Although it's tasty, pizza isn't generally considered to be diet food, but, surprisingly, a slice of pizza doesn't have to be a calorie disaster. If you're trying to eat healthier or control your weight, a visit to an Italian pizza restaurant doesn't have to be off limits if you choose wisely. Here's how to eat healthy at a pizza restaurant:
Have your pizza custom made
Although pizza crust is high in carbs, pizza doesn't have to be off limit in terms of calories and fat. The key to eating a healthy pizza is to choose your toppings wisely. Instead of opting for the pizza with “the works”, customize it with your own choice of healthy toppings. When you order, ask for half the amount of cheese and twice the tomato sauce. If you need more cheese flavor, you can always shake on some grated Parmesan cheese at the table. If possible, avoid the high fat pepperoni and sausage topping and go meatless or choose grilled chicken or anchovies as your protein. Go heavy on the vegetables. Most Italian pizza restaurants will give you lots of choices here. Tell them to sprinkle on some spinach, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, pineapple, red peppers, green peppers, zucchini, and sprouts. With all of those toppings, you'll be getting lots of heart healthy antioxidants and lycopenes.
Choose the thinnest crust
Always choose the thinnest crust if you want to avoid excess calories and carbs. Thick crust and deep dish pizzas can be a calorie disaster whereas a thin crust is generally not going to blow your health eating plan. To reduce your calorie and carb intake even more, avoid eating the outer crust along the edge of the pizza. It generally doesn't taste that good anyway.
Head for the salad bar
Many pizza restaurants have salad bars. This is a great way to fill up before your meal so you'll only eat a slice or two of pizza. Keep in mind that you can always take the pizza you don't eat home to heat up for another meal. This will save money too.
Order tea instead of a soft drink
Some pizza restaurants such as Pizza Hut offer large pitchers of soft drink. By the time you've downed several glasses of a syrupy soft drink, you've drank the equivalent of a slice and a half of pizza. Wouldn't you rather eat your calories rather than drink them? Order a pitcher of ice tea and indulge to your heart's content.
Don't feel guilty the next time you pull into an Italian pizza restaurant. Choose wisely and you and you can enjoy a healthy and delicious meal.
