Your mom and dad eat a lot of frozen pizza. It’s their frozen food, but you know it’s not healthy. National Pizza Week falls during the second week of January. It’s time to learn how to turn your parents’ favorite meal into a healthier one.
Switch to a Whole-Grain Crust
Don’t have the pizza on a white crust. Instead, switch to a whole-grain or whole-wheat crust for added fiber. Make a crust using whole-wheat flour, yeast, honey, and water.
Make a Crust From Cauliflower
Swap out the bread crust for one made of cauliflower. Use a grater to grate a head of cauliflower. Mix that with eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and some nutritional yeast. Form that dough into a crust to support your tomato sauce and toppings.
Focus on Vegetables
Skip the processed meats when choosing toppings. Instead, focus on plenty of vegetables. Slice and grill Portobello mushrooms to use instead of beef. You could make a Mexican pizza with salsa, cheddar, peppers, onions, and black olives.
Make your own tomato sauce, too. Puree ripe plum tomatoes in a food processor and cook that with sliced fresh basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. When it’s thick, put it into jars to store in the refrigerator.
Choose Low-Fat Cheeses
Instead of aiming for high-fat cheeses, look for those that are lower in fat. Cheeses made with skim milk may be a better option for your parents. Fresh mozzarella in moderation with some fresh basil leaves and Pomodoro sauce makes for a healthier pizza.
Watch Portions
Portion control is essential when it comes to meals. Your parents may be tempted to eat an entire pizza on their own, but a serving size is usually one slice. If they still feel hungry, pair the soup with a low-calorie soup made from vegetable stock, barley, and chopped vegetables.
If they don’t want soup, pair the pizza with a large salad. Toss the greens and other vegetables with fresh citrus juice instead of an oily dressing.
Have you looked at meal preparation assistance from an in-home care aide? It’s time to address your parents’ need for help around the home. While it can be hard to admit your parents are struggling, it’s also important.
Talk to an in-home care specialist about care services like meal preparation. Instead of your parents focusing on frozen or canned foods that are easy to make, your parents enjoy hearty, healthy meals prepared by their caregivers. Call an in-home care agency to learn more.