A Heart-Healthy Pizza for National Pizza Day

Happy #NationalPizzaDay, Jazzercise Nation! We know, we know…we’re in the middle of #AmericanHeartMonth, and when you think of heart-healthy foods, pizza probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But, with a little creativity and a few substitutions, you can actually make a pizza that’s healthy and tastes good!

We scoured the web for the BEST heart-healthy pizza recipes out there, and landed on this one from the experts at Thursday Night Pizza. Here’s what makes this recipe both heart-healthy and delicious:

• The whole wheat pizza dough provides dietary fiber that can help improve cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease.
• Swiss cheese is low in sodium and fat.
• Mushrooms contain potassium, which helps to regulate blood pressure. They also contain antioxidants which are known to help boost the immune system.
• ​Spinach is a superfood that helps moderate blood pressure.
• ​Tomatoes are rich in nutrients, including lycopene, an antioxidant tied to heart health.

  Getting hungry?! Let’s get started:
  Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil or nonstick cooking spray
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
• 3 cups baby spinach, tightly packed
• 1 ball 100% Whole Wheat Pizza Dough or pizza dough of choice
• 2/3 cup marinara sauce (made with reduced amounts of salt and olive oil, as needed)
• 2 to 4 ounces Swiss cheese, grated
  Instructions
• Preheat the oven to 550°F or as high as it will go (if using a stone/steel, put it on a rack in the center or bottom third of the oven before you start preheating).
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, cook until it is aromatic, about 1 minute, then add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until the mushrooms release their liquid, about 5 minutes, then add the spinach and cook, stirring, just until the spinach is wilted. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
• Stretch or roll out your dough to a 12-inch circle, then transfer it to an oiled baking sheet or a lightly floured pizza peel (if using a baking stone/steel).
• Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around. Top with the spinach-and-mushroom mixture and finish with the shredded Swiss cheese. If you like (or if your diet allows), brush the edges of the dough with olive oil.
• Transfer the pizza to the oven and bake until the cheese has browned in spots, 8 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, 6 to 8 minutes on the baking stone/steel.
• Take the pizza out of the oven. Let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

  Voila! Heart-healthy and oh-so-yummy! Bon appétit! ​