With the boom in low-carbohydrate and keto diets, it was obvious that many people are going to have a hard time with their beloved pizzas. The crust is loaded with carbs, as is the tomato sauce and some types of toppings, giving each slice 20-30 grams of carbohydrates on average. So, what is a pound-shedding, carb-avoiding pizza lover to do? Well, here are a few options:

• Have your pizza, but have less of it. You can cut your carbohydrate intake in half if you eat half a normal serving. Bulk up your meal with some salad, and you may not even miss it.
• Make your crust as thin as possible. You will still need it substantial enough to hold up to toppings you add, but you can reduce the amount of carbs by reducing the amount of crust in your pizza.
• Make a low-carb pizza crust. We have a recipe for a low-carb pizza that is a substitute for the typical white flour crust.
• You can make a whole-wheat pizza crust by using whole grains in your dough. Substitute whole wheat flour for some or all of the white flour to increase the amount of whole grains in your pizza, thereby lowering your carb intake.
• Use a white sauce instead of a higher-carb red sauce.
• Load up your pizza with low-carb alternatives, like meats and vegetables.
• Eliminate the crust all together. You can make a pizza-like dish by loading your pizza toppings into a small casserole dish and baking. In reality, this is nothing like an actual pizza, but it does give you some of those “pizza” flavors and can head off a major pizza craving before it gets the best of you.