As a former pastry chef who’s now a registered dietitian, I teach that all food can fit into a healthy diet. The best kind of diet is a well-rounded one, looking at portion sizes and following hunger/satiety cues. Pie, on occasion, isn’t a bad thing. But pie every day, for every meal, is going to eventually show around your waistline.

A healthy pie could mean different things to different people. One person may decide to use whole wheat flour instead of white flour while another may opt to cut down on the sugar content or use a no-calorie sweetener. But no matter how you define it, moderation is still the key.

So, if you’re making pie at home, play with the recipe and make it healthier. If you’re buying pie on Pie Day, try not eating the entire crust, choose a fruit pie or find one made with less sugar or fat.

But bottom line, there are no evil foods if eaten in moderation. For those searching for a healthier pie recipe, here are three I can recommend:

• Cheery Cherry Pie (Serves 8 – 290 calories per serving)
• Crispy Peanut Butterscotch Pie (Serves 6 – 149 calories per serving)
• Fresh Berry Pie (Serves 8 – 180 calories per serving)