Most Americans will unanimously agree that they absolutely love and adore pizza, and statistics can easily back up those claims considering the fact that pizza is a $30 billion per year industry, and Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices of pizza each second. If pizza makes up a large part of your diet, you may find yourself constantly ordering the same toppings over and over again. The truth is that pizza can be enjoyed in more ways than one, and there are many different variations and toppings that are not as commonly ordered. If you're looking to try new things, here are 3 ways that you can spice up your next pizza order and make it a luxurious meal.

Add Different Types of Seafood to Your Topping

The truth is that the majority of Americans are rather boring, and will order the same type of toppings day in and day out. In fact, 37% of all pizza orders are for a plain cheese pizza. Pepperoni is by far the most popular meat topping followed by mushrooms, onions, sausages and bacon. Spice up your pizza, and try out new toppings, and you'll be surprised at just how quickly this "fast-food" meal can become a fine dining experience. In particular, try adding different types of seafood toppings to your pizza. Popular seafood toppings that may be found at your local pizzeria include lobster, oysters, salmon, shrimp, tuna, shrimp, and even crab. 

If you live near the ocean, you'd be surprised at just how good fresh seafood will taste on your pizza. If you're just starting to try new things, confine to only one topping and go from there. This way, you'll easily be able to determine what you like and don't like. Adding more seafood to your diet will also benefit your health. In fact, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating two servings of seafood weekly; however, approximately 80% to 90% of Americans don't actually do so.

Enhance the Flavors of the Pizza with Herbs

Most people are unaware of the many combinations and additions they can make to their pizza, and generally go for the standard plain cheese pizza or pepperoni pizza that they are most comfortable with. If you think pizza tastes amazing now, you'll be surprised at just how much better it can taste with a dash of just the right herbs to complement the flavors of all of the toppings. Most pizzerias will add a pinch of basil or black pepper at most, and although this may be sufficient, it doesn't draw out the underlying flavors hidden within the pizza. 

You can easily turn a regular pizza into a luxurious meal by adding other herbs to your pizza. For example, consider adding chives, cilantro, coriander, dill, cumin, garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary or even jalapeño peppers for that extra punch. 

Stray Away from Tomato Sauce

You've probably been eating pizza with tomato sauce all your life, and haven't even contemplated the many other possibilities that are out there. If you're getting bored of the same old tomato sauce time and time again, open your eyes to different sauces that are also rather popular. Pesto sauce, for example, is great with a plain cheese pizza and can even be paired with a wide range of different toppings from mushrooms to sausages to pepperoni. Tapenade, which is a savoury olive spread commonly used in Mediterranean dishes, is also a great choice. If you need any more inspiration, consider substituting tomato sauce with other sauces like teriyaki, barbecue, Muhammara, Gremolata, Alfredo or even Ranch.

Conclusion 

It's surprising how most Americans tend to go back to the same type of toppings year after year despite the fact that there are so many other options out there. If you absolutely adore pizza, but would like to try out new things, don't hesitate to make these 3 changes next time you check out a pizza place like Barros Pizza. You'd be surprised at just how quickly you can turn a simple plain cheese pizza into something you'd find at a fine-dining restaurant. Don't forget to call the pizzerias ahead of time in order to determine whether there are any specific recommendations they'd make. Many pizzerias offer unique toppings and combinations that will make your taste buds melt!