If you’re following a medical weight loss plan, you probably hope to keep many of your favorite foods in your meal routine. But when you’re tracking things like caloric intake and carbohydrates, continuing to enjoy those foods can feel a bit tricky. Luckily, that doesn’t mean you can’t chow down on some pizza! There are ways that we can help you keep this common favorite available to you.
For the most part, the crust of pizza presents the biggest challenge for those following a medical weight loss plan. It’s full of simple carbohydrates and loads of calories, yet contains little nutritional value. Swapping out your traditional white-flour crust for one of these newer alternative crusts could be the solution you need.
Cauliflower crust. Cauliflower is a common substitute for those who follow a gluten-free diet, but of course anyone can enjoy it. Many pizza shops are even adding it to their menu of options. The great thing about cauliflower crust is that you can add a serving or two of vegetables to your meal, helping you to reach one of your health goals for the day. And cauliflower contains fiber, potassium, and folate, so it offers valuable nutrients.
Chickpea crust. Chickpea crust is higher in protein than other alternatives, making it the perfect choice for those of you struggling to meet protein quotas. Chickpeas also contain manganese, folate, and iron, so this type of crust makes a great nutritional choice as well. And as a bonus, chickpea crust is very filling! So you will feel full on less food than with other pizza crusts.
Sweet potato crust. Search for sweet potato crust recipes, and you’ll discover that they tend to contain mashed sweet potato, oats or almond flour, and egg. Not only will you enjoy a healthier crust, free of white flour; you’ll also add veggies and a bit of protein to your meal.
Almond flour crust. This is the perfect crust for those of you who enjoy a thin, crispy version. It won’t be as low in calories as some other options, because almonds do contain more fat (but it’s the good kind of fat). However, almond flour is also free of processed white flour, and it’s high in vitamin E.
All of these options still contain calories, of course, so those on a medical weight loss plan should continue to include that information in their daily calculations. For more information on how to include your favorite foods into your eating regimen, but in a healthier way, call us to schedule a consultation.
