WHEN losing weight is top of your To Do list – you might think pizza is off the menu.
But a diet guru has debunked that myth, and is urging anyone on a diet to treat themselves now and again.
Terri-Ann Nunn said: "Pizza is often people’s favourite ‘naughty’ treat and it’s true that this food type can be very calorific and high in fat.
"However, living a healthy lifestyle is definitely not about swearing off your favourite foods completely and actually, enjoying a slice of pizza now and again is not going to stop you from losing weight.
"The key is to be smart about it, and work out swaps and tricks to still get your favourite pizza treat – with less of the guilt.
"The result? You definitely can eat pizza and still lose weight."
Here, Terri-Ann, the expert and founder behind the popular Terri–Ann 123 Diet Plan, takes us through the best healthy swaps so you can enjoy a pizza next time you're out – with none of the guilt.
1. Pizza Express
Pizza Express has a Leggera menu which contains 12 tasty pizzas that are all under 600 calories.
They're served as a ring of wholemeal, white and spelt dough with a hole in the middle filled with fresh, dressed salad.
The pizzas include chicken, goats cheese and caramelised onion, pepperoni and vegan options.
Terri-Ann recommends going for the Wholemeal Leggera Padana which contains 587 calories – this is in contrast to the Romana Padana which has 1,108 calories.
Both pizzas are covered in goat's cheese, caramelised onion and spinach – but one has half the calories.
2. Wetherspoons
Cheap and cheerful, Wetherspoons is a go-to for those of us who don't want to spend a fortune on a meal out.
However, you might want to avoid munching on a ham and mushroom 11 inch pizza if you're on a diet – as you'd be consuming a staggering 1,134 calories.
On the other hand, Terri-Ann urges slimmers to pick the ham and mushroom eight inch pizza – as you'd slash your calorie intake to 567 calories.
3. Prezzo
Prezzo offers two smaller and lighter pizzas which come served with a side salad.
They come in goat's cheese and aubergine and chicken primavera, which has just 524 calories.
This is the perfect option for those people trying to lose weight – unlike the restaurant's posh pepperoni pizza which has 1,242 calories.
4. Domino's
This takeaway pizza giant at long last launched a low-calorie option for those people on a diet last year.
They unveiled the Delight, which weighs in at under 650 calories a pop – perfect if you're trying to lose weight.
Each small slice contains 100 calories, and is made using Domino's signature dough stretched into a thin base and topped with reduced-fat mozzarella.
There's both a veggie option and a chicken one, with both boasting a load of crunchy mixed peppers, sweetcorn, tomatoes and chopped onions.
Another option to lower your calorie-intake that Terri-Ann has picked out is the Vegi Classic personal pizza which has 499 calories.
This is three times less calories than if you picked the American Hot large pizza.
5. Zizzi
Zizzi has a whole section on their menu dedicated to 'skinny pizzas' – which are all under 600 calories.
One Terri-Ann has picked out is the Zizzi Skinny Primavera which has just 521 calories.
On the other hand, if you were to go for the Primavera Rustica you'd be gorging on an excessive 1,339 calories.
6. Ask Italian
ASK has two lighter menus – one for pasta and one for pizza.
Their Prima Light pizzas are "made with less dough and more rainbow", all coming in slightly smaller sizes and with a rainbow salad.
Terri-Ann recommends ordering a Light Caprina, covered in goat's cheese and rocket, which has just 382 calories.
Meanwhile, if you were to pick the standard Caprina pizza, you'd be more than doubling your calorie intake to 863 calories.
7. Pizza Hut
A family favourite, nowhere does a deep-pan pizza quite like Pizza Hut.
While you may want to avoid the cheese stuffed crust offerings if you want to shed body fat, you can still find a ton of dishes to order.
In particular, Terri-Ann suggests going for a Veggie Supreme Small Classic Sourdough pizza which contains 696 calories.
This is in contrast to the Veggie Supreme Large Garlic Butter Stuffed Crust pizza which comes in at a staggering 2,100 calories.
Pizza hut also has a menu full of flatbreads – all of which contain under 550 calories.
Sure, a flatbread isn't a stuffed crust pizza but they're close enough.
8. Fake It!
If you're not eating out but still craving pizza, Terri-Ann says you can make your own lighter version of a Domino's or Pizza Express at home.
When making your pizza, she recommends adding tomato puree, lower fat cheese or mozzarella and your favourite toppings to a wrap or pitta bread base for a lighter option.
Terri-Ann adds: "We’ve all gotten to the end of eating a huge pizza and felt absolutely stuffed – because the recommend portion size isn’t the entire pizza.
Top tips for eating out
The Hospital Group's Dietitian George Hamlyn-Williams has revealed his top tips for eating out.
- Opt for tomato-based sauces instead of those containing cream, cheese, or coconut milk.
- Ask for certain components of the meal to be prepared differently if possible – such as poached eggs instead of fried, or baked potato instead of chips on the side.
- Go ‘bun-less’ when ordering burgers and swap out chips for a side salad.
- Avoid absentmindedly adding dressings or condiments to meals.
- Opt for leaner sources of protein, like grilled chicken or white fish, instead of pan-fried steak which will be higher in calories and saturated fat.
- Avoid starters that contain lots of cheese or batter, and instead opt for a healthier vegetable-based dish.
"It’s why eating an entire pizza can often set you back 2,000 calories or more, and why the last slice of pizza is nowhere near as enjoyable as the first.
"One of the best things you can do to still enjoy the taste of pizza on a diet is to reduce your portion sizes."
She concludes: "The best way to sustain a healthy lifestyle is to feel as if you aren’t depriving yourself."
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