Baked Potato Pizza: Celebrate Carbs!

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Contrary to what has been popularized by low-carb, low-fat diets, carbohydrates are essential to complete nutrition. As far as weight management and over health is concerned, carbs found in satisfying, nutrient-dense fruits and starchy vegetables, are key to a healthy diet. Every day I eat copious amounts of fresh vegetables using oil-free cooking techniques, and I have been gaining more and more vitality and effortlessly losing weight. In my experience, I learned that restrictive diets have done nothing more for me than help to shed a pound here or there, but never has my body chemistry or taste plate been so transformed then when I adopted a whole food, plant-based diet.  So to celebrate carbs, I've created a pizza made out of baked potato, one of my most favorite starchy vegetables. 

In an upcoming post, I'll talk more about how carbs really are good for you, and how you should stop counting and start eating whole, plant foods, but for now, here's a recipe for you to try for yourself. One of the best ways to determine what is best for you is the most logical, to test it out.  Listen to your body, observe, feel, and maybe even track changes using a health journal.

Baked Potato Pizza Recipe:

To get started, gather all of the ingredients below, and get ready for a veggie-rific, pizza experience!

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Pomi strained tomatoes (Pomi also makes pizza sauce that is oil free. You can find on Vitacost.com.)
  • 4 potatoes
  • Chopped carrots, cauliflower, black olives, onions, spinach (You can use any of these plus your own favorite pizza toppings like mushrooms, artichokes, pineapple, black beans, asparagus, etc.)
  • Italian seasoning
  • Organic garlic salt

Instructions

Spread a thin layer of the tomatoes in a 13 x 9 glass pan to add a bit of moisture to the pan to get going. Slice the potatoes on top to fully cover the pan. This is your "crust," just simply potato. Sprinkle seasoning and add a little more tomatoes and seasoning as your pizza "sauce." If you use Pomi pizza sauce, you probably could omit the seasoning. Chop and add all the toppings and the remainder of the tomatoes or sauce. Just keep layering everything in as if you where making a veggie pizza. Trust me, it all fits!

Bake at 400 degrees on a middle rack for an hour.

Did you like it? How do you feel? Do you feel an increase in your energy level? Traditional pizza used to leave me feeling tired, but this recipe really gives me a boost. Use the comment area below to let me know what you experienced, and please, please tweet or Instagram @forkfuloflove any pictures of your Baked Potato Pizza using #theforkfulway. It would make my whole week to see your version!

Happy baking!