5 Ways To Add More Fiber To Your Take-Out Pizza

4 May 2015
 Categories: , Articles

Share

Having a diet rich in fiber can help control bowel movements, control blood sugar levels, and help lower cholesterol levels. Adding sources of fiber in your diet can be done with a variety of foods, including take-out pizza. By ordering specific types of pizza ingredients and toppings, you can easily increase the amount of fiber while enjoying the delicious foods.

The following five ingredients all feature great sources of fiber and can help create a delicious pizza topping combination.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a classic pizza topping. Not only do they taste great, but they can increase the amount of fiber in your diet. When ordering a mushroom pizza, it's important to know what type of mushrooms you're ordering. Certain mushrooms have a lot more fiber than others.

  • Chanterelle Mushrooms: These golden mushrooms feature a good amount of fiber per serving. Some restaurants may refer to these as egg mushrooms on their menu.
  • Maitake Mushrooms: Referred to as the "Hen-of-the-wood," the Maitake mushroom features numerous health benefits, including a lot of fiber.
  • Portobello Mushrooms: Large portobello mushrooms are probably most commonly found at Italian restaurants and can easily increase the fiber in your pizza.

Mushrooms pair nicely with a number of pizza toppings including shaved steak, chicken, or ham.

Black Beans

A Mexican pizza features a lot of high-fiber ingredients including lettuce and tomatoes, but black beans can really increase your fiber intake. Black beans feature a good amount of fiber and they can add a rich flavor and texture to your pizza. Just one cup of black beans contains 15 grams of fiber.

When ordering a Mexican pizza, request the addition of black beans to the mix if it's not already a part of the toppings.

Spinach

An easy way to boost the fiber in your pizza is by adding some spinach to the mix. Instead  of adding spinach as a direct topping, you can blend it right in with the pizza sauce. While ordering the pizza, you can request finely chopped spinach to get added right to the sauce. This will allow you to enjoy your regular pizza toppings while still enjoying the fiber increase.

If you choose to have spinach on top of the pizza, there are a number of other ingredients you can pair it with. The flavors blend well with garlic and a number of cheeses. Fire roasted tomatoes can add a little more fiber and pairs well with the spinach.

Broccoli

One cup of broccoli contains 2 grams of fiber, making it a fresh and great pizza topping. There are a number of ways you can mix broccoli with pizza ingredients to create a delicious combination.

  • Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo Pizza: Broccoli pairs nicely with a creamy sauce and some chicken. This is a great specialty pizza that many restaurants naturally offer, but can be made as a request too.
  • Broccoli and Artichokes: Not only do artichokes mix great with broccoli, but they can add even more fiber to each slice.
  • Extra Cheeses: A number of additional cheeses can pair well with broccoli. This includes feta and ricotta cheese.

Whole-Grain Wheat Pizza Crust

Start your pizza base with a better fiber option. Replacing a white pizza crust with a whole-grain wheat pizza crust can add a lot more fiber while sticking to your favorite pizza toppings. One cup of whole grain wheat includes 2 grams of fiber.

A lot of restaurants offer whole-grain wheat pizza crust. Even if it's not listed on the menu, it's a good idea to request this while ordering the pizza.

Being aware of the fiber in your diet can make a huge difference for your regulation and health. By exploring these different options, you may even find a new favorite pizza to enjoy.