Advertisement
5 Tips For Turning A Simple Pizza Into A Healthy Dinner — Plus 10 Great Recipes For Inspo
A true crowd favorite, pizza seems almost universally loved. With so many iterations, and so many great local businesses you could buy from, it may seem like a waste of time to make your own—but it's actually a super fun way to spend a night in, whether it's with roommates, as a date night, or with the whole family.
Not only that, making it at home gives you more control over the ingredients that go into the pie. You can use it as an opportunity to sneak in extra nutrients and to add your favorite flavors, which is a win-win in our book. Here, find some of our favorite tips and recipes for a healthier take on pizza:
Make your own crust, or opt for a healthier alternative.
When it comes to the wide world of baking, pizza crust is actually on the easier end of the spectrum for make-from-scratch simplicity. It's also manageable to make your own grain-free or even a veggie-based crust for an alternative to the bready classic—though you can recruit your sourdough starter for a chewy bread crust. The crust can also be a great place to sneak in some protein, by using a high protein flour or keto-substitute.
If you do opt for purchasing a premade crust, you're in luck: Recent years have seen a ton of innovation in the world of pre-prepped pizza crusts. With everything from cauliflower crust (of course) to almond flour mixes, the options also give you a choice for how much work you want to do. For the simplest option, go for a pre-rolled crust, or buy a mix that you just need to add a few ingredients to.
Load it with veggies.
At the pizzeria, there may be a limit to how many veggies you can choose, or you may have to pay up for those extra leafy greens—but at home, you're free to add as much as you like, no charge necessary. When it comes to which veggies you add, you can let your preferences, and the contents of your fridge, guide you—or take your cues from whatever nutrients you're hoping to add to your pizza.
Kale and spinach are perfect pizza pairings—especially when lightly precooked with a bit of garlic to add a punch of flavor. Some other great options to add warm are mushrooms; cruciferous veggies like broccoli, eggplant, and zucchini; or your favorite varieties of onions or peppers. But some veggies are best added after the pizza comes out of the oven: A handful of fresh bitter arugula or watercress offers a lovely contrast to the hot pizza.
DIY your sauce.
Though you wouldn't look at a pizza and think "added sugars," many canned tomato sauces might include a bit of sugar to offset the slight sourness of tomatoes. While you can find healthier store-bought sauces, making your own is a surefire way to bring some healthiness to your pizza pie.
For a pleasantly balanced sauce without the sugar, this goji-berry-powered marinara is a great place to start. But making your own sauce also gives you the chance to opt out of using tomatoes or other nightshades, if they bother you. Luckily, that doesn't mean sacrificing the tomato-y goodness: This nightshade-free sauce uses a blend of other veggies (like carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes) for a truly tasty alternative.
You also don't have to feel locked into the classic tomato base when cooking at home: Other sauces, like a pesto, can be great too. Pesto, especially, is a great way to sneak in an extra serving of veggies (like with this recipe).
Be deliberate about your cheese.
Sure, you could skip the cheese altogether, but that doesn't sound very nice to us. If you're nixing it for health reasons, there are healthier cheese options that also add punchy flavor to your pie (like a creamy goat cheese or a salty aged Parmesan).
If you follow a plant-based diet, we kindly invite you to try a cheese-covered pie with this simple vegan Buffalo mozzarella or a homemade vegan ricotta spread across the crust.
Don't feel trapped into the crust + sauce + cheese formula.
Broadening your definition of "pizza" will only bring you joy; we promise. These creative recipes toss the classic pairings to the wind for some quirky (but super-tasty) pizzas that are simple to DIY.
Some recipe inspo we love:
- Breakfast Pizza: This keto-friendly take on pizza may be designed for the morning, but why not have breakfast for dinner? Once you get started with the scrambled egg base, you can add all your favorite toppings or follow along exactly with the recipe.
- Chicken Crust Taco Pizza: This taco-inspired take on pizza also skips a classic crust and instead uses chicken (yep, you read that right). It also adds salsa instead of sauce and adds some sharp cheddar, cilantro, and black olives on top.
- Sweet Potato Pizzas With Pesto Sauce: Go even further afield by filling sweet potatoes with your favorite pizza toppings. This super kid-friendly method won't get as messy as dealing with a dough, and it's particularly tasty with pesto.
- Healthy Leftover Pizza: Flip your leftovers into pizza parts! Sure, this guide is based on the day we all seem to have tons of leftovers (Thanksgiving), but we know one thing: It'll work with most any fridge full of leftovers you've got.
- Spring Green Chickpea Pizza: If you're concerned that making pizza from scratch will be too difficult or time-consuming, try this chickpea-based vegan recipe, which is really just that easy to put together.
- Super-Easy Socca Pizza: There's a lot of iterations on chickpea pizza (also sometimes called socca pizza). This version is a little more classic, and you can top with whatever you want.
- Raw Bruschetta Pizza: Go entirely raw (almost). For a fresher take on pizza, take inspiration from bruschetta and use fresh chopped tomatoes, lots of herbs, and a bit of plant-based ricotta atop a simple cauliflower crust.
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust: Work from the ground up with a homemade cauliflower crust, and then go simple with the toppings: sliced tomato, a handful of greens, and a sprinkle of cheese, to make this pizza a definite family favorite.
- Grain-Free Zucchini Crust: Trying to keep away from the bloat that can come with cruciferous veggies? A zucchini-based crust is just as easy to put together and still keeps the flavor neutral.
- Paleo Pizza Crust: This paleo-friendly crust keeps things grain-free, nut-free, and still super tasty. It uses a touch of yeast to give it a fluffy texture that will ensure you don't miss the classic crust at all.
So next time you're hankering after a pizza night, skip the takeout and instead dive into making your own perfect pie at home. If it's a different Italian classic you're after, try one of these healthier pasta sauces for a bowl of nutritious comfort.
Watch Next
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
What Is Meditation?
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
What Breathwork Can Address
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
What Is Meditation?
Box Breathing
What Breathwork Can Address
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
What to Eat Before a Workout
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love Languages
Advertisement
