by Tirzah Hawkins

Created on: July 07, 2008

Any food can be healthy depending on how it is made. It isn't the fault of the pizza that it gets a bad rap from all the greasy cheese and meat people pile on it.

Pre-made pizzas are the biggest culprits whether they are bought from a pizza parlor or frozen from a grocery store. People fall prey to the advertising done of how many pounds of cheese are on the newest chain pizza. Family sized stuffed pizzas run around 350 calories for a slice, but a slice is defined as one sixteenth of the pizza. I don't know anyone who cuts their pizza into sixteen slices much less eats just one slice.

To satisfy consumer's needs to feel like they have healthy options, pizza places have responded with light options for pizzas that have thinner crusts and healthier toppings. But who wants to feel like they are dieting when they are eating out or ordering in? Studies have shown that while consumers like to see that they have lighter options where they are eating at, they don't utilize them very often.

The best way to keep your pizza healthy and control the quality of ingredients that goes on it is to make it at home. If you don't feel up to making pizza dough from scratch, you can buy pre-made pizza crusts or pre-made dough that you only have to stretch over a pan. For a thin, flaky crust, try rolling a reduced fat crescent roll dough out on a pizza pan. Then use one of the many spaghetti sauces that are available at the grocery store that are naturally low in fat and calories.

For convenience, you can purchase pre-grated cheese. It is available in regular, reduced fat or even skim milk varieties. Just because you bought low-fat cheese doesn't mean you should pile on as much as you want. Use just enough to give the pizza a good flavor.

Now you are ready to pile on the fresh toppings. You can use typical pizza toppings like olives, mushrooms and onions or experiment with others such as red bell peppers and artichoke hearts. Try lower fat and healthier meat options like grilled chicken and ground turkey instead of the cured pepperoni and ham. Just bake and enjoy.

Most foods that are labeled as unhealthy are called such because they are typically made at some sort of restaurant and not at home. Fast food places and restaurants are more concerned with the food's taste than how healthy it is. When you make the same food at home, you can control the quality and freshness of the ingredients and the method of preparation used to create a healthy yet still pleasing dish. In this way, any food can be considered healthy.

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