Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Try one new recipe a week- check! 

This week I tried cauliflower crust pizza. I like pizza. I like cauliflower.

This should be good, right?

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

• Medium-sized head of cauliflower
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp of oregano
• 1/2 tsp of basil
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• 1 egg
• Pizza topping of choice

Instructions:

1. Put cauliflower into food processor until it becomes a light, fluffy texture.

2. Using a cheese cloth, or paper towel remove as much of the water from the cauliflower as possible (the crust will be soft if you do not).

3. Add cheese, seasoning, and egg to cauliflower. Mix well.

4. Place wax paper on your pan (I used pie pans). Lightly coat paper with olive oil.

5. Form your pizza crust onto the paper using the cauliflower mixture. Bake at 420 for 15-20 minutes.

6. Top crust with your favorite sauce and pizza toppings (I used chicken, barbeque sauce, mozzeralla cheese, and onion). Bake at 420 for 10 more minutes.

Taste-Test Approved?

Yes! I would make it again. I like that the pizza was low-carb and lower calories than if it were made with flour crust. I also liked the fact that I was eating a vegetable in disguise. Ha ha!

I like flour crusted pizza better, but this is a good compromise.

Husband Approved?

He gave it a 6 out of a 10. He doesn't like cauliflower at all so I thought that was a pretty high rating. 

Kid Approved?

My one year old devoured it. My 3 year old ate it and said he liked it. My 6 year old took one bite, wanted to spit it out but was not allowed.

Note:

I was lazy and just used Kraft barbeque sauce but for a clean, diy barbeque sauce recipe go here.

Changes and a New Meal Plan

Excuse me for a moment, while I pick myself up off of the floor and compose myself. 

Someone fell off the band wagon this week.

It's ok!

I'm back on it now.

It has been a crazy week!  And with the craziness has come set backs. I will admit I'm an emotional eater and I definitely did some emotional eating this week. Some of that emotional eating includes:

1/2 of a blueberry doughnut
2 big bites of a Reeses candy bar
2 32 oz cups of Dr. Pepper
4 Chocolate-covered Strawberries
Too many overall calories consumed

But on a happier note all of the food I prepped for the week except 1 small salad, 2 sweet potato halves, and a few egg omelet muffins is gone. There was definitely A LOT of healthy, nutritous foods consumed this week!

Now onto this week's meal plan.

I am changing things up big time this week. My meal plan will actually be very BORING. The reason for this is that I am paying special attention to carbs, protein, and fat ratios. This requires math and knowing EXACTLY what is in the foods I eat. To keep this part simple my meal plan will be exactly the same for the next 7 days.

Here is what a normal person my age, height, and with my bodybuild and activity level should consume:

• Carbohydrates: 293-313 grams per day
• Protein: 78-84 grams per day
• Fat: 62-67 grams per day
• Calories: 2100-2400 per day

Here is what my ratios will look like:

• Carbohydrates: 125 grams per day
• Protein: 150 grams per day
• Fat: 67 grams per day

My carbohydrates are less than half the recommended amount. My body actually functions better on low carbs (sad, but true). Normally I feel better, have more energy, lose belly bloat, and shed water weight when I consume a lower amount of carbs. But at the same time I cannot reduce my carbs too much or my exercise performance drops-it is a fine balance!

My protein is nearly double the recommended amount. I also function better on a higher protein diet. I do advanced body weight exercises, weight-lifting, and intense exercises in general. I also have a higher percentage of muscle mass than the average woman my size (which I want to maintain) so it is recommended that I get at LEAST 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. I picked 150 grams because that gives me a little more than the 1gram per pound and it is a convenient number to caculate. 

My fat I kept the same. I plan on getting this through healthy sources of fat (no more doughnuts!).

This is a 3 week experiment. 

I am going to keep the ratios the same for next 3 weeks. After that, I will evaluate my energy levels and progress and then make changes if needed.

Today I took my weight and measurements and will be measuring and updating my progress weekly on this blog for the next 3 weeks.

Meal Plan:

Breakfast

10 eggs whites

2 whole eggs

Banana

Snack

1 cup cooked oatmeal + 1 cup of blueberries

Lunch

3 oz of beef, seasoned

1 cup of cooked carrots

Snack

Protein shake

Supper

1 cup chopped chicken, seasoned and sauteed in 1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 medium sweet potato

1/2 cup of green beans

That is it! BORING, but simple. 

I have some more meal prep to do.  Kitchen here I come!

New recipe of the week: Clean fried pork tenderloin sandwich and sweet potato fries (for

the family).

I still haven't posted last week's new recipe (cauliflower crust chicken pizza). Hopefully by tomorrow I will have both recipes posted to the recipe page:-)