Coinciding with a new study from U.S. News & World Report on the proven health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, Arizona-based Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen has rolled out a bunch of new Mediterranean-inspired menu items for 2024.

“We tend to step into the new year with a renewed interest in healthy lifestyles—and eating whole, real natural foods is at the top of so many New Year’s resolutions lists,” Picazzo’s managing partner, Chris Disney, said in a statement. “At Picazzo’s, we make it easy to eat delicious, healthy food all year long. And we’re excited to announce several new Mediterranean-inspired items that have been added to our Italian fusion menu.”

U.S. News & World Report ranks the Mediterranean diet as the No. 1 diet overall, particularly for “those looking for a heart-healthy diet, a diabetes-friendly diet or to promote bone and joint health.”

Related: Why pizza is good for you (no matter what anyone says)

New Picazzo’s items include two pizzas and two pasta dishes as well as appetizers, salads and hot dishes.

Pizza and Pasta
Spicy Calabrian Pizza: The new Spicy Calabrian Pizza includes mozzarella, tomato sauce, herbed ricotta and pepperoni. This spicy pie gets its heat from a generous drizzle of Calabrian aioli.

Pizza Fumella: Picazzo’s new Pizza Fumella features a lightly smoked Fumella mozzarella, linguica sauce, red onions, fresh cilantro, Fresno chile wheels, and jalapeño Alfredo.

Spicy Southwestern Chipotle Pasta: Those who seek the heat will want to try Picazzo’s Spicy Southwestern Chipotle Pasta. Rigatoni pasta is joined with linguica sausage, fresh garlic and bell peppers, jalapeño Alfredo, chipotle peppers, garlic and chives. It’s topped with Fresno chile wheels.

Baked Rigatoni Pasta: Picazzo’s Baked Rigatoni Pasta is a bubbling crock of meaty, cheesy comfort food. Rigatoni pasta meets a garlicky Alfredo bolognese sauce baked with lightly smoked Fumella mozzarella and brightened with a smattering of fresh chives.

Appetizers
Whipped Herb Ricotta: Whole-milk ricotta gets punched up with fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil and cracked black pepper, then whisked into a spread and served with freshly baked gluten-free focaccia bread.

Hummus: Picazzo’s new hummus appetizer brings all the flavors of the Mediterranean. This popular dip is topped with Kalamata olive slivers, shaved red onion, crumbled feta and fresh parsley, then served with gluten-free flatbread triangles.

Salads and Bowls
Mediterranean Salad: This new heart-healthy salad includes a rainbow of colors, with mixed greens, arugula, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, chopped cucumber, banana peppers and yellow tomatoes. It’s drizzled with a tahini dressing.

Athena Quinoa Bowl: Those who love Picazzo’s Thai Peanut and Kale Pesto quinoa bowls now have a new quinoa bowl to add to the rotation. The new Athena Quinoa Bowl is a hearty dish featuring chopped zucchini, kale, micro greens, roasted yellow tomatoes, chopped cucumber, Kalamata olives, red onion and quinoa, plus the creaminess of hummus, tzatziki, feta and tahini dressing.

Hot Dishes
Adobo Chicken: Packed with protein, the new Adobo Chicken dish features slow-roasted, adobo butter-basted chicken thighs served on a white bean puree and topped with fresh microgreens and a sprinkle of Fresno chile wheels.

Mediterranean Salmon: Picazzo’s Mediterranean Salmon dish features sustainable and antibiotic-free Norwegian Atlantic center-cut salmon fillets that are baked with a crispy crust and served with a medley of Mediterranean flavors including roasted tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, micro greens, tahini dressing, tzatziki, quinoa, and roasted lemon.

The new menu is available now at all five Valley locations and Sedona in Arizona.

Picazzo’s also offers a separate 100% vegan menu with salads, entrées, pasta, pizza and desserts, using brands that support the plant-based diet, such as Follow Your Heart, Daiya and Beyond Meat.