Garlic Cheese Breadsticks

16 ounces store-bought, whole-wheat pizza dough, fresh or frozen, defrosted (I used Trader Joe’s)
Olive oil spray
3 teaspoons garlic powder, plus more to taste, optional, divided
3 teaspoons reduced-fat grated Parmesan cheese, divided (look for it in a plastic canister or jar, not in the refrigerated section)
1 tablespoon light butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
⅓ cup low-fat marinara or pizza sauce, preferably lower-sodium, reheated if necessary, optional

You will surely impress your guests with this delicious appetizer.

Preheat the oven to 350°.
Press the dough evenly into a 9 × 9-inch nonstick baking pan or dish. Gently, being careful to keep the shape of the dough, lift the dough out of the pan onto a clean flat work surface. Lightly mist the pan with spray. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the garlic powder and 1 teaspoon of the Parmesan evenly over the bottom of the pan.
Lift the dough back into the pan (you may have to reshape it slightly). Sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and Parmesan evenly over the dough. Using a dough scraper or butter knife, and without slicing all the way through the dough, cut the dough in half in one direction, then slice it into 8 equal pieces in the other to create 16 equal breadsticks. Bake the dough until golden brown and cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes.
Brush the butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle the parsley evenly over that. Season with additional garlic powder, if desired. Serve immediately with marinara for dipping, if desired.