Bake the pizza at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes. The pie serves six, and each slice has about 235 calories and 6 g fat.
Considerations
It is not tough to further cut fat and calories from your pizza. Simply cut the finished pie into smaller slices and eat a single slice with a lower-calorie portion of the meal, such as a salad, some sautéed vegetables or fresh fruit. If you're shopping around for a commercial variety instead of making your own, always check nutrition facts and ingredient labels before buying.
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