5 Lucky Foods to Eat for New Year’s

A little superstition never hurt anyone. I always avoid walking under ladders (which is probably wise in general). If I spill salt, I always throw a pinch of it over my shoulder. And when New Year’s Day rolls around, you better believe I’m gonna eat some black eyed peas and greens to make sure nothing goes horribly awry during the subsequent 12 months (or if it does, I don’t have to blame myself). Sure, it may be a little silly, but many countries around the world have a traditional New Year’s food that’s considered lucky. And, honestly, you don’t have to be superstitious to want to try some good foods from our taste tests. Here are some Sporked-approved groceries that just happen to be considered lucky New Year’s foods.

Bibigo Organic Vegetable Dumplings

Dumplings are a lucky food in China because they symbolize wealth. And while Chinese New Year doesn’t roll around until February, it can’t hurt to steam a few of these suckers to eat on January 1. We recommend these Bibigo vegetable dumplings. These are so much better than most frozen veggie dumplings. They’re packed with tofu and vegetables and bits of edamame. They’re a perfect addition to a dim sum-style New Year’s brunch.

Read the full ranking of the best frozen dumplings

Ore-Ida Gourmet Onion Rings

In Greece, onions represent rebirth, and that’s made them a traditional New Year’s food. Yes, you could hang a bag of onions on your front door like the Greeks do—or you could buy a bag of frozen onion rings and get down on a greasy snack instead. Ore-Ida Gourmet onion rings are our favorite. They’re made with big, thick slices of onion and taste restaurant quality. We can’t promise they’re a lucky food, but we can promise you’ll like them, especially dipped in a little Mayoracha.

Read the full ranking of the best onion rings

Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Cornbread is a traditional New Year’s food right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A because it represents wealth (because it’s golden, apparently). If you don’t feel like soaking black eyed peas overnight or slow cooking greens with a ham hock, you can make some cornbread using Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. It’s easy to make and bakes up moist and tender. Griddle a slice with some butter and you’ve got a good New Year’s breakfast, lucky or not.

Read the full ranking of the best cornbread mix

Bare Bones Lentil Curry Plant-Based Soup

Lentils are considered a lucky food in Italy; apparently, Italians traditionally eat them shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day. Now, eating lentil soup on NYE might sound nuts, but I’ve decided it’s actually brilliant. Keep a packet of Bare Bones lentil soup in your pantry, and heat it up when you get home from partying. In the morning, you’ll certainly feel lucky you didn’t go to bed with only cheap Champagne in your belly.

Read the full ranking of the best lentil soup

Auntie Anne’s Classic Soft Frozen Pretzels

Soft pretzels are a traditional New Year’s food in Germany and, honestly, we’ll exploit any excuse to eat a soft pretzel. These Auntie Anne’s soft pretzels are totally classic—squishy, buttery, and salty. It’s not part of the tradition, but you should go ahead and pair your pretzel with some nacho cheese.

Read the full ranking of the best soft pretzels

About the Author

Howdy! I’m Gwynedd, Sporked’s managing editor. I live in Los Angeles and have access to the best tacos the U.S. has to offer—but I’m a sucker for a crunchy Old El Paso taco night every now and then. I’ve been at Sporked since 2022 and I’m still searching frozen mozzarella sticks that can hold a candle to restaurant sticks. Why you should trust me: I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (yikes), a consumer of food for 40-plus years, and I’m truly hard pressed to think of foods I don’t like (or that I can’t tolerate at the very least). Oh and one time I cooked my way through Guy Fieri’s cookbook and wrote about the journey through Flavortown. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s Original Savory Thins. Fat free plain yogurt (usually Fage or Nancy’s). Honeycrisp apples. Sweet cream coffee creamer for my at-home Americanos. A frozen cauliflower crust pizza and some jarred mushrooms to top it with. Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff taco shells and Gardein Ground Be’f, even though I think “be’f” is a nightmarish contraction. Favorite ranking: Stouffer’s frozen dinners. I don’t own a microwave (I get my cancers the old fashioned way!), so I love taste testing things that I don’t really buy to eat at home. Least favorite ranking: Soy sauce. Don’t get me wrong, I love soy sauce—but consuming that much sodium in one sitting is probably illegal in some countries. Our frozen enchilada taste test was a close second; the smell of microwaved corn tortillas still haunts me.