Pizza, Without the Guilt

Is pizza a no-no in the Zone? Well, no food is actually forbidden on the Zone Diet - indulgences are accommodated, as long as you get right back on the Zone track with your next meal or snack.

Here's Dr. Sears' take on pizza: "You can still eat pizza in the Zone. It's not the highest-quality meal, but it's OK on occasion," he says. "Opt for thin crust over thick, and make sure you have a protein-rich topping like cheese, chicken, or even anchovies. Then eat the topping of every slice, but only eat every other crust. To make your pizza more satisfying, order extra vegetables as a topping."

With a little tinkering, you can actually create a snack that has the taste of pizza, while keeping you in the Zone. Try this pita "pizza," for instance, which takes just a minute to prepare:

Mini-Pita Pizza Recipe

Yield: one snack

Ingredients

1/2 mini-pita pocket topped with:
1 tablespoon tomato sauce
1/3 teaspoon olive oil
1 ounce part-skim mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Eat as is or run the "pizza" under the broiler until the cheese melts.