The fat and calorie content of some pies is enough to make nutritionists cringe, but let's face it: pizza tastes good. Really good. The Miami Herald says that 93% of Americans have pizza at least once per month. Very few people are willing to swear of pizza for more than a brief period of time, even during a diet, let alone for any substantial length of time. Can you make pizza a healthier part of your diet? Sure. There are quite a few ways to cut down on the worst parts of pizza and still enjoy it.
The first option is to limit yourself to one slice of pizza. Good luck with that - though it is a good idea to pair a pizza with something lighter, like soup or salad, to prevent yourself from reaching for that last slice.
The second option is to eat low fat, low calorie pies. This is actually a great way to get your fix without blowing your diet or your top button. The taste is the same or similar to regular pies, especially if you sprinkle on some of your own toppings, like a bit of parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes.
The best thing to do, however, is to cut back on some of the worst ingredients and increase the good ones. For example, try thin crust instead of deep dish. You'll still get the chewy bread and the crisp crust, but for probably only half the calories. Cheese-stuffed crusts and extra cheese can be left off, too, since there is plenty of cheesiness in the regular amount, especially if you want toppings which might otherwise get lost in the cheese.
When it comes to toppings, cut back or skip the meat. Ordering a pizza laden with vegetables is not the nutritional equivalent of a salad, but they are far lower in calories than sausages, ham and pepperoni and add some vitamins and fiber to your dish. If you're worried about losing flavor, opt for more flavorful toppings, like olives and roasted garlic
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