Healthy Pizza Swaps!

Healthy Pizza Swaps!

Did you know that 94% of Americans report eating pizza regularly? Or that the 350 slices of pizza are eaten every second in the US? Pizza can be a great meal to get many of the nutrients that your body needs, but the abuse of pizza has lead to many unhealthy, processed, fast food, and frozen options. Swap your regular pizza routine for a healthy homemade variety to save money, cut down on calories, and sneak more nutrients into your diet!

Swap store bought for homemade pizza this week, and reap these benefits: 

• Less sugar in the crust: Processed varieties of pizza can contain 5-10 grams of sugar per slice. Make your own traditional crust or opt for an alternative crust made from cauliflower, sweet potatoes, or quinoa.
• Gluten Free Options: Traditional pizza crusts are made with white or wheat flour, creating problems for those with gluten intolerance. Click here for a gluten free crust recipe.
• Cut down on trans fats: The FDA classifies trans fats as a “threat to public health”, reporting that they contribute to 20,000 heart attacks each year. Frozen pizzas, in particular, are especially high in these fats; be sure to read the labels of your favorite frozen pizzas or make your own pizza to cut down on trans fats.
• Protein boost: While the cheese on pizza does supply a complete protein, you can boost your protein intake from pizza by making a quinoa-based pizza crust, or by topping with ham instead of pepperoni.
• Reduce sodium intake: Store-bought tomato sauce is high in sodium. Minimize sodium intake by making your own tomato sauce for homemade pizzas simply by pureeing cooked and peeled tomatoes with garlic powder and oregano.
• Less empty calories: By using a vegetable based crust, you can eliminate hundreds of “empty calories” and instead get an extra serving of vegetables! Check out recipes for alternative pizza crusts here.

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