Eat your way to a healthy, prosperous and successful 2022.

You’re well aware of how certain foods can benefit your mental and physical
health, but are you aware that some cultures eat certain foods on New Year’s eve
and New Year’s day to usher in good luck and good health.

Not sure what to eat to get 2022 off on a successful tangent?
Continue reading for all of the answers.

a) African-Americans-
The foods blacks and Southerners ate decades ago are still being eaten today.
The foods: Greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, pork (hammocks) and rice.
And these foods are often served in a lot of black and Southerners’ households
on the first day of the year to ensure a year of good health and prosperity.
So, if you feel that 2021 wasn’t as prosperous as you had hoped and you want to change
things, here’s an explanation as to why these foods are considered lucky.
* Greens-
It may be self explanatory, but greens like collards, kale, mustard, turnip or even spinach is
considered lucky, thanks to the color.
* Black-Eyed Peas-
Also known as “Hoppin’ John!
If you thought this was only a popular musical group (led by Will.I.Am and Fergie) in the late
90’s and early 2000’s you’re wrong, they have been a mainstay on many black and Southerners’
tables for the past few decades. And if you’re wondering why they’re considered lucky,
it’s because they resemble coins.
Another benefit- The peas are also a great source of folate, a B vitamin that helps stave
off depression and blue moods. So, if you’re already abundant , but need some help lifting
blue moods, then make sure to have black-eyed peas on the first, and at least once a week,
after that.
* Cornbread-
If you’ve been eating cornbread this past year, make sure you also eat it on the first.
After coming out of the oven, cornbread is a light golden brown color.
Gold is another color for abundance.
* Pork-
In the South, many people make a crown roast of pork, pork tenderloin and use bits of
ham (hammocks) to season the greens and black-eyed peas to also usher in good luck.
Pigs who are known to push their food forward as they eat, and humans are always
pushing forward, plus, pork is considered fatty and rich, something we (humans)
hope our wallets will be in the upcoming year.
Add some ham pieces to your greens or black-eyed peas for the salt and flavor.
* White Rice-
If you normally eat brown rice, take a break and have some white rice for the new year.
Why white? Some historians say that the color and brightness of white rice looks like a
a clean slate, and if you’re looking to start things off on a clean slate, have a little white
rice on the first.
* Need Help-
If you’re not sure how to cook any of the foods mentioned above, just head online
to youtube.com and type in the food you want to know how to cook. An example:
type hopping john or black-eyed peas in the search bar and watch the video.
Or go to AllRecipes.com or the PioneerWoman.com
and type in the recipe you want to cook.

Now, that you’re aware of the foods eaten by blacks and Southerners to usher in
more abundance and good health for the new year, here are some foods that our
brothers and sisters from other countries eat to usher in luck and good health.

b) Spain-
Eat Grapes. Spaniards eat 12 grapes (the number of chimes of the clock) at midnight.
It’s thought to get the people off to a lucky start and put them in a good frame of mind.
Another tip: When doing this ritual, make sure it’s with people you love and care about,
forging bonds with friends and family also lifts spirits.

c) Japan-
Eat Soba Noodles. Long noodles to be exact, eating the noodles intact (not cutting them)
on the first day of year, means you’ll live a long time, in other words: Longevity.

d) Italy-
Some eat different types of fish on Christmas and New Year’s day for better health and
more abundance, and in some other parts of Italy, it’s lentils. Red, brown or green lentils.
Lentils, like the black-eyed peas are considered lucky because they resemble small coins.
And it you plan on having fish, it (fish) is considered lucky because fish swim in big schools
in big bodies of water, both signs of expansive and good fortunes.
Important tip: Make sure to avoid deep frying fish on a regular basis, (which is the custom
in black and Southern households) doing so, increases your odds of having a stroke.

e) Turkey-
And Greece and the Mediterranean, it’s all about the Pomegranate.
If you’re a woman or man who’s been struggling with fertility issues,
do like the Turks, Greeks and the people of some people of different Mediterranean
countries and start drinking the juice and seeds from a pomegranate.
Important tip: You may want to avoid buying pomegranate juice in the bottle especially
if you have blood-sugar issues. It (the juice) may cause a spike in your numbers.
Stick to the real fruit and if you need help with seeding it, just go to youtube.com
and type how to seed a pomegranate in the search bar.

f) China-
If you’re thinking vegetables, rice, tea or fish, you’re wrong. In a lot of Chinese
households it’s all about citrus. More specifically- oranges, clementines,
kumquats, blood oranges and tangerines. The bright color is associated with happiness
and good fortune. So, if you need more abundance after the 1st, keep a basket of oranges,
clementines, or tangerines on a kitchen counter or on the mantel in your living room.
Fun fact: Former senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says that orange
is her favorite color.

g) Eastern Europe-
Eat cabbage. Cabbage is considered lucky in some Eastern European countries
due to the time it’s harvested (in late fall) and then made into sauerkraut and eaten
on the first day of the year.

h) Mexico-
Some Mexicans eat grapes like the people of Spain, and there then are some Mexicans
who eat Tamales for more good health and abundance.
Tamales are banana leaves or corn husks that are stuffed with meat, cheese and
other additions.

i) The Netherlands-
Eat Oliebollen. In the U.S. we’re accustomed to small donut holes (bites) but go to
the Netherlands and you’ll be treated to little balls of doughs that have been fried
in oil if you’re hoping to get more abundance in the New Year.

j) Another Sweet Treat-
We’re not sure where this comes from, but some people eat cake, Bundt cake
to usher in more abundance in the New Year. Why bundt cake? It’s ring-shaped
and we’ll be ringing in a new year. And if a bundt cake sounds like the perfect ending
to your good luck meal of black-eyed peas, greens, fish, grapes, noodles, small donut holes,
lentils, cornbread, white rice, oranges, tamales and pomegranate juice, make the following
cake for dessert.
The dessert:
A Banana Bundt Cake with Chocolate “Ganache!”
Ingredients:
Butter-flavored cooking spray
1/2 cup of whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup + 3 Tbs. of whole-grain oat flour
1/2 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 tsp. of salt
1/4 tsp. of baking powder
3/4 cup of mashed, (very ripe) bananas. Use 2
1/4 cup + 2 Tbs. of agave nectar
2 Tbs. of fat-free, fruit juice-sweetened vanilla yogurt
1 egg white
2 Tbs. of unsalted butter, melted
3 Tbs. of Chocolate Fudge sauce
To make:
Preheat oven to 350*F. Coat a bundt pan with the cooking spray. In a food
processor, combine flours, for 2 mins; transfer to sifter. Add soda, salt and
baking powder; sift together into small bowl. In medium bowl with whisk or spatula,
mix banana, agave, yogurt, egg white and butter until well combined, making sure
not to overmix. Stir in dry ingredients until no flour is visible and ingredients are
just combined. Spoon into the greased bundt pan and bake for 25 to 30 mins. or until
toothpick is inserted into the center and it comes out clean. Remove from the oven
and let cool, after that invert it onto a clean plate.
To make the Choc. sauce:
Whisk together 1/2 cup of agave nectar and 1/4 cup + 1 Tbs. of unsweetened cocoa
powder until smooth. Sauce thicken as it stands.
Pour the sauce all over the bundt cake.
Calories per slice- 250
Fat 6 g.
Fiber 3 g.
Trans fat 0g
Carbs 49 g

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Thank-You!

Sources:
* Biggest Loser Recipe Book (Chocolate-Glazed Cake)
* Asian Researchers
* Journal of Social Psychology
* AllRecipes.com
* Journal Brain and Cognition
* University of Toronto, Ontario Canada

Good Luck and a Happy and Prosperous New Year (2022) from all of use here
at GroceryListsRxs.com
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One last reminder:
If you need help taking off the weight you gained over the Thanksgiving and Christmas
season, just head to Amazon.com/the kindle store and download our E-book, The Thin
Girl’s Guide To Preventing Winter Weight Gain!