Get a Slice of Nutrition with Your Veggie Pizza

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.