Pizzzzza! If you’re like us and practically all of our clients you have fond memories of growing up and eating pizza—and have continued your love affair with pizza as an adult. For us, growing up, every Thursday was “pizza night”—our Mom rolled out her own whole wheat dough and we each picked our toppings—yum! And we not only love pizza, but think it’s a brilliant invention—after all, it’s a delicious way to wrap your veggies, protein—and possibly even a quality carbohydrate all into one simple meal that you can eat on the go! So now we’re constantly creating or trying new twists on traditional pizza (check out our Polenta Pizza and our Portobello Pizza).
Our newest creation—this nutrient-packed pizza isn’t made with tomato sauce, pepperoni and cheese (unless you want to add it). No, this healthy pizza that’s bursting with flavor has both a kick of spice and a succulent, sweet flavor. The best of both worlds on one whole wheat thin crust pizza. Your taste buds will be tantalized with butternut squash, apples, onions, and turkey bacon!
“Wait, Nutrition Twins… you said this was healthy, how can it have bacon?!” Well, we’ve lightened it up with turkey bacon. So you’ll also get a dose of vitamin B-12, which is important for making hemoglobin, the protein your blood needs to transport oxygen. B-12 also helps you metabolize fat and protein, plays a part in brain function, and protects you against nerve damage that can result from vitamin B-12 deficiency.
A few bonuses:
- Apples: (umm, as we’ve told you before—we’ve had an apple nearly every day since high school—and now we like to pretend that we always knew all of these benefits, even then! 😉 ) are rich in important antioxidants called flavonoids, which helps to fight against disease. One flavonoid is called quercitin—it helps to regulate blood sugar.
- One cup of butternut squash provides a whopping 437% percent of your vitamin A needs for the day—so it’s a good source of beta carotene,a form of vitamin A that protects against cancer. Plus, one cup has more potassium than a banana.
- Onions: (one of our favorite ways to start our turkey tacos or grilling chicken is by stir-frying onions) contain potent anti-inflammatory compounds and help to protect the heart against heart disease.
- Chili Powder: what’s so hot about that?! Spices contain potent phytonutrients that act as cancer fighters and anti-inflammatories.
- Pretty sweet, huh? Speaking of sweet,—the honey! We use it to add a slightly sweet delicious twist to this pizza. So it’s not your everyday pizza, but it sure is tasty and healthy!
Sweet, Spicey & Savory Thin Crust Pizza
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients
A 12” thin crust, whole wheat frozen pizza crust
1 cup butternut squash, diced
¼ cup honey
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch salt
Pinch pepper
4 slices of smoked turkey bacon (look for those without nitrates)
¾ cup sweet onions
1 red delicious apple
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
4 oz. Cabot’s Extra Light Sharp Cheddar, 75% less fat, shredded (optional, but we recommend it for added protein and cheesiness :))
If you don’t like turkey bacon, we recommend you add extra protein:
8 oz. Chicken Breast
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F.
Steam the butternut squash in the microwave for about 4 minutes (or until tender to pierce with a fork).
In a small bowl whisk together chili powder, cinnamon, honey and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Spray large skillet with oil and add onions. Caramelize the onions over medium heat.
Cut the fat off the bacon and sizzle in a separate pan until crispy.
Add the onions and cook about 10 minutes, covering the skillet and stirring every 2 minutes. Add apple cider vinegar to soften the onions further.
Add the honey mixture to the butternut squash and toss.
On the pizza dough, add the caramelized onions and the roasted butternut squash. Add sliced apple to the mix and sprinkle the cheese if you are using it.
Bake the pizza for 25 minutes.
Nutritional Information per 2 slices (cheese version, boosted protein):
Calories 233; Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 1g; Carbohydrates 32g; Protein 15 g; Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 370mg; Fiber 2g
Nutritional Information per 2 slices (chicken breast substitution):
Calories 214; Fat 1g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 33g; Protein 16g; Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 380mg; Fiber 2g
Nutritional Information per 2 slices (without cheese or chicken):
Calories 173; Fat 3g; Saturated Fat 0.5g; Carbohydrates 32g; Protein 5.5g; Cholesterol 10mg; Sodium 300mg; Fiber 2g
- A 12” thin crust, whole wheat frozen pizza crust
- 1 cup butternut squash, diced
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- Pinch salt
- Pinch pepper
- 4 slices of smoked turkey bacon (look for those without nitrates)
- ¾ cup sweet onions
- 1 red delicious apple
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 oz. Cabot's Extra Light Sharp Cheddar, 75% less fat, shredded (optional, but we recommend it for added protein and cheesiness :))
- If you don't like turkey bacon, we recommend you add extra protein:
- 8 oz. Chicken Breast
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Steam the butternut squash in the microwave for about 4 minutes (or until tender to pierce with a fork).
- In a small bowl whisk together chili powder, cinnamon, honey and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Spray large skillet with oil and add onions. Caramelize the onions over medium heat.
- Cut the fat off the bacon and sizzle in a separate pan until crispy.
- Add the onions and cook about 10 minutes, covering the skillet and stirring every 2 minutes. Add apple cider vinegar to soften the onions further.
- Add the honey mixture to the butternut squash and toss.
- On the pizza dough, add the caramelized onions and the roasted butternut squash. Add sliced apple to the mix and sprinkle the cheese if you are using it.
- Bake the pizza for 25 minutes.
Calories 233; Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 1g; Carbohydrates 32g; Protein 15 g; Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 370mg; Fiber 2g
Nutritional Information per 2 slices (chicken breast substitution):
Calories 214; Fat 1g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 33g; Protein 16g; Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 380mg; Fiber 2g
Nutritional Information per 2 slices (without cheese or chicken):
Calories 173; Fat 3g; Saturated Fat 0.5g; Carbohydrates 32g; Protein 5.5g; Cholesterol 10mg; Sodium 300mg; Fiber 2g
