Planning ahead is key because if you follow New Years Traditions and Superstitions, there are lots of things you shouldn’t do on New Years day like using a knife, throwing out the garbage or do a lot of cleaning, so in our family we get as much ready as possible before midnight on New Year Eve. Make sure you are prepared ahead of time.
Here is our New Years Lucky Foods Shopping List:
Round fruits for good luck: Please keep in mind that all fruits are fine to use. The round shape represents the ongoing nature of time and the year coming to a close or full circle, which is why there is a focus on eating round fruits. Round fruits include grapes, oranges, apples, mandarines, tangarines, watermelon, pomegranate, figs, pineapple, mango, lemon, lime, papaya, lychee, pomelo, guava, melon, kiwi, canataloupe, plums, apricot, Asian pears, persimmons, peaches, honeydew, cherrys, rambutan, blueberry, grapefruit, cranberry, coconut & raspberry. Bananas also make the list since when you slice them the pieces are round.
Round vegetables & rooted vegetables for good luck: The same goes for vegetables. They are all fine and none will bring bad luck, but for added luck go with fruits that have a round shape or those that grow with roots to help ground you in the coming hear. These vegetables include potato, onion, garlic, ginger, cherry tomato, avocado, radish, cabbage, carrots, celery root, leek, parsnip, beets, mushroom, pumpkin, sweet potato, turnip & yucca.
Greens for good luck: Greens resemble money so make sure and shop for your favorites. Kale, spinach, chard, arugula,kohlrabi, bok choy, broccoli raab, collard greens turnip greens and mustard greens are all popular options.
Round Foods for good luck: As we mentioned above the round shape is thought to bring good luck. There are so many round foods our list would be quite long, but we are going to list some of the most popular circular foods while omitting things made from beef or chicken since those foods on the list of things to avoid for New Years. Fried eggs, pancakes, pizza, crepe, pies, doughnuts/doughnut holes, cookies, cakes, sushi, brie (& other wheels of cheese,) cheese balls or rings, bagels, quiche, bread bowls, meatballs (made from pork) truffles, cheesecake, garlic knots, olives, oats, matzo balls, dumplings, fritters & rice balls.
- Beans (most commonly used on New Year are either black eyed peas or lentils,) but any bean is fine.
- Pork in it’s many forms is used for New Years including pork chops, tenderloin, ribs, sausage, bacon, ham, pancetta, prosciutto, ground pork pork belly or ham hock.
- Fish: All fish work but if you want to fatten your wallet, go with a fatty fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel or sardines. Another belief is that you should serve fish whole to represent the beginning and the end of the year. The best fish to cook whole is a white fleshed fish such as red snapper, mahi mahi, sea bass or branzino.
For your starches, noodles, rice, quinoa, risotto & barley are all considered good luck foods. Cornbread is considered a lucky food in the South.
New Year’s Lucky Foods 2020
