by Stan Dyer

Created on: September 26, 2007

Somewhere along the line, pizza got the reputation for being unhealthy, fattening and generally not good. Nothing could be further from the truth. The keys to making healthy pizza are to make it yourself and leave off the meat.

When most people think of pizza, they think of restaurant, delivery or frozen pizza from the grocery store. Now, there are many good choices out there in those categories, but it is time to start considering other options. One of those options is to do it yourself.

Oh, I suppose a beginner could mess with mixing up various homemade recipes of dough or buying a pre-baked crust, but it's really not necessary. It is so easy to make a delicious, satisfying and enjoyable, homemade pizza with very little work while keeping one's hands clean.

If you like thin crust pizza, go to the supermarket and purchase whole-wheat pita bread. Lay the pitas on a cookie tin, top with pizza sauce, (any spaghetti sauce will work), any vegetables or other ingredients you like, and add shredded cheese. Soy cheese is healthier, but the flavor is not as good. If you are concerned about fat calories, leave the cheese off, and the pizza will still be delectable. Put your creations in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes, or until done, and you will be amazed at what you have created.
Now, if you like a thicker crust pizza, go to the supermarket and search out the bakery markdown rack. You want to find day old or older French or Italian baguettes. Choose the whole grains, (my favorite is light rye), but white is OK if that is all they have. Fresh loaves just do not work because they have too much moisture. The older loaves are great, dried and ready for baking. Top them just as you would the pitas, (use a little more sauce), cook them until they reach your desired degree of warmth, (about 20 minutes at 350 degrees), and get ready to enjoy. You will not believe how good these homemade pizzas taste and how satisfying they are. They are healthier too.

The beauty of making these pizzas at home lies in the personal touch. You not only know who made your pizza, but you also know exactly what it is on it, how fresh the ingredients are, and you have a great opportunity to use up leftovers before throwing them out. Just remember that most of the fat calories come from the meat and the cheese. Leave the meat off, and you are one-step ahead. You can leave off the cheese to gain another step, but, hey, why? Pizza is better with cheese, but you need to choose your cheese wisely and limit quantities. The choice is up to you, but remember that the lighter the cheese is in color, the lower in fat it will be. Yellow cheeses have more saturated fat than whiter cheese.

Experiment with these suggested beginnings until you find what works best for you and what suits your tastes. You may find that you prefer making your own to almost any other commercial brand available. You may also discover that you enjoy making pizza crust, but remember to go with the whole grain flours to ensure a healthy, nutritious product. Pizza is healthy if done right. Make these pizzas, enjoy the results and stay healthy at the same time. What could be more American than that? I don't want to know. I love these American creations, and you will too. It's guaranteed.

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