Pizza is a global favorite food. In the UK, one in eight people opt for it as a takeaway. But it is not healthy. However, if you are a pizza lover, you can still have it in a healthier way. Nutritionist Harriet Lidgard shares tips on how to choose the healthier pizza of the lot.
Pizza love
Pizza is a hot favorite food dish of people worldwide. In the UK, one in eight people order this food as a takeaway. These are commonly the young people and they prefer it over fish and chips or Far Eastern or South Asian foods.
But pizza is a junk food. It is carb-heavy and loaded with fats and calories. An American pizza in the UK has around 1k calories in it. While a stuffed crust Hawaiian pizza has around 1344 calories. So if you desire to lose or maintain weight, pizza could make it difficult.
But NZ nutritionist Harriet Lidgard shares tips that pizza lovers can note and have their pizza with no fear or guilt feeling. Because if they refrain, they will have craving for it and overeat it on the next occasion leading to weight gain rather than weight loss.
Healthier pizza choices
Cauliflower pizza (Source: Postmates)Pizza base
Opt for whole wheat pizza base. Harriet states:
“Whole wheat crust is a good option because it contains more fibre and nutrients than regular crust.”
“This can help keep you feeling fuller for longer and provide you with more sustained energy throughout the day.”
Cauliflower pizza base is excellent. It is low carb and gluten free. Harriet explains:
“It’s made with a combination of cauliflower, cheese, and eggs, and can be a good option for those who are trying to reduce their carbohydrate intake.”
She adds:
“If you have a gluten intolerance or allergy, then a gluten-free crust is a must.”
“These crusts are typically made with a combination of gluten-free flours such as rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca flour.”
Healthier pizza (Source: Eat this not that)Avoid stuffed crusts because they are loaded with cheese. Choose a thin crust pizza over thick crust because the latter has more calories.
The cheese
Keep cheese to the minimum. Choose cheese properly. According to Harriet,
“If you are looking for a lower fat cheese, opting for cottage cheese, feta, goat’s cheese, and light mozzarella can be good options.”
“These will still add flavour and nutritional value to your meals,”
The high protein cheese are cottage cheese, ricotta, and parmesan.
The pizza toppings
On non-veg pizza, Harriet suggests:
“Opt for lean meats such as chicken, fish and prawns over high-fat options such as pepperoni, sausage, and bacon, which are high in saturated fat.”
She adds:
“Saturated fats can raise cholesterol levels and they can cause inflammation in the body, which has been linked to a range of health problems.”
Read here: Avoid these junk plant foods to remain healthy!
Healthier pizza (Source: Eat this not that)The processed meats also contain high sodium that can cause high blood pressure and bloating. She continues:
“For extra toppings opt for grilled or roasted vegetables instead of fried chicken, fried onions, or fried peppers.”
“Grilled or roasted vegetables are lower in saturated fats and can provide heart-healthy nutrients like fibre, vitamins, and minerals.”
“Also, grilling or roasting vegetables can help retain their nutritional value, while frying can cause them to lose some of their nutrients,”