7 Simple Ways to Make Your Favorite Pizza Healthier
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Go for a thin-crust pizza
The pandemic year of 2020 has triggered many trends we didn’t expect, one of them being cooking at home. Regardless if you’re into this trend or would rather opt for takeout, opting for a thin crust can make your pizza two times healthier without sacrificing its flavor.
How does this work? Well, Angela Lemond, RDN, Texas-based co-owner of Lemond Nutrition, explains that it’s a psychological trick: eating a thin crust means you’ll get more veggies instead of just filling your stomach with bread from the crust.
Yes, I’m mentioning veggies again because they are in fact a key element of staying healthy in the long run. For instance, this study published in the Journal of Americna Heart Association revealed that those who eat (mostly) plant-based diets have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Furthermore, eating a thin-crust pizza can reduce your total sodium intake – another potentially dangerous ingredient when consumed excessively.
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Pick lean protein sources
Yes, pepperoni and ham are incredibly tasty and some may even argue that they’re essential for the perfect pizza. But is their flavor worth increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes?
Probably not.
Kimberlain recommends everyone to limit the intake of processed meats as much as possible to reduce unhealthy fats and sodium. Unfortunately, this includes sausage, bacon and pepperoni. The same recommendation is also issued by the American Heart Association – and salami is included on their list as well.
If you just can’t stand the thought of a vegetarian pizza, you can choose one with lean meat such as chicken breast or seafood to keep it healthy.
