Low Carb, High Flavor Pizza Toppings You'll Love!
If you’re trying to lose weight by cutting back on carbohydrates, you may find pizza night a challenge. But when all your friends are chowing down on deep-pan white bread crusts slathered in thick layers of cheese, you don’t have to be left out, because there are healthier alternatives that will fit into your low carb diet.
Here are some low carb, high flavor pizza toppings you’ll love!
Olives
Black and green olives alike make tasty low carb pizza toppings. The Italians have known for centuries that these zesty little fruits are as good for you as they are delicious. Olives contain healthy monounsaturated fats that are essential to your health and may aid in weight loss. They are also relatively low in carbs, containing roughly 5% carbohydrates.
Pickles
Dill pickle slices are a flavorful topping that may just surprise you. Pickles and cheese are a winning combination, and the tang of the dill perfectly offsets the sweetness of the tomato sauce. While pickles contain carbs, these are complex carbs which are fiber-rich and good for you, so you have nothing to fear from these ripple-cut slices.
Spinach
Most vegetables are low carb or contain more healthy carbs than simple ones. Spinach is virtually carb-free, so if you like the taste, then you should feel good about adding handfuls of this high fiber veggie to your pizza. Spinach also contains a fair amount of iron and protein, making it a very nutrient-rich vegetable.
Yellow squash
Yellow squash offers a mild, sweet flavor that is low in carbohydrates. You might not think of it as a typical pizza topping, by try it char grilled with red peppers for added depth. You might discover it’s your new favorite topping. Char grilled veggies pair well with a thin, whole wheat crust.
Cheese
Not all cheeses are created equally when it comes to watching your carbs. Parmesan is probably one of the highest in carbs, mozzarella falls neatly in the middle, and Monterey Jack is relatively low. However, cheese in general is fairly low in carbohydrates, so you don’t need to stress too much about which ones you eat.
Meat
Most meat is low in carbohydrates, so you can feel good about topping your pizza with natural chicken, beef, pork, or anchovies. However, you may want to avoid processed meats as some may contain added sugars or other forms of carbohydrates. Check the labels to make wise choices.
These are just a few of the nearly limitless options in low carb toppings. But there are some surprisingly high carbohydrate toppings you may want to reconsider. One of these is sauce. Pizza sauce almost always has added sugar, and refined sugar is one of the worst types of carbohydrates. You could avoid this by creating your own sauce or using tomato puree instead. Sausages and pepperoni slices are also often surprising sources of carbs, as are some cheeses. It’s always best to check the nutritional labels of any pizza ingredients before dedicating yourself to a meal you might later regret.
