Mealtime Makeover: Whole-Wheat Pizza

By using whole-wheat crust, part-skim cheese, turkey pepperoni, and mixed vegetables, this pizza offers kids more of the nutrients they need, with less fat and fewer calories.

Prep time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

This Recipe:

1 ready-to-bake whole-wheat pizza crust (10 inches in diameter)
1/2 c. pizza sauce
1 c. shredded part-skim, low-moisture mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. (17 slices) turkey pepperoni
1 c. sliced mushrooms

Traditional Recipe:

1/3 (2 slices) medium pizza (typical delivery-style pizza with pepperoni and thin crust)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400º F (204º C).
Spread pizza sauce on crust.
Spread cheese on top of the sauce.
Sprinkle sliced mushrooms and pepperoni on top of the cheese.
Bake approximately 15 minutes. Cut into 6 wedges.

Serves: 3

Serving size: 2 slices

Nutritional analysis (per serving):

This Recipe	Traditional Recipe
395 calories	570 calories
22 g protein	22 g protein
11 g fat	26 g fat
3.6 g sat. fat	10 g sat. fat
52 g carbohydrate	62 g carbohydrate
8 g fiber	3 g fiber
24 mg cholesterol	26 mg cholesterol
980 mg sodium	1507 mg sodium
160 mg calcium	259 mg calcium
1 mg iron	4 mg iron
n/a mcg folic acid	n/a mcg folic acid

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Variations and suggestions:

Use some of your favorite veggies for toppings instead of pepperoni and mushrooms. Peppers, broccoli, spinach, or fresh tomatoes are good options.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: May 2011

Related Resources

Allrecipes.com This site offers more than 40,000 free recipes, plus lots of cooking tips and information.

Cooking Light Cooking Light magazine goes online with recipes for healthy living, plus grocery coupons and tips for feeding your family.

American Dietetic Association The American Dietetic Association offers nutrition news, tips, resources for consumers and dietitians, and a find-a-nutritionist search tool.

Vegetarian Resource Group This site offers recipes, nutrition information, and lots more for vegetarians and anyone looking to eat less meat.

Tips for Cooking with Kids Helpful tips from PBS for parents who are cooking with kids.

ChooseMyPlate.gov ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information on how to follow the U.S. government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It includes resources and tools to help families lead healthier lives.

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