Senior Care News

A Healthier Slice of Pizza

Elder Care in Galion OH

For elderly adults looking to maintain a healthy diet filled with nutrients, finding healthy and delicious recipes can sometimes be a challenge.  Making a commitment to a healthy diet can often mean giving up favorite foods that elderly adults have been enjoying for years.  One of those favorite foods is pizza, a food famous for being greasy, heavy, caloric, and full of empty calories.  However, pizza doesn’t have to be unhealthy.  By making some simple substitutions, elderly adults can enjoy pizza on a regular basis while still maintaining a healthy diet.  And, as a bonus, the substitutions can be tasty, too!  Read on for some ways to make each component of pizza more healthful and nutrient-rich.

Pizza Crust:

Pizza crust is usually heavy, doughy, and full of bleached flour.  However, there do exist healthier versions of crust that are delicious, too.  One way to make a healthier pizza crust is to substitute whole wheat flour for white flour which has much more fiber.  To add omega-3 fatty acids to the mix, simply add some ground flaxseeds to the dough.  If avoiding carbohydrates is a goal, try making a pizza crust recipe that uses cauliflower or spaghetti squash as the main component.

Pizza Sauce:

Pre-made, jarred pizza sauces are loaded with sugar and salt.  For a healthier version, make your own sauce at home using salt-free canned tomatoes, herbs, spices, and olive oil.  For a different flavor all together, try using brushed-on olive oil in place of sauce.

Toppings:

Forego greasy toppings like pepperoni and sausage and load your pizza up with delicious vegetables.  Mushrooms, peppers, and onions are popular choices, but unique vegetables can really add a depth of flavor to your pizza.  For something a little different, try zucchini, asparagus, roasted red peppers, fresh tomato slices, or kale.  These veggies will not only make your pizza tastier, it will also provide you with many essential vitamins and nutrients such as fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, and calcium.

Cheese:

Cheese, like any dairy food, is a good sour of calcium.  Too much cheese, however, is not a great diet choice.  When making your own pizza, try cutting the amount of cheese by half and add extra nutritious toppings instead.

If you are considering hiring elder care services near Galion, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.  Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.

Stephen Sternbach

Recent Posts

Categories

Contact Us About Home Care

Skip to content