What's on Your Plate for New Year's Day?

All the presents have been unwrapped and the holiday decorations put away. Now that 2014 has come to a close, it’s time to think about what 2015 is going to bring. If you’re like most people you’re hoping for wealth, good luck and progression. Others are more focused on health and fitness.

With so much emphasis on diet and exercise as resolutions, you might not expect food to be a tradition on New Year's Day. But don't be fooled — Baby New Year expects you to eat the following things to ensure a happy new year.

Cooked Greens

It’s simple. When cooked, the leaves of greens like cabbage, collards or kale look like folded money. Eating them is said to be symbolic of economic fortune. So eating a heaping bowl of greens means you’re going to rake in the dough in 2015 (obviously).

Black-eyed Peas

These legumes, consumed predominantly in the southern United States, are a staple on New Year’s Day. During the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, MS, ran out of food while under attack. They found sustenance in black-eyed peas, which from then on were considered lucky.

Pork

Are you achin’ for some bacon? Because you should be. It turns out that pigs are a symbol for progress because as they root themselves through the ground they push forward. That being said, pork has become the traditional meat for New Year’s Day. So you heard it here first: Bacon equals progress (as if you needed another reason to eat bacon).


Now that you know what should be on your plate, we hope that you have a Happy New Year filled with good fortune, good luck and forward progress. And bacon. Lots of bacon.