Pizza Pizzazz

Memories of mushrooms…

At my house growing up, pizza was an occasional treat.

Especially when my brother and I were very young, I could literally count the number of times the pizza delivery guy had arrived at our door.

And, I will never forget my deep disappointment one time when we opened the box to reveal the wrong pizza, sprinkled with several handfuls of mushrooms, a topping that could not have been further from satisfying the longings of my kid-sized heart and somewhat adventurous but still childlike palate.

As the years went by, I learned that some of my friends ate pizza every Friday night at their houses, which made me a bit jealous. Some actually ate takeout every night, which did not make me jealous at all. My family loves to cook, and so do I.

For the cooking averse and the time strapped, pizza is always there and it’s easy and it’s hot and it tastes good. But the real truth is…

Pizza is a sometimes food!

In some households, pizza makes an appearance on the regs. Or maybe it’s take-out fried chicken that graces your Friday night dinner table, or delivery from your favorite Chinese restaurant that you spread out in front of the TV week after week…

Here’s the deal:

In case you haven’t already heard, even though relying on delivery is super convenient at the end of a long week, it’s far from the healthiest option for your family.

Take out meals also make it easy to eat and run, or to eat in front of laptops and cell phones, missing out on a perfect opportunity to bond as a family.

The good news?

Get ready for it…

You don’t have to rule out pizza altogether!

Liven up the same-old pizza and make it healthier, too!

Whereas takeout pizza tends to be a greasy calorie bomb filled with saturated fat, salt and sugar, making your own pizza at home allows you to enjoy a treat that you and your kids will love while bumping up the nutritional content.

Making your own pizza at home also provides a great opportunity to gather together as a family. Let kids top their own quadrants of the pizza with their favorite vegetables, learn to make homemade dough as a family, and enjoy each other’s company. It beats waiting around for the delivery guy while you fight over what to watch on TV, right?

Check out the following suggestions to add some flare to that boring old Friday night pizza, with the addition of super flavorful and nutrient-packed ingredients.

First, say goodbye to the jarred and frozen stuff. Premade sauces can be high in salt and sugar, and premade dough may contain preservatives and artificial stabilizers.

Stick to fresh, natural ingredients and make your own Whole Wheat Pizza Dough and sauce instead.

Try these recipes for Homemade Pizza Sauce and Whole Wheat Pizza Dough from Eating Well.

Looking to add a healthy dose of leafy greens to your pizza? Try this recipe for Healthy Spinach and Ricotta Pizza from the Food Network.

Try this one for a broccoli, arugula and pesto-topped Green Pizza from Eating Well.

We always had a jar of roasted red peppers or pimentos in the fridge when I was growing up, and they make a great pizza topping.

Take it to the next level and roast your own to top that homemade pizza with this recipe for Roasted Bell Pepper and Olive Pizza from Cooking Light, via MyRecipes.

My husband absolutely loves pizza, but nachos come in at a close second. Combine the two and bump up the protein and veggie content with this tasty recipe for Black Bean Nacho Pizza from Eating Well.

If you’re still looking for more inspiration to add flair and pizzazz to your favorite Friday night treat, search for healthy homemade pizza recipes here on rememberstuff.me.