pizza

Homemade pizza may beat delivery when it comes to being healthy, but you should still keep these tips in mind in order to make the healthiest pie yet.

• Load up on veggies: Low in calories and high in nutrition, vegetables should be the main star on any healthy pizza. Pile salad greens on top of your pizza before serving, or roast vegetables to top your pizza for a filling slice that's low-calorie. Get more healthy pizza toppings ideas are here.
• Break it down: If you're craving the taste of pizza, then you may be just as satisfied with healthier options. These healthy alternatives to pizza — like quinoa polenta pizza bites and mini English muffin pizzas — will hit the spot.
• Mind the dough: To be mindful of what you're putting in your pizza, make your own whole wheat dough. You can sneak extra nutrients like flax seed or keep it simple. This whole wheat pizza dough recipe is a nutritious base for all your homemade pizzas. And when you roll out your dough, keep the crust thin to save a few calories.
• Know your topping calories: Sometimes, you just want a slice of pepperoni pizza. Be smart about your topping by knowing how many calories are in a serving, so you don't go overboard while you're topping your pizza. Check out the calorie counts in your favorite pizza topping here.

If I had to choose a last meal, it would be pizza. I'm not talking about greasy, cheesy, heavy delivery pizza (which even I can admit is good once in a while). No, I'd choose a pizza made from scratch with the simplest of toppings.

I'm a die-hard pizza lover, so it's never a happy day when I realize I'm out of store-bought dough (which I've stashed away in the freezer in case of pizza emergencies). This was a dilemma I faced over and over, until I learned from Deb that pizza dough is actually incredibly easy to make.


Sure, it takes some time and patience (and overcoming the all-too-common fear of yeast), but the ability to have a meal from just a bit of flour, yeast, and water is completely liberating. It's a great feeling to not have to depend on store-bought dough to get your pizza fix.

What's more is that you can freeze the dough and take it out in the morning, let it thaw all day, and you'll have a fast, easy, and impressive meal ready to go when you get home from work. Find this simple recipe when you keep reading.

There is nothing better than a night spent at home with a few friends, a classic movie, and, of course, good food! If you have the movie picked but are still unsure about the menu, we have you covered. With everything from fizzy cream soda to homemade pizza, we've created a refined twist on traditional movie-theater favorites, so you can fine dine at home.

Caramelized Coconut Popcorn
All movie nights need a big bowl of popcorn to munch on. For a tropical twist on this typically buttery snack, try popping it in coconut oil. If you love the sweetness of kettle corn, then add a few spoonfuls of sugar before you start popping, and finish it with salt. The coconut oil complements the caramelized sugar in such a way that will make you rethink ever buying the theater stuff again.

Cream Soda
No movie is complete without a big, fizzy soda to wash down all that popcorn. With this cream soda recipe, you can easily make your own batch of vanilla simple syrup to stir into soda. If you're looking for an adult version, then splash a jigger of vodka into the cream soda.

Nacho Bites
It's tough to resist a warm, gooey queso dip at the theater, but since you'll be viewing from home, try these nacho bites for a similar satisfaction without mess. Unlike the typical, waxy theater cheese, these bites are loaded with a mixture of cilantro salsa and creamy goat cheese. Top with a dollop of guacamole for the perfect finger food.

Classic Homemade Pizza
Rather than settle on the ordinary delivery, try making your own pizza dough and topping it with your choice of veggies and meats.

Spanish Pizza Topped With Swiss Chard and Walnuts
Since this is a refined movie night, after all, consider topping some of those pizza crusts with unusual ingredients like swiss chard and walnuts, like in this Spanish-style pizza.

Pizza: there is something about it that can make any diet cave. Everything from the gooey cheese to the tantalizing aroma makes this dinner an unhealthy favorite. But it's when a pizza is loaded with toppings that the calories really start to add up. With these four (easy) swaps and substitutes, you can save on calories without sacrificing taste — transforming your favorite pie into a diet delight.

Get Creative With Proteins

Sausage, pepperoni, and ground beef aren't the only ways to pack protein on pizza. Get creative with your choices. Eggs are a lower-calorie option filled with nutrients and found in delicious recipes like this asparagus ribbon pizza. For pizza on meatless Mondays, marinate tofu, layer smokey tempeh strips (Fakin' Bacon), or add your favorite beans for meat-free satisfaction. Also consider lean proteins like turkey and chicken.

Load Up on Seasonal Veggies

The next time you bake or order pizza, pile on the veggies! Go light on the cheese and fill up on seasonal favorites like squash, arugula, and tomatoes found on this eggplant arugula pizza. Marinating your veggies in a variety of spices will add additional flavor without additional calories, and even if your pizza already has some veggies, the more the merrier. For a quick meal, chop up some extra veggies and add them to your delivery or frozen pizza. Adding the extra fiber will keep you full, preventing you from reaching for an extra slice or splurging on leftovers as a midnight snack.

Keep reading for more pizza ideas!