5 Lucky Foods for New Year's Day
Renee Rendler-Kaplan/Getty Images
Are you hoping that 2012 will be a year of good fortune? Try some of these foods that some believe bring good luck in the new year.
Black-Eyed Peas
A common food on American tables, black-eyed peas look like little coins and are thought to bring good luck those who eat them. Another belief is that as the beans grow when they cook, those who eat them will "grow" with good fortune.
Try: Emeril's Stewed Black-Eyed Peas
Long Noodles
Eating long noodles for the new year is thought to bring a long life in Asian cultures. It's considered bad luck to break the noodle once it's in your mouth, so eat quickly!
Try: 'Hungry Girl' Lisa Lillien's 200 Calorie or Less So Low Mein With Chicken
Cooked Greens
Cooked greens, which look like folded dollar bills, are believed to bring money and prosperity for the new year. Cabbage is made into sauerkraut and served alongside pork in German cultures.
Try: Emeril's Wilted Kale with Walnut Butter
Pork
In addition to eating sauerkraut, eating pork on New Year's Day is another German tradition. Pork signifies abundance and plenty of food. Pigs also root forward into the ground, which symbolizes progress.
Try: Michael Symon's Pork Roast with Warm Cabbage, Mustard and Champagne
Fish
For years, many different cultures ate fish for the new year because it could be easily preserved. The silver skin of the fish is thought to bring good fortune.