Lucky Bites for a Bright New Year: 3 Foods to Ring in 2024

Some New Year's superstitions say that eating the right foods at the beginning of the year (and avoiding the wrong foods) can help bring you plenty of luck. We say: it can't hurt! Interestingly, from Japan to Germany, to New Orleans, to ancient Rome, almost all lucky food traditions seem to follow the same pattern: long food equals long life, whether you're talking about German sauerkraut or Japanese noodles. Foods that resemble (or have the color of) money, from Roman coin-shaped lentils to dollar-green collards to golden cornbread, will help bring luck and prosperity.

And if you eat any animals, make sure they move forward, such as fish or pork, and not those that move backwards, such as chicken or shellfish.

1 - Black-eyed peas

For many Southerners, the custom dictates that you eat black-eyed peas, preferably cooked in a hoppin' john, served over rice.

The distinctive black and white peas represent coins (which also appear at the bottom of the bowl or in the pot) and are eaten with something green, such as collards or green peppers. Done correctly, it is believed to help bring wealth and luck to you in the new year.

2- Long noodles

Long noodles are believed to bring longevity—as long as you slurp them instead of biting them in half.

This super simple dish is easy to make and tastes great with a variety of other foods - although you may want to avoid chicken. As they scratch their backs, some people believe it's good luck to eat on New Year's.

3- Salmon

Because fish swim forward, they are considered a lucky food that represents progress. Not only that, but salmon travels to schools, which is considered a symbol of prosperity.

This creamy cracker-topping is not only twice as lucky, but twice as delicious!