How to Order Healthy at Domino's for a Balanced Meal

December 20, 2025 •

3 min read

While fast food is often high in calories, with a little know-how, it's possible to find healthier options. This guide provides specific strategies on how to order healthy at Domino's, from custom pizza builds to nutritious alternative menu items.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines actionable steps for customizing your Domino's order to be healthier. It covers selecting better crusts, controlling cheese and sauce, choosing lean toppings, and exploring salads and other menu items. It also provides nutritional comparisons and tips for mindful indulgence.

Key Points

Choose a thin crust: Opt for the Crunchy Thin or Gluten-Free crust to reduce overall calories and carbohydrates.
Add extra vegetables: Load up on fresh veggies like spinach, mushrooms, and peppers to increase fiber and micronutrients.
Pick lean proteins: Choose grilled chicken breast or ham instead of fattier meat options like sausage and pepperoni.
Go light on cheese and sauce: Ask for 'light cheese' and stick to marinara sauce to manage saturated fat and sodium.
Pair with a salad: Order a Classic Garden Salad with dressing on the side to increase your vegetable intake.
Mind portion sizes: Stick to just a couple of slices of pizza and a side salad rather than overindulging on a large pie.
Avoid high-sugar drinks and sides: Skip sugary sodas and desserts to avoid empty calories.

Building a Healthier Pizza from the Crust Up

Making smart choices at Domino's starts with your pizza's foundation. While the Handmade Pan pizza can be indulgent, several other options provide a significantly lighter base for your meal.

Choose the Right Crust

The type of crust you choose has the biggest impact on the total calories and carbohydrates of your pizza. Opting for a thinner crust can save hundreds of calories per pizza compared to thicker, heavier options.

Crunchy Thin Crust: A quarter of a small crunchy thin pizza has around 110 calories (without toppings), making it a great base.
Gluten-Free Crust: For those with sensitivities, this option can be a good choice, though cross-contamination is possible.
Avoid: The Handmade Pan and Hand Tossed crusts contain more calories and fat.

Customize Your Toppings

After selecting a lighter crust, the toppings are your next area for customization. Loading up on vegetables is a great way to add nutrients and fiber without adding many calories.

Lean Proteins and Fresh Veggies

Pile on the veggies: Include nutrient-dense toppings like fresh baby spinach, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and black olives.
Select lean protein: Grilled chicken breast and ham are leaner options compared to pepperoni or sausage.
Avoid: Double portions of fatty meats and extra cheese will quickly increase your calorie count.

Sauce and Cheese Strategies

Controlling the amount of sauce and cheese can drastically reduce the saturated fat and sodium in your order. Fortunately, a little goes a long way for flavor.

Lighten Up the Cheese and Sauce

Request 'light cheese': Ask for a smaller or reduced-fat portion of cheese. This can cut fat and calories without sacrificing that cheesy goodness.
Stick to marinara: A hearty marinara sauce is typically lower in calories than creamy alternatives like Alfredo or ranch.
Go easy on the sauce: Requesting less sauce is another way to manage sodium and calories.

Exploring Alternatives to Pizza

Domino's offers more than just pizza. For a healthier, complete meal, consider adding a salad or opting for their boneless chicken options.

Salads and Side Dishes

Classic Garden Salad: The healthiest side is a basic garden salad. Order the dressing on the side and use a light option like balsamic vinaigrette sparingly.
Plain Chicken Wings: Opt for the plain, un-sauced boneless chicken wings to avoid the extra sugar and calories found in options like BBQ wings.
Skip: The cheesy bread and dessert options like Lava Cakes are high-calorie indulgences that can undo your healthy meal efforts.

Comparison Table: Smart vs. Standard Pizza Order


Feature	Smart Domino's Order	Standard Domino's Order
Crust	Small Thin Crust	Large Hand Tossed Crust
Protein	Grilled Chicken Breast	Pepperoni & Sausage
Veggies	Spinach, Mushrooms, Onions	Limited to None
Cheese	Light Cheese	Extra Cheese
Sauce	Light Marinara	Creamy Alfredo
Total Calories (per slice)	Lower, often under 200	Significantly higher, can exceed 300
Nutritional Value	Higher fiber, lower saturated fat	High saturated fat, high sodium

Putting It All Together: A Sample Healthy Order

For a balanced and satisfying meal, combine your customized pizza with a healthy side. A good example is a small thin-crust pizza with grilled chicken, spinach, and mushrooms, with light cheese and marinara. Pair this with a Classic Garden Salad with light dressing. This meal provides a balance of carbohydrates, lean protein, and fibrous vegetables.

Conclusion

Ordering healthy at Domino's is entirely possible with a few strategic choices. By selecting a thin crust, piling on vegetables, choosing lean protein, and managing your cheese and sauce, you can significantly reduce your meal's overall calories and fat. Incorporating salads and controlling portion sizes are also key for a balanced fast-food meal that aligns with your health goals. A little planning goes a long way to making your next pizza night a smarter one.

Ordering Online: Taking Control

When ordering online, the customization tools make healthier choices even easier. You can use the 'less cheese' or 'add veggies' options directly on the website or app. For detailed nutritional breakdowns, it is always a good idea to consult the Domino's website directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Crunchy Thin Crust is generally the healthiest option, as it contains fewer calories and less fat per slice compared to the Handmade Pan or Hand Tossed options.

Yes, you can order a veggie pizza on a thin crust with marinara sauce, light cheese, and a variety of vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, and green peppers for a healthy vegetarian meal.

The Classic Garden Salad is a healthy choice, especially when you use a light dressing like balsamic vinaigrette sparingly and order it on the side.

To reduce sodium, ask for light cheese, opt for marinara sauce over creamier or specialty sauces, and go easy on high-sodium toppings like processed meats.

For a lower-calorie chicken option, choose the plain boneless chicken wings without sauce, as they are a leaner protein choice.

The crust and portion size have the most significant impact on a pizza's nutritional content. Choosing a thin crust and eating in moderation is key.

Domino's provides nutritional information on its website for various menu items and customized orders, which you can use to make informed decisions.