If you’re wondering what to cook for New Year’s dinner, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Some foods are thought to bring luck into your upcoming year, while others should be avoided. Take a look at this suggested menu to help start your New Year on the right foot.

What to Eat


Greens
Typically collard greens or cabbage, are similar to money in color and shape. Eating some kind of leafy green is thought to bring prosperity and wealth in the New Year.

Black-eyed Peas
An essential part of “Hoppin’ John,” black-eyed peas represent luck in the upcoming year. Some say this idea dates back to the civil war when the town of Vicksburg, Mississippi ran out of food while under attack. The residents found black-eyed peas, and the peas were thereafter considered lucky.

Pork
Due to it’s high fat content, eating pork is said to ensure happiness. It also symbolizes that you’ll move forward in the New Year because pigs root in a forward motion.

Circular foods
Eating foods that are circular in shape symbolize “coming full circle.” It can also represent coins, and is said to bring prosperity to those who eat them.

Cornbread
Instead of waiting for Rumpelstiltskin, try cornbread. It is thought to bring the glories of gold due to its rich yellow color.

Grapes
A tradition that began in Spain, eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight is said to be a predictor of the next 12 months. A sweet grape means a good month, and a sour grape represents what could be a rocky or bad month.

Noodles
In the Far East, noodles are eaten because people believe them to represent longevity of life. So don’t break the noodles when you cook them, because the longer they are, the better.

What Not to Eat

Lobster
These crustaceans crawl backwards, so by eating them, it could represent setbacks in your upcoming year.

Chicken
In order to find food, chickens scratch the ground in a backwards direction. Some believe that by eating chicken, it can lead to “scratching” for food all year. Some also believe it represents regret or dwelling in the past.

Wings
Wings, or any type of winged fowl, eaten in celebration of New Years is thought to make good luck fly away.

Bon Appétit, and enjoy your New Year!