Pizza Can Be Healthy

Pizza is a food that is much loved. If you are wanting to keep within a healthy calorie range whether you are eating out at a pizza establishment or making a pizza at home, there are a few important tips to follow.

The difference between thick crust pizza and thin crust can be huge. On average a thin slice of pizza can save you 50 calories per serving over the thick crust. If you usually have a few slices, this can add up quickly.

Meat, similar to a thicker crust, can add significant amounts of fat and calories. Rather than choosing toppings like pepperoni, sausage, and beef, choose leaner meats like chicken, ham, shrimp, or Canadian bacon. These leaner meats also serve as a great source of protein that will help keep you satisfied longer.

Vegetable toppings are an easy way to add nutrients to your pizza without adding several calories. Onions, black olives, red peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli are excellent choices. Vegetables also provide fiber, which along with protein can leave you tied over until your next meal.

Piling on the healthful toppings and limiting cheese is another trick to cut a lot of fat and calories from your pizza.

Finally, salads are a great side dish to be eaten with pizza. Salads are relatively low in calories and can help balance your meal to keep your calorie intake in check.

Next time you are planning a trip to a pizza establishment, check out their website first. Often, nutritional value and content of foods are listed on their sites. This, along with the tips mentioned above, will help keep your trip successfully healthy and not leave you feeling guilty.

Restaurants on a Diet

Eating out is not easy to do on a diet, but it is possible if you know what to order.

When it comes to meats, remember portion sizes.  It is recommended to stick to about 3 oz of meat at a meal (use the palm of your hand or a deck of cards as a portion guide).  The leanest cuts of meat are round and loin: ground round, sirloin, tenderloin; and flank.  Trim visible fat before diving into your meal.  If it is a 7 or 12 oz steak, portion it immediately and put the extras in a box to take home.  Also, pay attention to cooking methods, baked, broiled, and grilled are better than fried.

Ordering salads is a healthy option, but be careful with dressings and cheeses.  They add calories and fat quickly to your meal.  Ask for salad dressing on the side so you control how much you use.

Many sitdown restaurants have soups.  Order soups that are clear, broth-based rather than cream-based.  Creamy soups tend to have more calories and fats per serving. 

Portioning foods before eating, by putting it in a to-go box or by sharing it with a friend, is the best way to save calories and keep food out-of-sight out-of-mind.  Plan ahead.  If a restaurant you enjoy has an online menu, check it out.  Eating at restaurants does not have to be a deal breaker for your diet, but should not be a regular habit either.