As seen on January 16, 2013 on:
written by The Nutrition Twins,
It’s been about two weeks since we kicked off the new year–in other words, right about the time that cravings start to creep in, leading people to stray from their nutrition resolutions.
If you’re like most Americans, it won’t shock you to hear that pizza tops the list of most tempting foods. In fact we weren’t a bit surprised that a recent survey, conducted by Sbarro and Kelton Research, found that about 40 percent of the participants would rather give up Facebook for a year than sacrifice their right to a slice for the same amount of time.
Thankfully, you don’t have to renounce your beloved cheese-topped treat to keep a trim waistline. It’s all about making the right choices. Here are three ways to satisfy your pizza craving while sticking to your 2013 resolution.
When you dine out or order in:
Mistake: You grab any slice that you can get your hands on. A typical slice can set you back as much as 400 to 500 calories–and that’s before you add extra cheese and meat toppings.
The Fix: You’re allowed to go for the real deal, as long as you practice balance and deduct these calories from somewhere else in your day. Maybe you forgo dessert tonight, or skip having a soda with your lunch. If you still want to get your pizza fix for fewer calories, the Sbarro Skinny Slice™ is a great option. It contains just 270 calories and comes prepared with roasted red and green bell peppers, portobello mushrooms, and sweet, caramelized onions. It’s all topped with a sprinkling of mozzarella and pecorino romano cheeses. If you’re dining elsewhere, we recommend that you look for pies that use a sprinkling of cheese (instead of loads of it), and select veggies rather than the meat toppings. You may also want to opt for thin-crust pizza to cut calories.
When you heat up a frozen pizza:
Mistake: You eat the entire frozen pizza without realizing there were three servings in the box. This means even healthier options can set you back more than 1,000 calories. (Read about other serving size scams that make you fat)
The Fix: Read the labels so you can stick to a serving size. Each serving should contain less than 300 calories, 12 g of fat, and should have at least 3 g of fiber. Also keep a close eye on sodium. Try to keep your sodium intake for a single serving well under 750 mg. To avoid devouring the entire pizza, add a side of steamed veggies or a salad with a piece of fruit so you’re not hungry. We always do this, typically with a large side of steamed broccoli.
When you’re telling yourself not to think about pizza:
Mistake: You do everything you can to resist temptation, but end up overeating other foods in order to distract your taste buds.
The Fix: Make your own healthy pizza to satisfy the craving. Open up a piece of whole wheat pita bread by cutting around its circumference. The pita keeps your calories low and makes a nice crispy crust. Spread your favorite tomato sauce on top, add some veggies (we like broccoli, mushrooms and peppers) and some low-fat cheese. Pop it in the toaster oven until the cheese melts and starts to brown. Voila, craving quenched; possible binge diverted! (Related: 6 Ways to Slim Your Slice)
Disclosure: The Nutrition Twins are working with Sbarro this month to help the public to make healthier pizza choices by choosing the new Skinny Slice over higher calorie pizza options.
Cure Your Salt Hangover and Lose Big
For more nutrition guidance and a ‘get healthy’ plan, please check out the “The Nutrition Twins Veggie Cure“
Published on Fitbie on January 16, 2013