Restaurant Dishes Made Healthier Right At Home

This month we will be publishing articles and recipes with the theme, “Restaurant Dishes Made Healthier Right At Home” and our first article is below.

California Pizza Kitchen – Customize Healthy Ingredients At Home

If anyone knows how to create a custom menu for kids, it's the California Pizza Kitchen. Taking almost every health preference into account, such as vegetarian and vegan, gluten free and high allergy foods, the California Pizza Kitchen knows how to take care of their customers. If pizza is on your mind, but the budget is tight and you have a gaggle of hungry kids to feed, you might want to adapt your own pizza menu that is just as versatile and maybe a bit healthier.

Saucy Hidden Nutrition

Pizza is usually one of the more popular meals in the United States. It doesn't take much convincing to get the whole family excited about having pizza for dinner. The big debate doesn't begin until the toppings are up for discussion. If you have a difficult time getting your family to choose anything other than mountains of pepperoni and piles of fatty cheese, it may seem impossible to get a healthier pizza on the table. But, here's the trick; start with a healthy homemade sauce to help pack in the nutrients.

Yes, making your own sauce can provide a great way to add those vegetables you only wish your kids would try. But, you don't have to slave for hours over a hot stove to make your own sauce. You can start with a jar of all-natural (check label) prepackaged marinara sauce and puree in some spinach, roasted red bell pepper, garlic, onion, and mushrooms. You can even sneak in a little grated zucchini, squash, or sweet potatoes to really boast the fiber and nutritional levels. Be sure to include lots of “pizza spices” like basil and oregano. Once the sauce is down and toppings piled high, your family will never guess the pizza they are about to enjoy is actually good for them!

Cut the Crust

Bread is very often the first to go when it comes to making dishes more healthy. Cutting out carbs is one way to lose weight for many people. So it's only natural to try to find ways to have pizza without the crust, or at least with a healthier crust.

For instance, serving your favorite pizza toppings either on top of, or wrapped in, a tortilla is an option. You can even create pizza-like meals in or on large leaves of lettuce rather than on bread for a better way to eat healthy. Along with tortillas and lettuce, experiment with other types of crust, such as pita bread or even a personal-size pizza made on an English muffin half. Re-think that huge, thick, buttery pizza crust and come up with your own fun, and healthier, ways to have your pizza and still avoid a lot of the carbs.

Pizza Your Way

Try some of your other favorite healthy meals in a pizza style. Choose an all-natural barbecue sauce (read the label to avoid added sugar, salt, and fat) for your sauce, then top with grilled chicken for a healthier alternative to sausage. Top with coleslaw and mozzarella cheese made with skim-milk. The coleslaw is a tasty and healthy way to add vegetables and crunch that you and your family won't be able to resist. The mozzarella cheese gives you the gooey goodness you expect in a pizza without all the fat.

Another idea that is sure to please is pizza rolls. Instead of making a traditional pizza on a big, fatty pizza dough crust, make tiny pizza rolls out of your favorite healthy ingredients on top of phyllo dough, puff pastry, or even tortillas. Spread your healthy toppings out onto thinner, smaller square pizza “crusts,” fold into triangles or roll up and bake on a cookie sheet. Spice them up just like a pizza and you'll be amazed how fast your family digs in. Keep your crusts thin and light, then fill them with healthier choices, and you'll have a much more nutritious pizza.