Many people automatically consider pizza as junk food and try to steer clear of it when adopting a healthy diet or fat loss program. However, if you make healthy topping choices, this is far from the case. By loading up on veggie toppings, pizza can become a well-balanced choice that supports your health.
Here are the top 5 best veggies to add to your pizza.
- Mushrooms—Mushrooms are a great topping to add to pizza to boost nutrition and flavor. They contain a scant 15 calories per cup and just over 2 grams of protein. Mushrooms also supply a high dose of selenium to protect against free radicals, as well as vitamins and minerals such as C, D, B, and copper. They add a fresh, earthy flavor to your pizza.
- Onions—Onions are a healthy, low calorie addition to any pizza. If raw, they add a little bite, if cooked to caramelization, they add sweetness. They are a rich source of chromium, a trace mineral that has an effect on how tissue cells respond to insulin levels. Onions are also high in B-complex vitamins that aid in keeping up GABA levels in the brain.
- Green Peppers—green or bell peppers are the most commonly used member of the Capsicum annum family. Their delicately sweet flavor makes them a popular pizza topping. Green peppers are a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as the full range of B-complex vitamins.
- Olives—Olives play a role in lowering cholesterol and have other benefits for heart health. They add a salty tang and richness to your pizza. Olives provide a large amount of plant-derived anti-oxidants, phytosterols, vitamins, and minerals. They supply vitamin E, a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant that helps protect the skin from harmful oxygen-free radicals.
- Banana Peppers—Banana Peppers give pizza a tangy, sweet kick. Like their green pepper cousins, they are low in calories, salt, and fat. They are also rich in fiber, potassium, beta-carotene, and vitamins A and C.
So, you don't have to avoid pizza to stick to a healthy diet. Just load your Hungry Howie's pizza with healthy veggie toppings and this once-taboo dish can be a part of your diet.