How healthy is pizza?

People are super hooked on junk food and there are some who can even go a day with just burgers, fries and a large glass of soda. One scrumptious "junk" food that people can't seem to get enough of is the classic and not so classic pizza.

The crust and the variations in toppings can really make one's mouth water with eagerness. This is a complete meal in itself, because of the carbohydrates, proteins and fats that go with slice or two.

Although most view this food as something that should not be consumed on a daily basis, because of excessive carbohydrates and fat intake; the humble pie would still pass as a main course if you get to tweak the ingredients and substitute them with those on a healthier level. But of course, even the basic pizza recipe can still be nutritional and quite healthy for you.

A slice of pizza - those with regular tomato sauce, pepperoni and cheese can give you more protein and calcium than what you need in a day. You also get the carbohydrates for an ample amount of energy that you need to get you through a rough and hectic day.

Treat it like you are having a tomato, ham and cheese sandwich. Same delicious taste and packed with almost the same amount of nutrients. But if you are a health buff, you can make adjustments to your local pie recipe by making your own or going to your local pizzeria and request for a personalised pie made specifically just for you. One good example is using whole wheat dough instead of the normal flour.

Low-fat or fresh cheese can also be used in place of your favourite regular processed mozzarella cheese; another way is to use fresh tomatoes for the sauce instead of using the canned and preserved ones. Remember that fresh is always the best way to stay healthy. Try to steer away from those canned sauces, processed toppings and those frozen pies because they contain large amounts of unwanted fats and calories.

If you take a look at the bigger picture, you will realise that there are certain types of food that may look really fat-soaked, but in reality, these food types can be health-friendly after all. The pizza has been around for hundreds of years and it has been tweaked and modified thousands of times.

Everywhere you look, you get to find a pizzeria waiting for you to sink your teeth into their pies. Remember that eating such types of food is not a sin, you just have to do things in moderation and find means to make the meal healthier for you. Do not settle for what you usually see off the freezer shelves in the supermarkets, make your own or order the healthier versions of your favourite pie.