There is a way to have your pizza pie and eat it too, experts say.
Allison Knott, a registered dietitian at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Ga., said denying yourself your favorite food can ruin a diet. Moderation, though, is key, she said.
“A treat every once in a while is OK, but remember to indulge in smaller portions of your favorite food — (and) not every day,” she said.
Chris Balthrop, a manager at Lupi’s Pizza Pies in downtown Chattanooga, said pizza is as healthy as you make it.
“It all depends on what you put on it,” he said. “If you add all those fattening meats and cheeses, it’s going to be very unhealthy and fattening.”
However, Mr. Balthrop added, if you use fresh ingredients a veggie pizza can hit all the recommended food groups found in a well-rounded daily diet.
“We’re seeing a trend in ordering the local, fresh toppings we offer and trending away from heavy meats and cheeses,” he said.
Lupi’s also offers a whole-wheat crust, contributing to a pizza-lovers daily fiber intake.
“And that’s something most Americans are lacking,” Mr. Balthrop said. Ordering thin crust, when available, is another good idea, experts say. And amp up tomato sauce base, too, for more flavor and vitamins. Another healthful option: Use part-skim mozzarella cheese, but, don’t overburden your pizza with this cheese or any other.
Mrs. Knott said a homemade pizza with whole wheat crust — buy one or make your own — is ” a great opportunity to include extra vegetables and lean protein in your daily diet.”
She suggests making it a family affair, spending a weekend night preparing pizza at home, saving money and calories. Include fresh toppings, such as: spinach, tomato, onion, red and green bell peppers, eggplant, pineapple, chicken, turkey and low-fat pepperoni.
“Adding a bit of protein will help you feel more satisfied,” she said. “Add a fresh garden salad with low-fat dressing and you have a meal full of fiber and nutrients.”
Pizza to go
If you are a pizza lover, here are some healthy choices.
* Among Pizza Hut’s Hand Tossed Pizzas, these are the best choices (slices assume large pizza): cheese (240 calories, 10 grams fat per slice), ham (260 calories, 10 grams fat per slice), Veggie Lover’s (220 calories, 8 grams fat per slice), and Chicken Supreme (230 calories, 7 grams fat per slice).
* Of Pizza Hut’s Thin ‘N Crispy Pizzas, these are the best choices: cheese (200 calories, 9 grams fat per slice), ham (170 calories, 7 grams fat per slice), Veggie Lover’s (190 calories, 7 grams fat per slice), Chicken Supreme (200 calories, 7 grams fat per slice).
* At Domino’s, the better options include thin crust cheese-only pizza (191 calories and 8.3 grams of fat per slice); hand-tossed cheese (258 calories and 7.75 grams of fat for per slice); and hand-tossed Veggie Feast pizza, 302 calories and 11 grams of fat per slice).
— www.webmd.com
Pizza bonus
A recent Italian study reported that pizza showed the most cancer-prevention promise of the many Italian foods tested. Here are pizza ingredients with anticancer potential, according to recent research:
* Tomato products. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant also found in pink grapefruit and watermelon. Studies show it may help protect against breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer. When looking for lycopene, there are two rules to follow: cooked or processed tomato foods actually contain more than raw tomatoes, and a little fat (like olive oil) makes it more available to body tissues.
* Olives and olive oil. Olives contain the antioxidant hydroxytyrosol. They’re also considered a flavonoid-rich food, and people who eat such foods are less likely to develop various types of cancer.
* Onions and garlic. Both contain anticarcinogenic compounds called organosulfer compounds. Men in China have the world’s lowest rate of prostate cancer, and a diet rich in garlic, shallots, and onions may be one reason. Plants in the onion family contain other phytochemicals with antitumor activity.
— www.webmd.com