Making Pizza Healthy

I am in lovvvvvvvve with pizza. There is a place near by me that has a great, no-butter thin crust pizza with a homemade tomato sauce that is really fresh and not all oily and gross like chains can be. I get it with just the sauce, no cheese, but with onions and peppers. My mom tells me its unhealthy and I should have the cheese, but I do eat protein in other meals. So is this junk food?

I think my mom still assumes anything with bread in it is bad, bt I don't eliminate food groups (except cheese which tends to hurt the tummy!)

Sounds tasty. Bread is not evil or bad or a "no no" food. All kinds of breads, and yes that includes white bread, can have a place in the diet.

On a side note since I am a pizza snob pizza without cheese is not pizza.

UD

Sounds good to me - not at all junky.

BTW, I like to make my own low-cal individual pizzas using English muffins with some spaghetti sauce and whatever toppings I want.  My kids think it is really fun to assemble their own as well.

I agree with ud - pizza must have cheese.

You could make your own - yummier and cheaper, plus you know exactly how much goes into it.

1 cup warm water
1 TBSP honey
1 packet yeast

Mix and let sit for 10 min.

Add:
2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour

Mix, and put in bowl sprayed with PAM, and let rise for 45+ min

Spread on pizza pan, top as desired (including cheese!), bake at 450 for 15 min.

mmmm...english muffin pizzas... I haven't had those since I was a kid...I oughta introduce that to my kids.

thanks puh8 for the idea!

i make my own healthy pizza :)
i use the whole wheat pre-made pizza crusts, then use all natural pizza sause, fat-free mozzerella cheese, onions, green peppers, olives, canned spinache and tomatoes... Mmm Mmm Mmm!!!

the cheese gives me cramps!! that's why no cheese! I can have it sometimes but I prefer not to take the chance.

okay!! i'll confess ive been eating veggi pizza's on the weekend and 64 cal beer but i skip breakfast and try to eat it mid afternoon and snack on a piece for dinner ah man love those roasted tomatoes!!! 

pizza schmittza....in philly this is called a tomato pie.....usually a pretty deep layer of chopped tomatoes on top....no cheese....

if your eating out or making your own just go for whole wheat crust, thin crust, easy cheese, no fatty sausage, nothing greasy in general and its not bad.

I satisfy my pizza craving by making pita pizzas, using whole wheat pita bread for the crust.  You can make your own pizza sauce, or just use a really good jarred marinara.  I typically use only a small amount of cheese, usually some parmesan or feta, and boost the protein with nutritional yeast, which has almost a nutty flavor.  Add some good veggie toppings and yum!

Original Post by amethystgirl:

I agree with ud - pizza must have cheese.

You could make your own - yummier and cheaper, plus you know exactly how much goes into it.

1 cup warm water
1 TBSP honey
1 packet yeast

Mix and let sit for 10 min.

Add:
2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour

Mix, and put in bowl sprayed with PAM, and let rise for 45+ min

Spread on pizza pan, top as desired (including cheese!), bake at 450 for 15 min.

This is essentially the pizza I make every Tuesday or Wednesday at home (except mine is smaller...I use a total of about 1.5 cups of flour (mostly whole wheat)).  In any case, I would definitely recommend sticking the crust in the oven without the toppings for about 10 minutes...otherwise the crust gets soggy.  Then pull it out, add the toppings (yes, cheese included) and stick it back in for about 5 minutes. 

Original Post by bsh0611:

the cheese gives me cramps!! that's why no cheese! I can have it sometimes but I prefer not to take the chance.

Are you lactose intolerant?  Or is it the sheer amount of cheese that goes into making the pizza? (like a cheese overload)  I used to make tuna melts with a whole can of tuna divided over two slices of bread and I'd guess a half a cup of full fat shredded cheddar cheese melted on each.  I'd eat both.  Now when I do that I get cramps and I think it is from the amount of cheese I put on.

Try making your own pizza with a little cheese and see if you still get cramps.  Maybe try to find natural mozzerella (the soft kind) that hasn't been processed or at least processed very little and see how that goes.  Authentic italian pizza has a lower cheese coverage.

I'm not lactose intolerant... I have a little milk in my coffee, I can have ice cream but only the light kind, and I can have yogurt. I had no problem with cheese before pregnancy or during pregnancy, but after weaning from the breast both times it started to cause problems.

The sheer amount is insane - but I really LIKE my pizza with no cheese!

I suggest making your own. I quit eating the shop bought ones and eat only the ones my partner makes. That way you can weigh all your ingredients and you know exactly what's in it.  I didn't gain any weight from eating them, just kept losing so never ban all "nice" foods from your diet :)

if you looooove pizza and like grilling you can also check out the great  book "Pizza on the Grill"   They have some great recipes for all sorts of great pizza's (like bacon and egg breakfast  pizza.... mmmmm)

eggplant makes great "crust," like if you slice it into rounds and top it like a pizza! there are recipes out there for actually arranging eggplant slices on a pan and making an entire pizza, too. 

In fact tonight i made lasagna but just replaced the noodles with thin eggplant and it was awesome. kind of a eggplant parm/lasagna mash-up. rachael ray would have an adorable name for the dish, i'm sure. 

I love pizza, too! We don't have it very often, but when we do I ask for vegetarian with half the cheese, double the veggies. Also, if you blot the grease with a paper towel you can soak up some excess calories!

Pizza is fine for a treat once in a while! :)