Anyone else scratching their heads over Pizza feature in CL May issue?

[Kelly_HotCookin]

I was quite surprised that Cooking Light (May issue) has a huge feature on varying types of pizza. My husband only eats pizza in an emergency--maybe once a year. For him, pizza=gain weight. :) Now, I'm sure the pizzas that CL features are better for you, but I'm just not sure why there was a huge feature on them.

On the flip side, I loved Mark Bittman's column 'Less Meat, More Flavor' in that same issue. We embraced that concept last night with pork and veggie stir fry.

[sneezles]

Could be that over the years we have had tons of threads here on the BB about pizza...it's probably one of our favorite subjects and some of us make pizza once a week..

As for Bittman, he's not the first to preach that concept...

[funniegrrl]

Pizzas can actually be very healthy if prepared with a healthy mindset. There are several restaurants I visit that have small, thin-crust, wood-fired pizza that is not overloaded with cheese or other high-cal ingredients. Change that white crust to a whole wheat one and you have a seriously delicious, healthy meal as long as you monitor portions. Even a thin-crust cheese pizza from a chain is reasonable if you eat a reasonable portion.

Joe (HealthyinMN) has a blog where he describes the pizza he makes every Friday for dinner. He's not posting much here or there because he's in the middle of moving across the country, but you can peruse his previous posts that go back years.

[veschke]

They do one of those every year or two, it's part of the regular article rotation. Pizza per se isn't bad for you, just watch the portion size. :)

[funniegrrl]

As for Bittman, he's not the first to preach that concept...

Indeed. Jane Brody's Nutrition Book, which I read in 1984, discussed this concept extensively.

[amyvn]

I get the feeling that CL is going hard after the newsstand purchase crowd. The emphasis on chili, pizza, and comfort food just doesn't feel like it's meant to resonate with the long-time CL subscribers. The newsstand cover with the coconut cake and the headline "this is good for you", which was pointed out in another thread, speaks to the same thing I think.

Amy

[Kelly_HotCookin]

@amyvyn
I think you're right (CL is targeting newstand buyers).... I love an occasional slice (every 6 mos, LOL) of coconut cake, but I never tell myself it's good for me. :)

@sneezles
Thanks...yes, I know other people/companies (Weight Watchers) preach the same concept of more veggies, less meat. I was just remarking how I really enjoyed Mark Bittman's column.

@funniegrrl
I understand pizza can be made healthier....but for some people who are watching their cholesterol level (like some relatives of mine) it just doesn't make sense to eat it, KWIM?

@veschke
Portion size is the kicker, isn't it?

Of course, this pizza feature didn't resonate with me especially because I just don't care for pizza. I had way too much of it back in my college days. LOL.

[SusanMac]

I haven't seen all of the recipes yet in terms of how healthy they are, but I'm glad to see pizza on the cover. Pizza is one of those foods tagged as 'evil' when I think it's unnecessary. We make pizza all the time at home b/c we can control the ingredients & make it healthier. It often tastes better, in fact, than going out for a pizza overloaded with fatty gooey toppings.

And at home we're more likely to pair it with a giant green salad, too, which helps.

We eat burgers at home, too, for similar reasons. We can typically make healthier versions at home vs at a restaurant.

ETA: Wow, in the time I first drafted this there were 5 other responses :-) Looks like we all are advocates of making pizza healthy. It's too important of a food, IMO, to give it up completely!

[Connor's mom]

I have not gotten the May CL yet, but I am compelled to chime in here.

Pizza is something that CL does (or at least has done in the past) very well. Because their pizzas are typically not your standard pepperoni and tons of cheese, they are more flavorful and a slice is sufficient for me (two for DH and DS). Some of our favorites over the years include:


Malaysian chicken pizza
Chicken, red grape, and pesto pizza
Pesto pizza with butternut squash
Bacon, onion, and mushroom pizza
Turkey alfredo pizza
And if you do want a more traditional pizza, the Chicago-style deep dish pizza is excellent

I always throw more veggies on than the recipe calls for and these recipes are very accommodating to such.

I'll second looking at Joe's blog for his numerous healthy pizza recipes/reviews. I got my "go to" whole wheat crust from him, and no one ever complains that it's too wheaty and it's very quick.

Give one a try and see what you think. Perhaps it will give your husband a refreshed perspective of pizza.

[funniegrrl]

I understand pizza can be made healthier....but for some people who are watching their cholesterol level (like some relatives of mine) it just doesn't make sense to eat it, KWIM?

No, I don't. It's entirely possible to eat pizza that is not laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. If you don't understand that, then perhaps you miss the entire point of CL. The idea is that no type of food is always bad every time. You can enjoy items that are largely considered "junk food" by making healthy versions and enjoying reasonable portions. For example, a serving of the Manchego and Chorizo Pizza has 382 calories, 4.7g saturated fat (15.4g fat total) and 23g cholesterol. Compare that to the Healthy Choice Steamer I had for lunch, which as 320 calories, 2.5g saturated fat (9g total fat), and 35g cholesterol. Explain to me how the pizza would be a food that the cholesterol watchers should avoid at all costs?

[Kate B]

Malaysian chicken pizza




This is my all-time favorite homemade pizza -- I just made it again a week or so ago!

I enjoyed Bittman's column this month, too.

Kate

[Angelina]

@funniegrrl
I understand pizza can be made healthier....but for some people who are watching their cholesterol level (like some relatives of mine) it just doesn't make sense to eat it, KWIM?



As a vegan, I make pizza with absolutely no dietary cholesterol and little to no saturated fat. So pizza to me makes a lot of sense. I am not saying you should make vegan pizza, even though there are plenty of awesome recipes out there, but you can definitely make a pizza that is lower in fat and delicious.

[zwieback]

I don't have anything against CL having a feature on pizza. I enjoy making pizza and am always looking for new ideas.

I don't think the cover photo is very appealing, though. The pizza just didn't look too appetizing to me. There was something that looked a little off with the cheese.

[dcollier]

We eat pizza at least twice a month using a grilled, thin crust pizza dough CL featured years ago. I make my own pizza sauce, which is delicious while being very healthy, and we load it with veggies and low-fat cheese. I just glanced at this article at lunch yesterday and am looking foward to reading it. When our grown nieces visit us, they always beg us to make "our" homemade pizza. I was happy to see a large feature on pizza.

Denise

[SusanMac]

JJSooner's picture of her pizza in the Sardines thread should be on the cover. It's gorgeous!

Kelly - hope you don't think we're attacking you. But, as you can tell, we've got a lot of healthy pizza fans around here!

I keep trying to convince my in-laws that pizza isn't evil, too, but they don't believe me b/c their Dr told them not to eat it. Plus, they don't think pizza is real pizza unless it has sausage on it. So, I'm not fighting the battle anymore (I would if it were my own parents ;-)

[GayeC]

I get the feeling that CL is going hard after the newsstand purchase crowd. The emphasis on chili, pizza, and comfort food just doesn't feel like it's meant to resonate with the long-time CL subscribers. The newsstand cover with the coconut cake and the headline "this is good for you", which was pointed out in another thread, speaks to the same thing I think.

Amy

The changes to CL certainly give this impression. Although I'm wondering why they would go after the newsstand crowd while seemingly alienating many long-time subscribers. Aren't advertising rates based on the number of subscribers? I really don't understand CL anymore and am planning to let my subscription lapse.

I am a big fan of making pizza at home - I make it once a week - but even so the May issue did not inspire me.

[funniegrrl]

Aren't advertising rates based on the number of subscribers?

No, it's based on both subscribers and newsstand sales.

[blazedog]

While advertising rates are based on overall circulation, covers are critical for driving newsstand sales of ALL magazines. And newsstand sales are very profitable -- as well as driving potential FULL PRICE subscribers to the magazine.

I do think the CL covers (as well as Weight Watcher Magazine) covers have an element of bait and switch as they generally depict desserts or what is perceived as "fattening" foods on the cover. If my recollection is correct, CL has had spaghetti & meatballs, a dessert and now pizza on the cover.

I do understand that pizza is theoretically part of a healthy diet but I think the world is divided amongst those people who have weight issues and those people for whom weight management is easier. It's easy to say "portion" control but the portions (even of the light version of pizza) are pretty skimpy and there are probably more helpful kinds of foods to be eaten on a regular basis.

I don't begrudge people their pizza recipes but personally I (and most of the women I know) have no interest in them. Perhaps they are more suited for families with children or husbands for whom the portion control is less critical and the sub of healthy pizza for the unhealthy kind is good meal planning.

On the other hand, the frying recipes were down right idiotic. Even the regular fried food gives the same instructions in terms of temperature of heating oil being critical -- it's more of a good recipe technique than a light technique.

I am more successful with a kind of volumetrics approach to food -- pizza (even light pizza) is more calorically dense than other food choices and less apt to satiate me for the same number of calories. I have to consciously limit pizza intake whereas other food choices are more self regulating since I get filled with a dish that is filled with veggies/beans/lean proteins.

[Valerie226]

I'm a huge fan of pizza... it's my favortie food. I don't have it as often as I like because I have portion control problems, but that can be said about ANY food.
As has been mentioned numerous times, it's easy to tone down the fat and calories to make it less troublesome calorically. and pizza absolutely requires a large crispy green salad, so it fits nicely into a healthy diet.

[LakeMartinGal]

I'm happy for a pizza article -- I got my best pizza sauce recipe from CL! And we have pizza in rotation every month or so, and to h3ll with portion control that night!:p:D Though I do make a big salad, and everyone eats that, first, so that's my portion control! And, I've started cutting it into 8 pieces (there are 3 of us), so we can each have 2 pieces, with leftovers for first-come, first-served lunch the next day!;)

[heavy hedonist]

We like to have pizza, homemade especially, often. it's a good meal the way i make it, lots of fresh veg and scratch sauce and crust. we use less cheese nowadays than we used to...
but if i was still a subscriber, i'd be crazed to see MORE pizza, chili or cheesecake recipes in CL. Overkill, for me. Like another short ribs recipe in BA.

[Kelly_HotCookin]

@blazedog,
You said very well what I was thinking; that the portion of pizza that is a serving is small compared to other things that someone on a diet could eat. For instance, my husband loves to eat brown rice and black beans, with a small piece of chicken or pork (low-fat of course). He refuses to eat pizza just because eating it costs him too many calories.

Yes, some of the CL pizzas looked good (though not the one on the cover, in my opinion, I agree something looked off). But the only time I can serve pizza is when my husband is out of town....my kids love it.

I think for those who don't have to watch what they eat as much, CL pizza is a good dinner (or lunch) option.

@heavy hedonist,
Exactly! I hadn't subscribed for a while, and then subscribed last December. I'm a little disappointed...I was thinking there would be a lot more interesting things on the cover of CL.

@SusanMac,
No, I don't think ya'll are attacking me. I can tell a lot of you like pizza. A lot. :)

@funniegrrl,
Well, I'm just wondering why you're comparing a microwave meal to a homemade CL pizza? I don't normally serve microwave meals to my family (maybe once a year, if that). I see your point, I guess, but since it's not really comparing apples to apples... Do you see my point about a serving of pizza not being as filling as something like black beans, rice and a small serving of chicken?

@KateB,
Malaysian Chicken Pizza? That sounds pretty good (and exotic). Hmmm. :)

[jjsooner73]

JJSooner's picture of her pizza in the Sardines thread should be on the cover. It's gorgeous!



Thanks Susan! I made pizza again tonight with the leftover whole wheat dough-1 caramelized onion, 3 cloves of garlic, 2 portabello mushroom caps, drizzle of heart healthy avocado oil, and some slices of a mozzarella/proscuitto roll. Still pretty healthy. The crust was paper thin (Eating Well's recipe, but with a 3:1 wheat to white flour ration instead of 1:1).

Kelly, could your husband not eat that same chicken on a whole wheat crust (instead of rice) topped with some veggies? Pizza doesn't have to have cheese. . . and IMO is very good without it.

Yes, I love pizza almost anyway. :D

[blazedog]

Kelly, could your husband not eat that same chicken on a whole wheat crust (instead of rice) topped with some veggies? Pizza doesn't have to have cheese. . . and IMO is very good without it.


Bread dough or pizza dough is considered to be less satiating per calorie than brown rice or other forms of complex carbohydrates.

Having veggies and sauce on a piece of what is essentially bread doesn't provide the same satiation as the equivalent calories in the form of rice and toppings.

Simply stated, rice has water COOKED into which increases the volume of the food so that some amount of the food intake is water -- or calories diluted by water. Bread (or pizza dough) are more calorically dense because the water is baked out of it.

Volumetrics is based on studies which have shown that people will consistently eat the same volume of food -- regardless of calories to a great extent.

It's very much like treating one's calorie intake as a budget and I (and others like me) have learned that we have to buy as much satiation as possible for our caloric buck.

[Kate B]

@KateB,
Malaysian Chicken Pizza? That sounds pretty good (and exotic). Hmmm. :)

Kelly,

Here you go!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=709851

Enjoy,

Kate

[Rae]

I was going through old CL's last night, and pizza was on the cover of September 2009 as well.

[Lynn B]

I'm a LONG TIME subscriber and I love the subtle (and some may argue, not-so-subtle!) changes in CL through the years. Personally, I am in this (cooking AND healthy eating! :p) for the long haul... and I appreciate the diversity that CL has consistently brought to my dinner table.

[TieKitty]

And if you do want a more traditional pizza, the Chicago-style deep dish pizza is excellent

Thanks for mentioning this pizza recipe. I've printed it and will be making it next week. It looks excellent. DH was saying a couple of weeks ago that he'd like to find a recipe for deep dish pizza.

[Anne]

We had pizza for dinner last night. The dough was some homemade I had in the freezer, whole wheat with a bit of cornmeal and oats, no white flour. I rolled this out really thin, lightly brushed with pesto, scattered with fresh oregano, and topped with green onion, tomato, mushroom, smoked salmon, and just a bit of feta (love that stuff, a little goes a long way). Yum! and fairly healthy to boot. We also had some left over curried fresh pea and parsnip soup. Weird combo but it worked.

[Angelsfan]

I'm happy for a pizza article -- I got my best pizza sauce recipe from CL! And we have pizza in rotation every month or so, and to h3ll with portion control that night!:p:D Though I do make a big salad, and everyone eats that, first, so that's my portion control! And, I've started cutting it into 8 pieces (there are 3 of us), so we can each have 2 pieces, with leftovers for first-come, first-served lunch the next day!;)

Hi LMG! Would you mind sharing your favorite pizza sauce?

Thanks!

-Heather

[Kelly_HotCookin]

@Kate B,
Thank you for the Malaysian Chicken pizza recipe link! I forwarded it to my mom--because sometimes when I go over there w/ the kids she makes pizza. No worries about my husband at that time since he's at work. LOL.

@blazedog,
You're right on the money with your explanation of why my husband (and anyone watching their weight) won't eat pizza. It 'costs too much' is what my hubby likes to say.

@LakeMartinGal,
I love Lake Martin in Alabama...used to live near there a while back. Very pretty there... I like your idea of eating a big salad before pizza.

@Anne,
Yum...your pizza sounds really good.

[LakeMartinGal]

Hi LMG! Would you mind sharing your favorite pizza sauce?

Thanks!

-Heather
Not at all! I make this in a big batch, as you can see, and can it in pints. I get 8 or 9 pints from this, 1 per pizza. Enjoy!

Basic Spicy Pizza Sauce

Ingredients
1.5 cups finely chopped onions
6 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 cups white wine
12 Tbs tomato paste
3 tsp Penzey's Pizza Seasoning
2 Tbs dried oregano
3/4 tsp black pepper
6 cans (14.5 oz each) crushed tomatoes, undrained
1.5 tsp crushed red pepper
1 Tbs Balsamic vinegar

Procedure
1. Heat a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan withcooking spray.
Add onion to pan; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add garlic to pan; saute 30 seconds.


2. Stir in wine; cook 30 seconds, Add rest of ingredients, except balsamic vinegar.
Reduce heat and simmer for an hour or until thick. Remove from heat; stir in balsamic vinegar.
Cool.

3. Makes enough for 8 pizzas, 12 to 14". Sauce freezes well.


Servings: 16

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 83 calories, 5 calories from fat, <1g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 295.4mg sodium, 619.5mg potassium, 15.8g carbohydrates, 3.9g fiber, 2.2g sugar, 3.3g protein, 2.5 points.

Source
Source: adapted from CL, Sept 2006

[LakeMartinGal]

@LakeMartinGal,
I love Lake Martin in Alabama...used to live near there a while back. Very pretty there... I like your idea of eating a big salad before pizza.
Were you in Auburn? Not many people are acquainted with Lake Martin, unless they were stationed in Montgomery with the Air Force or went to Auburn University!:)

[Angelsfan]

Basic Spicy Pizza Sauce


Thanks LMG!!!

-Heather

[Anne]

Kelly - we are having the left-overs for lunch today. Homemade pizza does not hold up nearly as well as pizza place stuff - guess its the lack of stabilizers and chemicals..... When my kids were still home full time one of them left a couple slices of store pizza in a zip-lock bag in the fridge which I found about a month later - no mold - yikes!

[BarbaraL]

LynnB, I love your tag line!
Off to look for my lost shaker of salt . . .