Guest Author - Jennifer Murray

Do you love pizza but think there are no healthy versions? Think again.

Pizza is actually a healthy meal once you get the basics of how to make a healthy version. The best part about making your own pizza is that you can be creative with toppings and add any vegetable or fruit you want, so have fun with it!

This Healthy Pizza Recipe is one that I make often since my family loves pizza. I usually add mushrooms and to add more color, I use a red or orange pepper in addition to a green bell pepper.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1 can (13 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust dough*

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

4 ounces cooked turkey sausage breakfast links (5 to 6 links), thinly sliced

1 medium green bell pepper, thinly sliced

3/4 cup pizza sauce of your choice

Red pepper flakes (optional)

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded low-fat Monterey Jack cheese or pizza cheese blend

*Tip: You can use a wheat crust instead of refrigerated pizza dough.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly coat a jelly-roll pan (15x10-inch) with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll the dough on pan and press the dough to the edges of the pan. Bake the dough for approximately 6 minutes or until dough begins to brown.

2. While the dough is being browned, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion in the skillet until tender. Add turkey sausage and bell pepper to skillet. Cook approximately 5 minutes or until bell pepper is crisp-tender.

3. Spread pizza sauce evenly over browned crust. Top with sausage mixture. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes (if desired) and top with cheese. Bake in the oven for approximately 7 to 10 minutes or until pizza is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Nutritional Info:
Yield: 8 servings
Serving size: 1 piece (1/8 of total pizza)
Calories: 212
Fat: 7g
Sodium: 618mg