Summer is here and in full swing. With that, we find ourselves enjoying the nice weather. Whether you're indulging at home with a party or in a restaurant, sometimes we crave foods high in calories.  

But what we don’t realise is, treating ourselves regularly is the key to a healthy, balanced diet. According to experts, indulging smartly helps you lose and keep the weight off. Enjoying treats in moderation allows people to stay motivated and will prevent you from binging.  

As women, we have tried every fad or trend diet in the book. The struggle of maintaining a busy lifestyle while being healthy isn’t easy. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to enjoy your favourite cheat meals but healthily.  

Making simple substitutions with healthier ingredients will help satisfy your palate and fulfil your cravings.

 

Cheat Pizza

Pizza is one of the most favoured cheat meals amongst everyone. Take a healthier approach and use a whole wheat crust, add lots of vegetables and use a passata for your sauce. Switch out full-fat mozzarella for low-fat. You can also use feta or parmesan and lightly crumble it over the pizza. Finish off the pizza with some basil leaves to give a fresh taste. 

These are some simple tips to enjoy pizza and not feel guilty for treating yourself. The below recipe is not only delicious but also has only 305 calories per serving. It serves 4.

 

Thinnest Crust Pizza with Ricotta & Mushrooms

 Ingredients

·     2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for baking sheets

·     2 whole-wheat sandwich wraps (12-inch)

·     2 ounces Asiago cheese, shredded (1 cup)

·     2/3 cup part-skim ricotta

·     1 package (10 ounces) white mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced

·     1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced

·     Coarse salt and ground pepper

 

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/180 Fan/Gas 6. Brush two rimmed baking sheets with oil, or for easy clean-up, line with parchment paper then brush with oil. Place one wrap on each sheet; brush with 1 teaspoon oil.

2.     Sprinkle wraps with Asiago, then dollop with ricotta. Sprinkle with mushrooms and onion; season with salt and pepper.

3.     Bake pizzas until crust is crisp and very brown all over for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating sheets from top to bottom and front to back twice during baking. Cut in half with a pizza cutter or knife; serve one half per person.