(ARA) – At any occasion, a barbecue birthday party or a casual dinner at home, eating together with friends and family should be fun and tasty.

Pizza is an American staple that can be uniquely customized for any palate and season. From favorite toppings to the most interesting pizza personalities, the Boboli(R) Pizza Survey tapped into more than 1,000 Americans’ preferences and uncovered pizza penchants across the country.

Eat Your Vegetables
Farmers markets, grocery stores and backyard gardens abound with a plethora of vegetables for topping a pizza. Indeed, 76 percent of Americans agreed it’s hard to make everyone happy when choosing what to put on their pies. Though the number one favorite pizza topping is pepperoni (64 percent), veggies like mushrooms (52 percent), onions (40 percent) and peppers (37 percent) won some votes from respondents.  Surprisingly, 29 percent of young adults ages 18 to 24 like a dose of healthy spinach on their pizza, compared to just 17 percent of those 25 and older.

While it may be difficult to decide on pizza toppings, the foundation of a pizza is an element most can agree on, as 43 percent of Americans believe the crust is the most important part of the pizza, followed by sauce (23 percent), toppings (21 percent) and cheese (13 percent). The majority also agrees that customization is key to making pizza at home; more than one-third (36 percent) of respondents said choosing toppings and sauces is the best part, while 22 percent prefer to pile it on and use as many toppings as they like.

Thinking Outside of the (Pizza) Box
Only one percent of Americans are getting the most out of their grills and enjoying the flame-fresh taste of grilled pizza, despite pizza’s status as one of America’s most popular foods. To grill pizza at home, simply follow these steps:
* Grill Boboli Pizza Crust 2-4 minutes per side, over medium low heat.
* Remove crust and pile on your favorite, pre-cooked toppings, such as grilled veggies.
* Grill pizza for 8-10 minutes until crust is golden.
 
Boboli Pizza Crusts allow Americans to enjoy all their pizza topping preferences and get creative in the kitchen. The versatile crusts, available in eight-inch and 12-inch sizes and Original, 100 percent Whole Wheat and Thin Crust options, offer endless customization ideas, and can even be used to create sweet dessert pies. Boboli 100 percent Whole Wheat Pizza Crusts provide 38 grams of whole grains per serving.

For more information, including pizza ideas, visit www.Boboli.com. Try these fun recipes from Boboli:

Very Vegetarian Pizza
Ingredients:
1 12-inch Boboli(R) Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
1 15-ounce package Boboli(R) Pizza Sauce
1/4 small red onion, diced
1/4 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat mozzarella, shredded
3 or 4 white button or cremini mushrooms

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the pizza crust on a baking sheet and spread the sauce over the crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Slice the mushrooms into thin pieces. Layer the crust with the vegetables and cheese. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and light brown around the edges.

BBQ Jerk Chicken
Ingredients:
1 12-inch Boboli(R) Original Pizza Crust
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 chicken breast, grilled
2 green onions, grilled and sliced 1-inch long
1/2 cup canned whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup bottled Jamaican Jerk sauce
1/2 cup Mozzarella and Provolone mix
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
1 tablespoon Parmesan, grated

Directions:
For grilling: Preheat grill for 10 to 15 minutes. Brush a dash of olive oil on each side of the crust. Grill crust 2 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove from grill. In a bowl, mix grilled chicken, grilled green onions, corn, beans, and pineapple tidbits. Salt and pepper to taste. Spread Jamaican Jerk sauce on pizza. Add cheese. Top with chicken vegetable mixture, and Parmesan. Place pizza back on grill to warm for 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice and serve.