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How to Make Pizza Part of Your Balanced Diet + BBQ Chopped Salad Recipe

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I am a member of the Balance Your Plate team and helping spread the word about CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN® oven-ready pizzas. As a team member, I receive product and incentives in exchange for participating in brand-related activities. #MyCPKPizza

Pizza is one of the most popular foods in the world. It’s one of my favorite things to eat. I used to think of pizza as indulgence food – not something I should eat very often. But I was wrong. I recently learned that pizza can be part of a balanced diet when we make smart pizza choices.

Getting to eat pizza regularly is a game-changer, right? My kids are going to love mom’s new meal plans! I can bake California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) frozen pizzas in 15 minutes. Dinner is served, fast and easy – even on busy weeknights. The best part is that CPK pizzas are made with flavorful, quality ingredients I can feel good about feeding my family.

TIPS: How to Make Smart Pizza Choices 

pizza #MYCPKPizza

1. Know your Nutritional Needs

The Nutrition Facts shown on food packages are based on an average adult, who needs about 2,000 calories a day. You may need more if you’re a man, a teenager, physically active or pregnant/nursing. You may need less if you’re a small-framed woman, a child or managing your weight.

2. Pick the Perfect Pizza Portion for You

Once you know your nutritional needs, it’s fairly simple to take a mindful approach to pizza. Select your favorite kind of pizza and check the Nutrition Facts listed on the carton (specifically the “serving size”.)Limit your personal portion based on your calorie requirements for the day.

3. Build a balanced meal around your pizza. 

Pizza has many elements of a complete meal, but it’s even better when enjoyed with other foods that add good nutrition, taste and variety.

frozen pizza

When you make smart choices, you can enjoy pizza as part of a balanced diet.

My family thinks CPK’s BBQ Chicken is one of the best frozen pizza varieties out there! It has a crispy thin crust and is topped with delicious BBQ-seasoned white meat chicken, red onions, cilantro, smoked gouda and mozzarella cheeses, and a sweet n’ tangy BBQ sauce. That sounds like a lot of fresh flavors, right?

CPK frozen pizzas have no artificial flavors and a preservative-free crust. They even have gluten free frozen pizza varieties.

california pizza kitchen

How My Family Includes CPK Oven-Ready Pizzas in Our Balanced Meals

I paired our BBQ Chicken pizza with a fresh salad inspired by the favorites on the CPK restaurant menu. I found the BBQ Chopped Salad recipe and other CPK-inspired recipes online at www.cpkfrozen.com. The recipe was also on the back of my CPK BBQ Chicken Pizza box.

cpk bbq chopped salad recipe

CPK BBQ Chopped Salad 

Makes 3-4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 6 cups romaine lettuce
  • 1/3 cup corn
  • 1/3 cup black beans
  • 3/4 cup diced tomatoes
  • 2 T chopped cilantro
  • 3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese
  • 4 ounces Ranch dressing
  • a drizzle of BBQ sauce on top

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Look for California Pizza Kitchen pizza in your grocer’s freezer section. For more information about CPK’s oven-ready pizzas, recipes and pairings, visit CPK Frozen.

What is your favorite California Pizza Kitchen recipe? What would you pair with your pizza with to create a balanced plate? Fruits, veggies? Let me know what you think in the comments.

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Debbie says

    That salad sounds great! I just might have to make that for dinner this weekend -something on the lighter side and quick and easy!

    • Nicole says

      Hi Jody – I like the thin crust on CPK pizza, too. It tastes good, plus it is easier for me to make at home and know the crust will get fully baked.

  10. Shauna says

    I have always been such a fan of CPK and this makes me love it even more. I had no clue they offered these now. Thanks so much for sharing.

  11. Marcie W. says

    I am a salad person and feel it pairs with pizza perfectly. I can not get enough of the BBQ Chicken pizza from California Pizza Kitchen!

  13. Danielle says

    I like to make my own pizza at home. That way I can put healthier choices on it and I know exactly what and where everything came from. Plus, my son likes to put together his own pizza in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Everyone makes their own and everyone is happy, haha.

  14. Jeanette says

    We LOVE CPK! They have great pizza! I love the idea of a more nutritious pizza I could use that in my diet! Thanks for the idea! I am going to take it and run!

    • Nicole says

      Eating salad or fruit with pizza is always a smart choice, so you know you are getting a balanced meal. And don’t forget, the CPK pizzas are made with good ingredients, too. 🙂

  18. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says

    I love their frozen pizzas I have been buying a lot of them lately! Yum

    • Nicole says

      I have a feeling the CPK pizzas are going to be on stock in my freezer a LOT from now on. I don’t like to cook during the summer, so these are such an easy way to get dinner on the table. And I can usually handle about 15 minutes of cooking – which coincidentally is how long it takes to bake a California Pizza Kitchen pizza. LOL Thanks for your comments, Robin!

    • Nicole says

      Thank you, Scarlet! It was our first time with at home California Pizza Kitchen and I was really happy at how good the pizza tasted. Plus it was super easy to make.