Healthy Choices at Your Local Pizza Shop

With our on the go lifestyle, many of us find it convenient to stop off at our local pizza shop for dinner. Although fast food is an easy option it is not always the healthiest for us. However healthy choices can be made anywhere, even at your local pizzeria, if you know where to look for them.

Veggie Subs
Included in a veggie sub: 6 inch whole wheat sub roll, two slices of American cheese, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Dressing is not included in the calorie estimate.
265 calories
3 grams of fat
2 grams of protein
less than 1% daily fiber
Almost all pizza shops offer subs. The veggie sub is not only low in calories, but filling as well. To keep calories low add a dressing on the side. Lite Italian or balsamic vinegar are good tasty low calorie choices. If you wanted to lower your calorie content even further you could hold off on the dressing all together and skip the cheese. After all you are at a pizza shop so go ahead and splurge a little without feeling guilty. Make sure you do skip the mayo and any special sauces though as theses are hidden calories sources. Have your roll toasted for added taste and none of the calories.

Grilled Chicken Wrap
Included in a grilled chicken wrap: 6 inch honey wheat roll, slices of grilled chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, sprinkle cheese. This calorie estimate includes Light Ranch dressing.
385 calories
11 grams of fat
27 grams of protein
8% daily fiber
Grilled chicken wraps make a great choice for any meal. If prepared properly wraps can be a healthier choice than pizza. A grilled chicken wrap is great because you do not need feel like you are missing out on anything. Wraps provide a filling and tasteful meal.

Small Garden Salad
Included in a small garden salad: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black olives, sprinkle cheese. Dressing is not included in this calorie estimate.
145 calories
1.5grams of fat
3 grams of protein
less than 1% daily fiber
Dressings can drastically raise the calorie content so either skip the dressing or ask for it on the side. Oil and vinegar is a good option for a low calorie dressing. If you want a little more than just a salad feel free to add on a few grilled chicken strips. Salads are good to eat as an appetizer. This way you have a chance to fill up before you even begin on the high calorie items.

Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Veggies
Included in the pasta: 1 cup pasta and tomato sauce, ½ cup veggies.
350 calories
10 grams of fat
9 grams of protein
Calorie Estimates taken from LiveStrong.com
Pasta, like most Italian dishes, are almost always readily available at your local pizza shop. In moderate proportions pasta can be a healthy alternative to pizza. Pasta is served in controlled proportions whereas your pizza is served in full pies. You have a dish that offers one serving size opposed to one that offers many serving sizes.

Veggie Pizza
Included in veggie pizza: one thin crust slice of veggie pizza complete with veggie toppings.
215 calories
5.5 grams of fat
1 gram of protein
less than 2% daily fiber

Cheese Pizza
Included in cheese pizza: one thin crust slice of cheese pizza.
230 calories
8 grams of fat
2 grams of protein
3% daily fiber
All right your at the pizza shop so it is only natural to want pizza. Learn how to pick the healthy options and you do not need to stay away. Ordering pizza without cheese is always a quick way to cut calories. Thin crust and wheat pizza crusts also offer a reduction in calories. Pile on the veggies instead of the fattening pepperoni and sausage. Hold the extra cheese and choose extra veggies instead. You can order a 12 inch pizza as opposed to a 14 inch one and have a smaller proportion size. Purchase individual slices if you cannot hold off the temptation of finishing off the entire box.

Healthy options are hidden everywhere, we just have to be smart about the choices we make. When you go and pick up your food order water instead of beer or soda. If you want something to go along with your pizza consider buying bread sticks over breaded wings. Bread sticks have almost a 100 less calories per serving than the breaded wings. Purchase a fresh garden salad to fill up on before you even dig into the pizza. One of my favorite things to do is to order off the child's menu. This way I get a sampling of everything that I want with the fraction of the calories. Always keep in mind that stopping at the pizza shop does not limit you to just purchasing pizza. Start off slowly and make small changes. Just by keeping your proportion sizes in moderation you are on your way to a healthier self.

All calories are approximate values given by the website, http://www.nutritiondata.com/, unless otherwise noted.

Sources:

Livestrong.com

http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/

NutrtionData.com

http://www.nutritiondata.com/