If New Year’s Day means one thing for food, it’s tradition. All over the globe people feast on different foods to bring them good health, money and luck in the New Year. I have to admit that as someone who has had to deal with cancer, I’m happy to eat any dishes that encourage good health, as many of these do, and if they bring good luck, I’ll take it.

Here are a few of our international faves:

In China at New Years they traditionally eat a whole steamed fish as a symbol of a long and healthy life. It’s no accident that fish is one of the healthiest proteins we can eat, so try making our Asian inspired Steamed Red Snapper for a perfect New Year dish.

In Spain and other Spanish speaking countries, traditionally 12 grapes are eaten on New Year’s Eve, one for each strike of the church bells that lead up to midnight, supposedly to ring in a year of prosperity. If you can’t eat them along with the tolling of the bells where you are, you can at least get the benefits of grapes in this yummy salad!

In Asia traditions, long noodles are often eaten at New Years to bring a long life! For Japan, soba noodles symbolize a bridge from the old year to the new.  Try them in this traditional Toshikoshi noodle recipe.

Leafy greens are eaten all over the world at New Years to represent folded money and a rise in the economic future. Cabbage, collard greens, mustard and turnip greens, spinach, sauerkraut in fact all of our favorite cancer fighting super greens are part of this tradition. Make this Wilted Spinach Salad is easy to eat on New Years for good money luck, and give your health a boost at the same time too.

Cornbread along with healthy nutrient packed legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils are synonymous with money, with coins and are eaten all over the world at New Year to symbolize growing wealth. This is epitomized by Hoppin’ John, a favorite American New Year’s tradition from the South that’s eaten on New Year’s Day to bring good luck and prosperity.

Check out our menu for much, much more traditional New Years eating!

Happy, Healthy New Year!