World Pizza Day: How to Make Your Pizza Healthier, According To A Nutritionist

The aroma of a freshly prepared pizza topped with your favourite veggies and cheese can hit differently. If your favourite Italian dish is a pizza, you must have thought of ways to make it healthier to keep away from the guilt that follows after you finish an entire takeaway box. 

Also Read: World Pizza Day: Chefs Share Recipes To Make The Italian Staple At Home

Millet-Based Crusts

Traditional pizza bases are made with refined flour, which lacks fibre and essential nutrients. A healthier alternative is using millet-based flour like bajra or jowar. These gluten-free grains are rich in fibre, iron, and essential minerals, making them a great choice for improved digestion and sustained energy.

Add More Vegetables

Instead of sticking to a classic Margherita, which is mostly cheese and sauce, make your pizza nutrient-dense by adding a variety of nutrient-rich vegetables. With veggies like mushrooms, spinach, paneer, capsicum, tomato, etc, you can get the most out of your pizza. 

Make Sauce At Home

While making a pizza at home, you might rely on a store-bought pizza sauce. Since it is usually high in sugar, sodium, and preservatives, I would recommend that you make the pizza sauce from scratch. With fresh tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and some olive oil, you can prepare a healthy and preservative-free pizza sauce. Furthermore, a homemade sauce also retains the natural lycopene from tomatoes, which is beneficial for heart health.

Replace Cheese with Paneer

Cheese burst pizzas and requesting some extra cheese on top of your pizza might be tempting, but it isn’t a healthy practice. Instead of using large amounts of melted cheese, which is high in saturated fats, opt for paneer. With protein-rich paneer, which also has lower fats than processed cheese, you are bound to feel full for a longer time. It also adds a deliciously creamy texture without making your pizza overly greasy.

Add A Protein Element

If you are a non-vegetarian, you can simply add grilled chicken or any meat of your choice to make your pizza healthier. For a vegetarian, options like tofu or burrata would do to balance the macronutrients.

Portion Control

Rather than overindulging in large portions, practice mindful eating by serving yourself a reasonable portion alongside a salad or grilled vegetables. By balancing the macronutrients, fibre, and micronutrients, you can enjoy a pizza while still being on your diet.