My son, Blake, always comes home from school ravenous. The go-to snack I prefer to make him is usually some sort of smoothie (these are super fast, they fill him up and I can sneak in all sorts of good stuff like flax, fruit, hemp seeds, chia seeds, etc). The other day Blake came home from school starving (as usual) and also very excited about a children’s cookbook he had picked up from the library (I’ll admit I am not normally a huge fan of children’s do-it-themselves cookbooks as usually the recipes are sort of junky and/ or overly complicated.) But, Blake was especially thrilled about the pizza recipe he supposedly could “make all by himself.”

How to Make Pizza Dough with Your Child…It’s Easier than You Think!

I was very skeptical about trying the pizza as all I could think of was the gigormous mess it was going to create in my kitchen. Still, Blake’s enthusiasm was so high I just didn’t have the heart to say “no.” I decided if we were going to make the pizza and going to make a huge mess anyway I might as well video tape it and put it on the website.  Turns out, it was not a messy project after all. And, having Blake help out was much easier than I thought, in fact, he really could do just about the whole thing all by himself (watch the video!) Of course we didn’t follow the cookbook recipe exact because I couldn’t help but make a few healthy tweaks, primarily with the dough….

Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe

Instead of the all-purpose flour called for in the recipe I used white whole wheat flour, which is every bit as nutritious as it’s brown colored “whole wheat” flour cousin. White whole wheat flour still contains the nutrient rich germ and the fiber rich bran found within the whole grain. In comparison to regular whole-wheat flour that is made from red wheat, white whole-wheat flour is lighter in color and has a sweeter, milder flavor (fabulous for making pizza!!)

And, because white whole wheat flour is less heavy than regular whole wheat flour it can replace all-purpose white flour one to one in recipes. If you can’t find this flour in your supermarket check a natural foods store such as Whole Foods Market. You can also order online from King Arthur Flour. To make your whole wheat pizza dough recipe ultra healthy you can add in 1/3 cup ground flaxseeds (such as Barleans).

The recipe below is for a classic cheese and tomato pizza called a Margarita.  It really is a great recipe kids love to help make! If you’d like a totally adult ” eat clean” recipe for pizza check out Joe Riti’s Healthy Italian Pizza (this one is loaded with veggies & the crust includes ground flaxseeds.)

P.S. If you’re looking for more fun healthy kids snacks try the Dairy-Free PB & J Smoothie or the Gluten-Free Chocolate Cookies (these really are AMAZING & they are super low in sugar).

Healthy Personal Whole Wheat Pizza Recipe 

Serves: 2

• 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon quick-rising yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 6 tablespoons organic tomato sauce (such as Amy’s “Family Marinara”)
• 1/2 cup grated organic mozzarella cheese

1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, yeast and salt. Make a well in the middle of the mix.
2. Check the temperature of the water (it should feel warm, but not hot). Pour the water into the well and add the oil. Stir together to make a soft dough.
3. Sprinkle a little flour on your work surface, then put the dough on top. Sprinkle a little more flour on top of the dough, then knead it for about 10 minutes, of until it is smooth and elastic. Note: If the dough is sticky, continue sprinkling a little more flour on it as you work.
4. Wash your hands and then rub a little oil inside a clean bowl. Put the dough inside and pat your oily hands on the dough. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and put it in a warm place for about 30 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
5. About 15 minutes before the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
6. Sprinkle a little flour on the work surface and transfer the dough to it. Press down on the dough to get rid of some of the air. Cut the dough into two equal pieces. Roll the dough with a rolling pin (or your hands). Shape into two circles.
7. Arrange the rounds on baking sheets. Spread about 3 tablespoons of sauce on each. Sprinkle cheese on top.
8. With the help of an adult, put the baking sheets in the oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until pizzas are golden and crisp on the edges. Remove pizza from the oven. Set aside to cool for several minutes before eating.

 

 

Looking for more smoothie recipes?