All around the world, people tie food to the New Year. I’m not referring to the cocktails and finger food served at the party you attended last night, though December 31st is National Champagne Day. No, I’m talking about the appetizers, entrées and desserts that will bring you prosperity and good luck in the New Year.

These “good luck foods” are almost all clean and healthy, which we love, and you can pretty easily combine these items into one or two dishes so you can ingest all that good luck quickly. And in case you don’t believe in that sort of thing, just think instead about the vitamins and minerals that you’ll be getting.

 

Legumes – Small legumes resemble coins and bring prosperity. Black-eyed peas are considered lucky in America, while lentils are lucky in Brazil and Italy, and have been eaten since the Roman times. Try this Vegetables with Couscous and Garbanzo Beans recipe from The Clean Food Club.

 

 

Leafy Greens – Flat greens represent paper money, so be sure to eat lots of spinach, kale, chard and anything else you can find. Try this recipe for Kohlrabi Frittata and Kale Salad from The Clean Food Club.

 

 

 

Fish – Fish swim forward and represent progress, they swim in schools and represent prosperity, and their scales resemble coins.  Italians, who also like to eat fish on Christmas Eve, eat a whole, baked fish with lentils on New Year’s eve. Try our recipe for Poached Cod with Corn and Green Beans.

 

 

Noodles and Grains – In Japan, noodles symbolize of long life and eating the long strands without breaking them is good luck. Grains like rice, quinoa, and barley stand for abundance. Try our recipe for Bell Peppers Stuffed with Couscous, Feta and Cherry Tomatoes.

 

 

Pork – In Europe and Asia, a pig’s rotund figure represents prosperity, and they symbolize forward progress by rooting around with their noses. Try our Sweet Potato, Kale and Sausage Hash (we used turkey sausage back in the spring, but you can use pork sausage to celebrate the New Year!)

 

Fruit – The Spanish and Portuguese eat twelve grapes in the New Year to symbolize the twelve months of the coming year. Watch out for any sour or sweet grapes, and make sure you eat them all before the clock finishes striking twelve!

Cake – Ring-shaped cakes represent the year coming full circle and are good luck, like bagels and doughnuts. In Greece, they eat vasilopita, a lemon-flavored cake baked with a coin inside, and whoever finds the coin receives good luck.

Happy New Year from The Clean Food Club!