If your New Year’s resolutions include more veggies and variety in your diet, I’ve got good news: You can still eat out and hit your goals at Cafe Sol in Niantic.

I’ve never been good at meal planning, and I’m even worse at healthy meal planning, so when I find an option that bypasses all the chopping, cleanup and Tupperware hunts, I’ll gladly look into it.

Plus, Cafe Sol has been on my list for awhile. What finally clinched it was the photo spread in this newspaper of the parade of well-wishers leading wagons of wares to the cafe’s new home a few buildings down from its former one. If people care that much about their neighborhood cafe, I’m inclined to join the party.

Once you enter the easy-to-spot cobalt blue building, guests can peruse the extra-large, colorful menu boards within the roomy ordering area. Coffees are served from an expansive bar to the right of the cash register where a staffer will take your order. If you’re eating in, more than a dozen tables await in the sunshine-yellow dining area. If not, you’ll have fun checking out all the kitschy décor and signage in the register area.

Another reason to celebrate? Breakfast is available all day, which ought to be a state law in my book. From about a dozen options, we landed on two, partially because they have fantastic names: The Mexicali Rap ($9.95; yes, the lack of “w” is on purpose) and the Spicey Cho ($9.25; the extra “e” is also on purpose, per the menu).

Starting with the latter, the spice-shy shouldn’t be, because the spicy mustard and onion chutney that flavors the rest of the sandwich is applied delicately. They serve to amplify the savories within: A perfectly rendered and sizable layer of scrambled eggs; smoked Gouda; and a generous serving of chorizo sliced for optimal grilling on a lightly grilled roll. I humbly submit an alias for this sandwich, and that is “A Great Way to Start The Day,” because it certainly was for us.

The Mexicali Rap featured more perfect scrambled eggs, and the other ingredients make it a great brunch option. Avocado, salsa, roasted corn, black beans and Havarti cheese make for a nicely balanced meal with an additional assist from the whole wheat wrap itself. Despite my no-avocado preference (requested and delivered), we enjoyed it from end to end. The dash of chipotle yogurt sauce brought the flavors together well without interfering with the overall balance.

Now, one could argue that $16 is a little pricey for a salad, but one shouldn’t because the BBQ Chicken Caesar salad is large enough for two people to graze upon with leftovers to spare. The abundant romaine made for a very tasty bed to the six or so slices of tender grilled chicken strip dressed in the delicious house-made Bourbon barbecue sauce. Throughout the greens, roasted corn, black beans, roasted red peppers, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and loads of croutons added pops of flavor and texture, and all of them vibed well with the BBQ sauce on the chicken. Who knew lettuce and barbecue sauce could live together in harmony?

The Scoop ($14) also offers a greens-based meal thanks to its size and the titular scoop of chicken salad on top (ham, turkey-curry and tuna scoops are also available). With its touch of sweetness, great texture and smooth chicken flavor, the chicken salad worked well as a solo act and even better in concert with the base of organic greens, cucumbers, thin red onion slices, tomatoes and pea shoots. I sincerely can’t remember the last time I’ve had pea shoots, but they’re a lovely addition for which my belly thanks Cafe Sol.

If you’re being REALLY good about getting in more veggies, a fun way to do that is with an item listed on the Fun Food menu at Cafe Sol. The Dip ($12.75) presents two of them, actually – one cup of very good hummus and one of even better black-bean-lime dip – with several healthy dippables, which vary with the season. Ours included carrot, celery and red bell pepper sticks, sliced cucumber and a small block of excellent feta, plus a handful of house-made bagel chips (from multiple bagel flavors, including one odd blueberry bagel chip). The Dip also comes with kalamata olives, but I’m not an olive gal and I don’t like to waste food, so we went without.

On the total opposite end of the dietary spectrum is The Cuban ($13.75), our MVP this time around because it was perfect, from the sliced pickle placement to the ratio of pulled pork to ham to Swiss cheese right on through to the amount of mustard applied to all of the above. The panini-grilled roll–both flavorful and fresh–put The Cuban over the top, and it’s hereby on the Get Again list.

OK, so maybe we veered off the eat-more-veggies resolution at the end of our samplings at Cafe Sol, but we now know why that parade of supporters helped the clever cafe crew get set up in the new digs. I wouldn’t want to go too long between Cafe Sol meals either!

Cafe Sol

488 Main St., Niantic

(860) 739-2933

cafesolniantic.com

Cuisine: Thoughtfully curated breakfast and lunch sandwiches and wraps; salads; coffee bar; and more. Ingredients are local and organic whenever possible

Atmosphere: The new space is bright, cheery, and roomy and feels as welcoming as a friend’s kitchen. Several tables available in the sol-yellow dining area.

Service: Very friendly and accommodating

Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Sunday

Prices: Breakfast items range from $3 (muffins) to $9.95; salads start at $11.25; and most lunch items are $13.75. A few options at lower prices available, including the PB&J and Grilled Cheese

Accessibility: Ample parking in a dedicated lot; ramp to entrance

Credit cards: Accepted