This pizza recipe is so great because it uses the best sandwich ideas to make a delicious homemade pizza that, I think, everyone will love. This recipe is not as involved as was the one I used for making pizza the first time around, but is still just as healthy and tasty.

For me, my best healthy cooking ideas come when I am forced to improvise with what’s available in my kitchen. I feel like I am perpetually low on ingredients, and this week was no exception. The one thing I did know was that I was going to be making pizza.

See, I had a number of pre-made gluten free pizza crusts hanging out in the back of my freezer that I wanted to use up soon. Outside of the crusts and cheese though, I lacked all of the other requisite ingredients needed to make a homemade pizza.

Or so I foolishly thought! The more I looked around at my meager food offerings, the more it dawned on me that I had a lot of my favorite sandwich ingredients available. Then and there, I elected to combine the two ideas to make a sandwich pizza. It’s definitely a pizza recipe off the beaten path, but I think the results speak for themselves…

Hopefully, most people know that a slice of pizza is far from the healthiest food item around. But did you know that one slice of Meat Lover’s pizza at Pizza Hut has over 1200 grams of sodium and a slice of pepperoni pizza at Papa John’s has 16 grams of fat. Holy cow!

But pizza can (surprisingly) be healthy! For healthier pizza options, try these recipes:

• Roasted Veggie Pizza
• Stove Top BLT Pizza
• Unique Maryland Seafood Pizza

There are so many people in the world who don’t consume enough protein in their diet. Protein is an essential nutrient that your body needs. People who don’t eat enough may develop Sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass and strength in the body. An affected person can experience a decrease in endurance and decrease the ability to perform everyday duties. Falls and bone fractures can result, making your lack of protein intake costly.

It is so easy to incorporate protein into your diet in a fun way. Pizza is a food that everyone just loves, no matter the age. Why not fuse the two together? Mr. ground beef, please shake hands with Mr. Pizza! Here are a couple of really fun recipes for ground beef that will make you start enjoying ground beef again, in a new way!

Healthy Bacon Cheeseburger Upside-Down Pizza

Baked Pizza Pita Sandwich

The world of diseases is a scary place, but it doesn’t have to be. Make eating protein a habit on a regular basis, like brushing your teeth. Beat the odds against Sarcopenia with ground beef!

Who doesn’t love pizza? Pizza is just one of those universally loved foods, up there with ice cream and potato chips. Unlike ice cream and potato chips, you CAN make a healthy pizza and save yourself from the temptations of delivery. Remember, cooking at home actually helps you lose weight. The basic ingredients of a pizza, dough, tomato sauce and toppings can be healthy.

1. If you can, purchase whole-wheat pizza bases or packaged dough or make your own whole-wheat pizza dough. The easiest pizza dough can be made with Bisquick. You can also make quick pizza with a whole-wheat pita or a whole-wheat baguette sliced in half length-wise.
2. Buy a vegetable tomato sauce or make your own with a combination of fresh chopped tomatoes and passata (pureed tomatoes, not tomato paste). I like to add in garlic, shallots and fresh basil to my homemade tomato sauce. You can also make a pizza with pesto instead of tomato sauce, which is by made by pureeing fresh basil, olive oil, garlic and pinenuts or walnuts.
3. Skip the cheese or use a small amount of reduced fat mozzarella.
4. Load up your pizza with fresh vegetables instead of meat. I like to use whatever seasonal produce is on hand, such as peppers, squash, mushrooms and onions.  Give this healthy Artichoke Pizza a try or this Roasted Veggie Pizza. You can also include chicken slices for lean protein.
5. Bake your dough pizza at high temperature, 450 degrees F for around 12 minutes. Other kinds if pizza with cooked bases can be briefly placed under the broiler.
6. Fresh herbs are a great source of fat-free flavor. Try fresh basil, thyme, marjoram or oregano sprinkled on top after baking.

Everybody has that craving, that desire. For even the most stringent health-conscious people, it can be incredibly hard to ignore those cravings for comfort food that’s not good for you at all. For me, that craving food is pizza. Sometimes, that craving for a delicious cheesy slice of pizza is too much to bear.

Instead of caving in and getting greasy pizza that is terrible for you, curb the cravings by making pizza at home. When you make your own pizza, you know exactly what is in it and can control the calories. Here are some tips to help you make healthy pizza.

• Make whole wheat pizza dough: Instead of using highly refined white flour, try using whole wheat flour. The refining process can take away nutrients. Whole wheat flour has more fiber, protein and other nutrients than white flour.
• Make your own pizza sauce: Sometimes, store-bought tomato sauces can be full of oil and/or sugar. Use fresh tomatoes and other healthy ingredients to make a tomato sauce that is good for you.
• Use lower fat cheeses: Cheese adds a creamy and tasty flavor to pizza, but that is because many cheeses are full of fat. Reach for a healthier, reduced fat option instead. Or, be adventurous and try a cheese-less pizza
• Top with fresh fruits and vegetables: Instead of going with more traditional toppings like pepperoni or sausage, try fresh vegetables. Meats can be full of fat. Veggies are low fat and add heaps of nutrients and health benefits to a pizza.

For some delicious healthy pizzas, give these recipes a try:
Healthy Artichoke Heart Pizza
Roasted Veggie Pizza
Maryland Seafood Pizza

For more great recipes for healthy versions of comfort foods, click here.

When one thinks of going on a diet, it’s typical to consider doing away with fatty, greasy, fried and just generally unhealthy foods. I know that when talking to friends who are attempting a new diet, many rule out pizza entirely. But coming from someone who is into eating healthy but LOVES pizza, there’s no reason to give this Italian treat up just because you’re on a diet! You can make pizzas at home your own way, and therefore control all of the ingredients you use. Making your own pizza not only allows you to create a healthier version of your favorite pies, but it’s also a fun activity that’s great to do with a friend, roommate or significant other.

Some tips to amp up the health factor in your next pie: go for low-fat cheeses (whole milk mozzarella packs a lot of fat!), pile on the veggies and try creating your own crust with whole wheat flour. Over on FaveDiets, we’ve got a number of healthier pizza recipes, including the roasted veggie pizza. This baby packs on roasted eggplant, zucchini and peppers for a delicious and healthy combination. Try it today and create your own variations!

We’ve just launched a brand feature at FaveDiets.com called What to Eat/What Not to Eat. This section is designed to help you make healthy choices and stick to your diet plans while eating out or ordering delivery. Every once in awhile, you can have convenience without sacrificing your diet.

To mark this new feature, here’s a What to Eat/What Not to Eat for everybody’s favorite delivery: pizza!

What to Eat

Thin Crust- These crispy crusts are generally lower in calories and, in my opinion, must tastier!

Hawaiian- Give it a try! You’ll get an extra serving of fruit through the pineapple, generally leaner ham and you might just love the taste!

Vegetables- Look for veggie pizzas, especially those with spinach, or create your own with mushrooms, bell peppers and onions.

Low-fat Cheese or No-Cheese- Many pizza places offer lower-fat mozzarella or no-cheese options. Just ask!

Bread-sticks- Just order two bread-sticks or share a larger portion. Have with marinara or “pizza” sauce instead of cheese sauce.

What Not to Eat

Beef/Pepperoni/Sausage- Just say no to meat-lovers!  Most of these meats will give you a much higher-calorie pizza.

Deep-Dish/Special Crusts- Avoid the calorie-laden traps of “pan crust,” “deep-dish” or cheesy crusts.

Garlic bread- Generally swimming in butter and cheese, skip the garlic bread.

Chicken wings- You don’t even want to know how awful these are for you.