Pizza help!

Island_Style20
Island_Style20 Posts: 98 Member
Yes, yes, I know. Pizza is probably the worst possible thing I could have for dinner. However, I'm cooking it for my parents and decided I could do a half and half. However, I've never made "healthy" pizza before! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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Replies

  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Flatouts Flat breads make good low cal crust along with low sodium tomatoes and low fat cheese.
  • Multigrain / whole wheat crust rolled out thinly, go easy on the sauce and light on cheese, top it with chicken and whatever veggies you like! I usually use spinach, zucchini, mushrooms and onions. Pizza doesn't have to be a BAD choice. It's about turning the things we love into good choices. Enjoy your dinner!
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    Yes, yes, I know. Pizza is probably the worst possible thing I could have for dinner. However, I'm cooking it for my parents and decided I could do a half and half. However, I've never made "healthy" pizza before! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

    Well, first, as long as you watch your portions and can fit it into your allowed calories, having pizza now and then is not a "bad" thing. If you like pizza, then have it.

    Second, thin crust is best. Then, use a lot of fresh vegetables on it t bulk it up and build the nutrients some. Personally, I love onion, bell pepper, sliced tomato, spinach, and olives. If you want some meat, stick with chicken or other leaner meats (sausage and pepperoni are not the best choices). Finally, use a smaller amount of a good cheese. The flavor of a good, fresh mozzarella allows you to use less, but still get the goodness out of it.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Yes, yes, I know. Pizza is probably the worst possible thing I could have for dinner. However, I'm cooking it for my parents and decided I could do a half and half. However, I've never made "healthy" pizza before! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

    Well, first, as long as you watch your portions and can fit it into your allowed calories, having pizza now and then is not a "bad" thing. If you like pizza, then have it.

    Second, thin crust is best. Then, use a lot of fresh vegetables on it t bulk it up and build the nutrients some. Personally, I love onion, bell pepper, sliced tomato, spinach, and olives. If you want some meat, stick with chicken or other leaner meats (sausage and pepperoni are not the best choices). Finally, use a smaller amount of a good cheese. The flavor of a good, fresh mozzarella allows you to use less, but still get the goodness out of it.

    HEAR HEAR!!
  • LoriBarefoot
    LoriBarefoot Posts: 218 Member
    Stefano Foods whole wheat ready made pizza dough. Bakes up fluffy with crisp edges in 20 mins. I find it in the at the deli counter in my grocery store (Food Lion). Better than take out!!
  • Island_Style20
    Island_Style20 Posts: 98 Member
    Thank you for your help guys! Unfortunately, I only have white flour, and not wheat. But I do make my own crust, so I will definitely do a thin crust and use whatever veggies I have in the house! :)
  • RumOne
    RumOne Posts: 266 Member
    I make my own pizza dough that only uses oil to grease the bowl for rising and greasing the pan. ( i also use it for a rustic bread). I also make my own sauce with tomato paste. I measure out the dough, the sauce, and the cheese and use a small skillet to make a personal pizza.
  • I have this issue too, because my family has a family night every monday and our 6 year old refuses to eat anything but pizza on family night, So I usually try to find something else to eat, but I am thinking this monday we will make individual pizzas and I'll make mine healthier, so I can still join in with our family night.
  • RumOne
    RumOne Posts: 266 Member
    Thank you for your help guys! Unfortunately, I only have white flour, and not wheat. But I do make my own crust, so I will definitely do a thin crust and use whatever veggies I have in the house! :)


    I use white all purpose if I don't have White Bread flour... My hubby would die if I made a whole wheat crust:laugh:
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    Multigrain / whole wheat crust rolled out thinly, go easy on the sauce and light on cheese, top it with chicken and whatever veggies you like! I usually use spinach, zucchini, mushrooms and onions. Pizza doesn't have to be a BAD choice. It's about turning the things we love into good choices. Enjoy your dinner!

    Definitely this. Home made pizza with a whole grain crust and lots of veggies is really filling and not much different than pasta or rice with veggies. Just don't overload with cheese or skip it altogether and stay away from fatty meats like sausage, pepperoni, etc. My husband and I can easily eat a take-out pizza in one sitting but a home made one fills us up with 2 slices!
  • Yes, yes, I know. Pizza is probably the worst possible thing I could have for dinner. However, I'm cooking it for my parents and decided I could do a half and half. However, I've never made "healthy" pizza before! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

    Sorry I'm a pizza lover and so is my fiance. I don't think there's a "worst possible thing" about pizza LOL.....well OK maybe if you get the thick, stuff crusted pizza with pepperoni and all that other "high fat/calorie" meat on it but yeah I agree with everyone else. Go thin crust and stick with veggies and chicken/low cal/fat meats if you want meat and you should be fine. My personal favorite is Hawian(sorry about the spelling) BBQ chicken pizza.....it's got the hawian toppings but instead of pizza sauce they use BBQ sauce and add chicken.....
  • bridgeo74
    bridgeo74 Posts: 191 Member
    I LOVE pizza!!!
    Some of the things we do at our house are:
    1. use the biscuits in the can to make mini-individual pizzas. That way you can count your ingredients exactly and even use different cheese for yourself. Everyone is happy because they can make their own.
    2. Papa Murphy's have the deLite pizzas that are not a bad option if you do not want to make them yourself. The deLite have the extra thin crust and they will make a pizza however you want it.
    3. Chain pizza option: Dominoes, website has a calorie calculator so you can figure out what you will eat before you order! They also have a lighter options page with "healthier" ideas.
    4. Make it your "splurge" for the week and don't go overboard!!!
  • marycmeadows
    marycmeadows Posts: 1,691 Member
    i love making home made pizza!! super easy, inexpensive, and tasty!! and can be healthy too!! (well much more so than store or restaurant bought pizza)....

    http://marysforkandspoon.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-pizza-only-way-to-go.html
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    Yes, yes, I know. Pizza is probably the worst possible thing I could have for dinner. However, I'm cooking it for my parents and decided I could do a half and half. However, I've never made "healthy" pizza before! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
    Go with whole grain crust - pre-baked and ready - and all veggies with low fat cheese, but get a good tomato sauce - Prego, Rago - nothing "diet" - YUK!

    Use all fresh veggies - nothing frozen. And sprinkle each with some ground, cooked and seasoned turkey - seasoned heavily with garlic and oregano.

    Have Fun!:drinker:
  • Island_Style20
    Island_Style20 Posts: 98 Member
    While we are all on the subject and I've got my veggie ideas - how about any homemade sauces? I normally make my own as well....except I don't have fresh tomatoes, so it'd have to be with tomato sauce/paste!
  • FireMama_24
    FireMama_24 Posts: 169 Member
    I would cut back on the cheese, use marinera or even olive oil with some tomatos and other veggies on it.
  • Great advice. Well said!
  • Island_Style20
    Island_Style20 Posts: 98 Member
    Has anyone ever done salsa on their pizza instead of tomato sauce?
  • paulaann67
    paulaann67 Posts: 145 Member
    Google Dr.Dow's pizza recipe saw him on the Dr Oz show and made it . Tastes delicious and is only 228 calories per whole pizza. The ingredients are booster foods which help us lose the lbs. hope this is helpful to you !
  • maryjay51
    maryjay51 Posts: 742
    i love pizza but dont make it.. i just eat it if and when i am at a party and account for it . i cant make pizza at home cuz ill eat the whole thing
  • Island_Style20
    Island_Style20 Posts: 98 Member
    Google Dr.Dow's pizza recipe saw him on the Dr Oz show and made it . Tastes delicious and is only 228 calories per whole pizza. The ingredients are booster foods which help us lose the lbs. hope this is helpful to you !

    Awesome! Thanks!
  • Jenner22
    Jenner22 Posts: 94 Member
    I use fajita wheat flour tortillas. They make a fantastic crusts and you get two for 80 calories. Then use light sauce and cheese and load with veggies =)
  • I like wholewheat tortillas, the small ones from ASDA. With Passata (Sieved Tomatoes) and herbs with a little garlic. Toppings vary from smoked sausage or ham, to veggie ones with mushroom, onion and pepper. I do like strong cheese instead of mozzarella. I tend to put it under a hot grill for 5-6 minutes until the cheese is bubbling.

    James
  • I need healthy pizza recipes, too! My kids like it and so do my husband and I.
  • Goal_HourGlass
    Goal_HourGlass Posts: 22 Member
    Yes, yes, I know. Pizza is probably the worst possible thing I could have for dinner. However, I'm cooking it for my parents and decided I could do a half and half. However, I've never made "healthy" pizza before! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

    I love pizza!! Pizza is why I ended up on MFP haha but I've found some healthy alternatives. Make sure you have a healthy portion! Also using lots of veggie toppings like onions, spinach, tomatoes, etc. You could also use turkey sausage instead of other more fatty meats. I hope it turns out well!! ENJOY!
  • sarahsmom1
    sarahsmom1 Posts: 1,501 Member
    bump
  • bunnybeth14
    bunnybeth14 Posts: 33 Member
    I made pizza for my family this week, we rolled the dough out really thin, topped with a small amount of mozzerella, chicken, peppers and onion. We all had that with potato salad and salad and it tasted sooo good and even better without the guilt!!! Even my 7 year and 1 yr old twins scoffed the lot! Pizza doesnt have to be greasy and fattening!! :-)
  • jjblogs
    jjblogs Posts: 327 Member
    This veggie pizza is a little different, but omg, it is yummy:

    http://www.pamperedchef.com/recipe_search/recipe.jsp?id=9658
  • gentlebreeze2
    gentlebreeze2 Posts: 450 Member
    I use fajita wheat flour tortillas. They make a fantastic crusts and you get two for 80 calories. Then use light sauce and cheese and load with veggies =)

    If you can't find flatout bread, this is an excellent alternative. Spray the tortilla with a little cooking spray, slip in the oven for 5-8 minutes, then cover with your favorite low cal toppings and slide back in til the cheese melts. You get to have the WHOLE thing for under 400 calories.