7 Ways to Indulge and 4 Ways to Eat Healthy in Rhode Island This New Year

Winter is all about comfort food. But it’s also about new beginnings and resolving to eat healthier. Here are delicious dishes from local restaurants, whether you’re working on your six pack or your six-cheese pizza.

Pizza

Indulge In: There’s nothing like Neapolitan pizza straight from a wood-fired oven on a chilly day. Figidini’s Wood Fire Eatery in Providence makes everything on their menu in said oven, including their Arugula pizza that’s topped with prosciutto di parma, fior de latte mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil and Pecorino Romano cheese.

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a Big Mac and a pizza had a baby (because who doesn’t think of these things), then you’ve got to try Big Dan’s pizza from Dan’s Place in West Greenwich. Strange as it may seem, they take Sicilian pizza and top it with cheese sauce, thinly formed ground beef patties, Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, red onions and American and pizza cheese. Don’t ask questions, just go.

Go Healthy: Not only does Mangia Neapolitan Pizzeria in Barrington have a gluten-free crust, but you can also top it with as many veggies as you’d like. Need some direction with your healthy(ish) pie? Try their Ma’s Garden pizza with fresh mushrooms and broccoli, diced tomatoes and green peppers, and chopped onions and garlic.

Sandwiches

Indulge In: If you’ve never had a meat pie, it’s imperative that you head to Hartley’s Pork Pies of RI in Lincoln. They may look small, but they are mighty. You’d be surprised how filling handmade dough and succulent meat can be. Choose from pork, chicken, beef, meat and potato and salmon pies (only on Fridays).

Go Healthy: The Ma-Ma-Mumbai Turkey Burger from Crazy Burger in Narragansett is bursting with all kinds of flavor. The turkey is mixed with curry, allspice, ginger, rosemary and cumin and topped with smoked Gouda and sliced apples and served on a bolo with curry mayo.

Seafood

Indulge In: If it’s seafood you want, head to Chopmist Charlie’s in Jamestown and try their New England Seafood Augratin. It’s chock full of tender lobster meat, jumbo shrimp and sea scallops swimming in a lobster mornay sauce (read: fancy cheese sauce) whose light butter crumb and Parmesan topping is gently toasted in a casserole dish.

We’ve all heard of chicken pot pie, but have you heard of the Seafood Pot Pie from George’s of Galilee? It covers all of your seafaring basics: scallops, shrimp and scrod with roasted veggies all in a creamy lobster sauce and served in an oven-baked bread bowl. It’s the perfect dish to eat on a chilly day while overlooking the ocean and watching the Block Island Ferry chug along.

Go Healthy: The Forno Roasted Cioppino from Simone’s in Warren takes everything you love about fresh-from-the-bay seafood and keeps it heart healthy. With sea scallops, cod, mussels, clams, braised greens and seasoned tomatoes served with grilled bread and lemon aioli, this as an after-workout indulgence you can still feel good about.

Sweets

Indulge In: With the doughnut craze in full swing, it’s only fair you bite into one. The Brown Butter Glazed Toasted Pecan doughnuts from PVDonuts are a must. The 24-hour raised brioche dough is buttery, light and worth every single calorie.

For something more traditional with a twist, try the Scripelle con Gelato from Siena. It’s a plateful of miniature doughboys that come dusted in cinnamon sugar. To top it off, they’re served with a side of vanilla bean gelato and a warm Nutella dipping sauce.

Go Healthy: For something on the lighter side of sweets, stop by Crepelicious in Barrington for one of their dessert crepes. You can stuff it full of strawberries, blueberries, bananas and raspberries. Of course you can add anything else you want, just know you’ll have to run a little further at the gym.