Fast Food at Home: Pizza Takeout

By More Food

Eating out can be a quick way to satisfy our hunger but often costs more than making dishes at home. If you are looking for ways to expand your food budget, make healthier choices, and still enjoy some of your favorite takeaway and fast-food dishes, our new blog series is for you! The next three blog posts (along with this one) will feature a healthier version of popular fast-food dishes for you to try.

Cooking your meals at home often costs less per serving to make, controls the amount of fat, sugar, and salt content in your meals, and builds confidence in the kitchen. Looking for a fast and easy dinner for the group? Follow this recipe to make 6 personal pizzas for less than $10.

Personal Pan Pizzas for the Group

Whole Wheat Pita Bread – 6 ct

Canned tomato sauce – 8oz

Canned Mushroom Stems & Pieces – 4oz

Green Bell Pepper – 1

Mozzarella Cheese Shredded – 8oz

Instructions

  1. Use one pita round per person.
  2. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of tomato sauce on each pita.
  3. Top each pizza with 1.5 ounces of mozzarella cheese. You can use a low-fat variety if you’d like.
  4. Chop bell pepper and add toppings of choice.
  5. Bake for 5-7 degrees in a 400-degree oven or toaster oven for 5-7 minutes, until the cheese melts.

Breaking down the Cost

MENU ITEM – PIZZA

MAKE AT HOME COST 

ITEM

COST		RESTAURANT COST

ITEM

COST
Whole Wheat Pita Bread – 6ct$2.991 large pizza with mushrooms and bell peppers$22.84
Canned tomato sauce – 8oz$0.54Delivery fee$5.50
Canned mushroom – 4oz$1.59Delivery Driver Tip$5.52
Green Bell Pepper – 1$0.69  
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – 8oz bag$2.19  
Total Shopping Trip$8.00Total Cost$33.86
Cost Per Serving (6)> $1.33Cost Per Serving (6)$5.64

Prices are obtained at Local Food Lion and Pizza Hut Online Delivery System. Total cost and serving cost calculated pre-tax.

Want to learn more about building a food budget for your household? Contact your local County Extension office for more information on upcoming More In My Basket programming. Visit https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/ to find your local office.

The More In My Basket team is available to help individuals and families apply for SNAP/FNS in North Carolina with over-the-phone application assistance. Call the English or Spanish toll-free line to complete an eligibility screening or application today. Additional information and budget-friendly recipes can be found at morefood.org.

For questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or to receive SNAP Application Assistance contact the More In My Basket staff:

Visit: morefood.org

English Toll Free: 1-855-240-1451

Spanish Toll Free: 1-888-382-7105

Photo by Kelvin T on Unsplash