JANUARY FOOD FUN

New Year's Day - January 1: Many families ring in the New Year with a traditional meal meant to bring good fortune and health in the year ahead.  Good luck foods include: Greens: Their deep green color resembles money and are believed to bring wealth in the new year. Black Eyed Peas and Lentils: Resembling coins, these beans are said to bring prosperity in the New Year. Round fruits: Fruits such as oranges, melons, blueberries and grapes often eaten on New Year's Day. Their circular shape is a sign of that the previous year has ended, and the new year promises a fresh start. Cornbread: Because it's color is similar to gold, cornbread is often eaten by those hoping for a prosperous year. Pork:  Pigs dig up the ground to look for their food, eating pork on New Year's Day is sign to embrace the challenges and adventures to come in the new year. On the first day of 2014, enjoy a wonderful family meal and celebrate the beginning of a new year!

Big Birthdays! Benjamin Franklin and Michelle Obama - January 17:  Ben Franklin was most known for discovering electricity, but did you know he might have also been responsible for introducing tofu to America? Strange but true, Mr. Franklin was quite a foodie! He took a patriotic pride in using locally grown foods in cooking to avoid being dependent on imported foods from Europe. Some of his favorite local foods included apples, cranberries, maple syrup, turkey and corn. Michelle Obama, the First lady, will turn 50 on January 17th!  She has gained fame for starting the Let's Move initiative.  This program sets national goals to end childhood obesity in a generation. Let's Move" has four main pillars: Offering parents the tools and information they need to make better decisions about their children's nutrition. Getting healthier foods in the schools. Improving the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods. Physical activity -- increasing opportunities for kids to play and move.

National Soup Month: Nothing beats a warm bowl of delicious, homemade soup on a cold winter's day. Soup comes in many varieties - thick, creamy bisques and chowders, broth-based soups, vegetable-based chilis and gazpachos - nearly every country around the world has its own special soup recipe. Try a new soup recipe in January for National Soup Month!   Get the whole family in on the soup action with our fun Super Soup Bar Family Activity. Make a pot of soup today and you'll have dinner and lunches for the week, plus leftovers for the freezer. Click here for some of our tasty soup recipes.

Chinese New Year - January 31: End the month with another New Year's Celebration - on January 31st, the Chinese will welcome in the Year of the Horse. People born in the Year of the Horse include those with birth years of 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, and 2014. People born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the Horse are extremely animated, active and energetic. Horses love to be in a crowd and love to take center stage and delight audiences everywhere. Similar to our New Year, the Chinese New Year celebration is filled with food, fun and fireworks!  Read Chinese New Year for great recipes ideas to help you ring in the Year of the Horse with Chinese flavor!

What's In Season: The freshest winter fruits and vegetables include bananas, grapefruits, kale, lemons, mushrooms, onions, leeks, oranges, pears, potatoes, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips & winter squash.