I know. I know. There is nothing you can't eat, just in moderation and it may not be zone friendly, but can anyone give me a pizza like recipe that could be in the zone?

Holly, this is something I used to eat before I went gluten-free.

Take 1/2 pita pocket (not cut in half down the middle but cut in half around the circle) and put on just a little tomato sauce. Sprinkle on Italian seasonings. Top with mushrooms and onions. Sprinkle with low-fat cheese. Bake until cheese melted and then add remaining 1/2 pita pocket and bake until crisp.

It made a good pizza sandwich, but I would leave the top off to stay in the Zone. OR, you could cut one of the halves in half and then make a sandwich.

This is not a favorable Zone meal, but I think you could have it on occasion.

Hi Holly

To add to Karens suggestion you could also add tinned salmon and beaten egg whites to add more protein. You could also have a meat variety with ham, cooked chicken, cooked lean minced meat. Other veggies could be zucchinis, tomato slices, peppers.

Margaret

Margaret, you are so right! You could add protein and fat and make it a complete Zone meal! I wasn't thinking in terms as a complete meal, but why not! Good idea! Well, you'd probably have to have a little bit more carb ... not sure if half of a pita pocket can hold enough veggies.

I came up with this recipe because I couldn't eat a whole pizza and I don't care for leftover pizza (just not as good). So if I was by myself and wanted pizza, I came up this as a good alternative to wasting pizza and it satisfied me. Sometimes I used tomato paste, but I think tomato sauce is better suited for the Zone.

If you are not in the mood to make pizza, you can still work it out by getting some of those super-thin crust pizzas. They are fairly close to the balance, although not much favorable carb.

Otherwise just get some of those low carb tortillas or pita pockets as Karen suggested.

CC, I'm not sure buying a pre-made pizza is a good idea. The reason is the crust is going to be thicker (more unfavorable carb) - the pita pocket I'm talking about is very thin. Also, the pizza sauce may be high in sugar. In addition, the cheese is more than likely going to be high fat versus a low-fat cheese ... besides they usually put on too much cheese on the pizza. I think this is one of those foods that would be best homemade. Just my opinion.

OH, I would definitely agree! I was just putting the suggestion out there for anyone who was hankering for pizza, and didn't want to make it. That would be me, by the way. I would much rather have a ready-made pizza than make one myself. So, if (and that is a big IF) I have pizza, I shop for the one with the thinnest crust, and then go from there. I would literally spend a very long time studying the labels and comparing one pizza to the next!

Usually, after all of that work, I generally talk myself out of pizza! Not worth it!

Talk yourself out it! LOL! Now that's probably the best thing; but really, if you think about it, my pizza sandwich isn't too bad if you just need that little taste of pizza.

Hey, that is not a bad idea!

How about a slice of Ezekiel bread for the crust, then load it with the pizza toppings! Probably some room for a fruity dessert, too.

I don't know ... I've never had Ezekiel bread. Hmmm... I'm not sure I'd like the texture of bread. That's what I like about the pita pocket is that it isn't the texture of bread. What the heck ... let everyone decide for themselves! LOL! A fruit dessert sounds good. Oh you have no idea what I just thought of. How about a fruit pizza or vegetable pizza? Just bake the pita pocket until toasted, let it cool and then top with a little lite cream cheese and top with raw veggies or fresh fruit sprinkled with cinnamon (sweet cinnamon - not the hot, spicy cinnamon). Dang! That sounds good!

Some people like a bready crust for their pizza, and Ezekiel bread is one of the best bread choices (if you can even rate the evils of bread). It is much more grainy and crunchy than a traditional bread is. And, one slice is a block, so you would not be using up more than one block's worth of unfavorable carb per "slice".

I think there are low-carb pita pockets out there, too. I think that would work for a nice thin crust, and I do like your idea of a fruit pizza!

OMG!! LOLOL. Karen and CC, you two crack me up. You gals just went with this. I truly appreciate your input. I never thought of pita pockets...however I have thought of the tortillas...I just thought you should steer away from the sauces. Truly appreciate your threads on this!

LOL!

Hi Holly!

Here's another take on it. If you really want pizza try this suggestion from Barry Sears. Take two pieces of real pizza. Place the cheese and toppings from one slice onto the other slice and discard the empty crust (so you have on s slice with double the toppings). As far as how close to the Zone with will be, it's not any better or worse than any of the bread suggestions here, but it will taste like real pizza because it is real pizza!

There's a portabello pizza with sausage meal photo in the photo album in my signature below. To get to the album, scroll over the photo in the signature and click when the link appears.

Here's an old recipe of mine for a Zone friendly pizza, much like real pizza but without bread, though the crust does contain a bit of flour. I’d consider this a once in a while meal due to the flour and the whole eggs (higher density carb and AA):

Zucchini Crust Pizza

Makes one pizza (about 12-14 inch). Serves four.

Crust Ingredients:

3 cups shredded zucchini
salt
3 whole eggs lightly beaten
¼ to 1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 to 2 T chopped fresh basil (or a lesser amount of dried basil)
dried oregano to taste

Toppings:

1 cup spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
ground black pepper to taste
1 or 2 chicken or turkey Italian sausages, crumbled and browned
1 green pepper, sliced paper thin
1 onion, sliced paper thin
2 cups shredded low fat mozzarella

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Lightly sprinkle salt on shredded zucchini, mix in, and leave for 15 min. Squeeze out water. Mix all crust ingredients and spread on pizza stone or 12 inch prepared pizza pan. Bake about 20 min or until top is dry to the touch and beginning to brown . Remove from oven and add toppings in the order listed. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted. Serve with fruit for dessert.

Sue, just wondering, but why would you think that my suggestion regarding eating a very thin crust pizza would not be considered eating a real pizza? LOL, you must not have read my first post here!

And, with a super thin crust, you might not have to look like a dork in front of your friends by removing the topping from one slice and placing it on the other slice.

BTW, here is another suggestion that I had thought about...

Cedar Lane Foods makes a line of frozen foods that are Zone-certified. Sometimes they are hard to find, but I believe that they can still be purchased online. They did have some varieties of pizza. Now, if the Zone can consider Zone pasta a good choice, then the Zone pizza must be even better!

I made it simple and it was delicious! I just used a tortilla (1 carb block)(half of an 8 inch) and put pizza sauce (spoon and a half for .5 carb block)) then grilled in a pan with PAM lots of onions, mushrooms, and peppers (1 .5 carb blocks). Once this was complete, I put this on on top of the sauce, then added 3 slices of pepperoni (.3 of BAD protein) and 2.5 oz low fat moz cheese)and sprinkled parmesean cheese. It was not the zone meal I would say eat this to be in the zone, but it was moderation and filling. I also ate 9 almonds when complete.

Great idea Holly!

That is great! I think you did very well, your unfavorable portion was only just a bit over the 25% allotment for a meal, which is acceptable. Not to do every day, but when you want pizza AND you don't want to be OOZ, then it sure sounds like a good idea!

Oh my gosh..u guys are too funny! Thank you for all your tips here. I've been making a full meal out of a half of wheat tortilla and load up with my 2 ounce ckn, tomoatoes, banana peppers, 1 oz low fat cheese, and about two tsps pizza sauce...I would also had a little avacado or eat my almonds afterwards. Don't make a habit, but it does do the trick.

Thank you for your inputs ladies!

Hi Holly,

Have you tried Zone pizza crusts yet? They're delicious. We have pizza 2 or 3 times a week at our house now (everyone here eats "zoned"). Just add the toppings you like and you can have a real pizza in less then 10 min. You can find them here: http://shop.zonediet.com/product/de...883K7.aspx

Hi Holly - the Zone pizzas are actually quite good. I havent had an order for ages as the shipping is way too high. Pizzas are the one thing I miss about the Zone products.

I also do a pizza similar to yours - I use Lebanese flat bread.

Margaret... noticed recently that that majority of your post are way negative, hardly supportive and lack correct information.. You may want to read the forum rules.

Currently Zonediet.com is offering free shipping till the end of January. Which means a great time to try some new products. I love our pizza product.. It makes making pizza for the family easy, healthy and fast.

I have not tried them! Thank you Sue!!! Can't wait to try it.

Hi Tech Support

Yes I did see the free shipping but it is for USA only. I am international so this would not apply to where I live. I really do miss the pizza. It is a great product.

I will step away from the Zone Forums for a few months. My negativity is frustration (and I know there are others who are frustrated as well). There are a few things that have not been addressed that would make this a great forum but wont list them - no more negativity!.

I love the Zone diet and love the benefits from it. All the best.

Margaret

This was posted on another forum by a friend:



Now I'm thinking this could be tweaked fairly easily to be in the zone. Any thoughts?

Hmmm...didn't work.

Well here it is typed out:

1/2 cup cooked cauliflower
1 med egg
4 tbs tomato sauce
1/3 cup mushroom
10 pieces of turkey pepperoni
1/3 cup low fat mozzarella
Italian seasonings, salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cook cauliflower until its soft enough to mash and drain well. Combine with egg and then make a crust with it. Bake 12-15 minutes (longer if you double it or wish for firmer). Make your sauce and add mushrooms to it. Then layer on the crust with toppings and cheese and put under broiler at high heat until cheese is melted.

Now I have not looked at the blocks - this is as it was presented to me. I assume just a few adjustments it would be in the zone without the unfavorable carbs of a traditional crust.

Look in the Classic Zone recipes forum.
I posted this (similar) recipe there, with a bit more detail and with the Zone block info.
It is our g oto healthy Zone pizza crust recipe.
It requires "ricing" the cauliflower and heating in microwave for about 7-8 minutes.
Faster; though one could cook it in the oven.

Thanks John - I'll go look it up!

Here's the link: http://www.zonediet.com/forums/aft/61570
.
P.S. I find it better to mix the seasonings in with the cauliflower and egg - then no hint of (to me, awful) cauliflower taste/smell.
(Taste is about 80% smell...)
I also increased the recipe by 50% in volume (1-1/2 cups riced, cooked, cauliflower instead of only 1 cup),
increasing the remaining ingredients, as well.
It was a even better with just a little thicker crust.
I also made the edge all-the-way around just a tiny bit thicker than the rest,
because it semed that the edges tended to get a little crisp, otherwise.

Hi all, does anybody know how I can make my own pizza (Zone) base?

Sorry for sending the above post incomplete. I would like to make my own pizza base without the cauliflower as I do not like this vegetable. I also live abroad, so ordering pizza crust online is inconvenient for me. Thanks.

HI, you can use aubergines sliced, or large caps of mushrooms, or zucchini sliced. Also, I sometimes take 1/2 of a thin tortilla wrap (around 1 block of carbs) and toast it on a dry pan. Then I load it with chicken and roasted vegetables salsa

Many thanks Bozena I only wondered if I could make the pizza base using the same ingredients as given in the website for the Zone pizza crust, even maybe using my bread making machine. Or, am I being too unrealistic?

1.) No, you can not make a Zone Foods Pizza crust. Their food is "Molecularly Baked" (whatever that means) to bind the unfavorable carbs and somehow make them slow-release.
.
2.) You can have pizza now and then, as your cheat meal. Eating properly is not all about depriving yourself completely.
.
3.) A few months back, I posted a "Cauliflower" pizza crust recipe that is quite easy and comes out fairly decent.
No, it does not taste like real pizza crust dough, but it is not a bad replacement. And is very healthy with no unfavorable carbs.
Look in the Classic Zone Recipe forum. And I HATE any hint of taste of cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, etc.).
I have been able to remove all hints of that taste by adding a few spices (Italian spices of course) to the "Cauliflower" pizza dough.