Dietitian-approved menus reinvent classic, well-loved dishes to make them healthier – without sacrificing their flavor or appeal.
October is National Pizza Month, so why not serve up some healthy versions to your senior care center residents? Pizza is a favorite among older adults, but traditional pies are often loaded with calories, fat and sodium. These tips can help you create pizzas that are healthy enough to enjoy any day of the week.
No. 1: Skip Traditional Pizza Crust
A fiber-rich, whole grain crust is much healthier than traditional crust made with white flour. Dietitians recommend getting creative – whole wheat tortillas, pita pockets and English muffins can serve as perfect crusts. Or, you can also make tasty and healthful crusts with cauliflower, zucchini and matzo.
No. 2: Use Homemade Pizza Sauce
Store-bought sauces are often packed with sugar and other not-so-healthy ingredients. Dietitian-approved menus feature pizza recipes with simple, homemade sauces that are nutritious and delicious. Tomato sauce is a classic, but your senior care center residents may also enjoy pizzas with other flavorful sauces, like pesto, salsa, hummus, refried beans or BBQ sauce.
No. 3: Choose Lighter Cheeses
Plenty of cheese is a must for many pizza-lovers, but be careful – many varieties are rather high in fat and calories. For healthier pizzas, go with recipes that include lighter cheeses. Part-skim mozzarella, sharp provolone and Parmesan are three light dietitian-approved options that offer a big flavor punch.
No. 4: Add Leaner Proteins
Instead of fatty meats like pork sausage or beef pepperoni, dietitian-approved pizza recipes rely on lean proteins like turkey and chicken. Beans, eggs and tofu can also bring a healthy boost of protein. What about chicken sausage or turkey pepperoni? Dietitians recommend using them sparingly, as many products are actually quite high in sodium.
No. 5: Pile on the Veggies
For flavor and nutrition, veggies are stars in pizza recipes used with dietitian-approved menus. Onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, chard, kale, spinach – the list of veggies you can pile on pizzas is endless. As an added bonus, if you use up the vegetables in your senior care center inventory, you’ll have less food waste and, therefore, lower food service costs.
No. 6: Serve with a Large Salad
Pizza can be a binge food – many seniors can easily eat several slices. But, even with healthy recipes, portion size is important. Dietitian-approved menus often include a large salad on pizza night. Salad helps round out the meal’s nutrition and makes it easier to get filled up without indulging in a third or fourth slice.
If you’d like more expert tips and senior recipe ideas for National Pizza Month, consider the Grove Menus meal planning system. Our cost-effective, user-friendly senior care center food menu program is designed to meet the needs of older adults. For a free demonstration of our exclusive system, loaded with hundreds of dietitian-approved menus, contact us today.