by admiller

Created on: May 21, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

Diet-friendly pizza? Absolutely! While traditional pizzas are high calorie and high fat, they can easily be converted to healthy pizzas with a few minor adjustments.

It's easy to combine delicious with healthy by looking for whole wheat crust, diet friendly cheese, and fresh vegetables. Cut the grease and embrace the nutrients with these good for you pizza-making strategies.

Choose a Healthy Crust:

English Muffins. Use English muffins as a crust to control portion size and get the benefits of whole grains and high fiber. There are a few excellent products out there that make the perfect base for any pizza: Oroweat Double Fiber English Muffins, Thomas Light Multi Grain English Muffins, and Western Bagel Alternative Plain English Muffins. These brands average about 100 calories, 1 g fat (0 saturated), 5 g fiber, 5 g protein, and 20 g carbohydrates per English Muffin. For a crunchier pizza, toast the muffins before baking in the oven.

Flatbreads. If thin crust is your thing, try Flatout's line of flatbread. Their Italian Herb Wrap is great for pizzas and only 90 calories. With 9 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein, you can't go wrong.

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough. You can make your own or buy pre-packaged at the grocery store. To make your own, use active yeast, honey, whole wheat flour, and salt to create a flavorful and nutritious pizza bottom. In addition to providing more nutrients than traditional crusts, whole wheat pizza crusts make you feel full much quicker and prevent over-eating. Pillsbury's Classic Pizza Crust is made with whole wheat flour and can be made quickly. It's the perfect solution when making pizza for six or more. 1/6 of the package is 160 calories with 5 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat.

Choose a Healthy Sauce:

Ready-Made Pasta Sauces. Read the label carefully on pasta sauce jars. Look for low fat, low sodium, and high fiber options. Try Healthy Choice's Garlic & Herb sauce (60 calories in a half cup) or Muir Glen's Portabello Mushroom sauce (50 calories in a half cup).

Homemade Pasta Sauce. Even the best pre-made pasta sauces have high levels of sodium. Avoid this by making your own pasta sauce with fresh ingredients. A simple sauce can be made by combining chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic and cooking to desired consistency. Other marinara recipes take advantage of the lycopene found in tomatoes to make a cancer-fighting, immune boosting sauce great for pastas and pizzas.

Choose a Healthy Cheese:

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