Pepperoni Pizza

Sauteed mushrooms add earthy flavor to this familiar favorite, but they're optional. Substitute white button mushrooms if desired. Omit both if you prefer classic pepperoni pizza.

Ingredients:

Cooking spray
2 cups thinly sliced cremini mushrooms (about 4 ounces)
Basic Pizza Dough
2 teaspoons olive oil
Basic Pizza Sauce
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
2 ounces sliced turkey pepperoni (such as Hormel)

Preparation:

Position one oven rack in the middle setting. Position another rack in the lowest setting, and place a rimless baking sheet on the bottom rack. Preheat oven to 500°.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sliced mushrooms to pan, and saute for 5 minutes or until moisture evaporates.

Remove plastic wrap from Basic Pizza Dough; discard. Brush oil over dough. Remove preheated baking sheet from oven; close oven door. Slide dough onto preheated baking sheet, using a spatula as a guide. Bake on lowest oven rack at 500° for 8 minutes. Remove from oven.

Spread Basic Pizza Sauce in an even layer over crust, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Top sauce with mushrooms. Sprinkle mushrooms evenly with mozzarella and Parmesan. Arrange pepperoni in an even layer on top of cheese. Bake on middle rack an additional 10 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese melts. Cut into 12 wedges.

Have a healthy holiday

Tis the season to overindulge. What starts with an extra dollop of gravy at Thanksgiving can turn into extra weight by the time you ring in the new year. In fact, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that most Americans will pack on at least a pound between Thanksgiving and New Years. That may not sound like much, but the study also found that extra weight never comes off.

Want to keep the pounds off this holiday season? We've picked out eight holiday nutrition disasters you and your family should avoid—plus, pulled together healthier options you should eat instead.

Cheese straws
How bad can these cheesy nibbles be? Pretty bad. You may think they're a safer bet than cheese and crackers, but in actuality these snacks are made from a block of cheddar cheese combined with flour and up to a cup of butter. Not exactly the recipe for diet success. You're better off snacking on pretzels, popcorn, or even a few chips with salsa.

Family Nutrition

You teach your children how to read, tie their shoes, and the difference between right and wrong. With obesity becoming an epidemic, it’s also important to teach them healthy eating habits. Though genetic factors play a role, family lifestyle plays a large part in adolescent obesity, according to a 2008 Penn State study. We break down the important aspects of nutrition and give you healthy, quick recipes to ensure that your family stays healthy and happy.