Chinese or Lunar New Year is also celebrated in the Philippines, owing to the contribution of the Chinese community to Filipino culture. Traditional foods served on Chinese New Year either symbolize or attract wealth and prosperity for the coming year. Why not attract good health too with a smart menu that still pays tribute to this well-loved tradition?

Here are our picks, plus a recipe!

1. Tikoy (resembles Fukien Nian Gao)

By far, it’s the most common delicacy during Chinese New Year here in the Philippines. Tikoy is a round, sticky cake made with ground glutinous rice (galapong) and then mixed with water, lard and sugar. A plain tikoy comes in brown or white, depending on the type of sugar used. Other flavors such as buko pandan, strawberry, and munggo are also becoming popular. Before eating it, it must be cut into bite-sized pieces, drenched in egg batter, and then fried. 1 slice of tikoy is about 150 calories

2. Steamed Whole Fish

The Chinese word for fish, “Yu”, resembles the Chinese words for wish and abundance. It is considered good luck to serve a whole fish at the end of the evening meal to bring abundance all throughout the year.

3. Noodles

Noodles are traditionally served for long life and longevity. The Chinese believe it’s best to eat them uncut. Pancit bihon, pancit bihon, and chicken sotanghon are some of the mainstay noodle dishes during the Chinese New Year.

4. Round fruits like ponkan and its mini-sized version, kiat-kiat, pomelo (suha) and pineapple

These round fruits are said to be lucky to have for Chinese New Year because they resemble coins – round in shape and golden in color. The pineapple is also treasured because its Hokkien translation resembles the word “prosperity”.

5. Lumpiang Shanghai (Spring rolls)

It symbolizes wealth because they look like golden bars when cooked. Spring rolls are perennial favorites during both Chinese and Philippine celebrations. While they clock in about 100 calories per roll, be wary of their sodium content as they may contain up to as much as 300 mgs!

Here’s a simple recipe for lumpiang shanghai:

Ingredients for 1 person (330 calories):
* 90 g ground pork or beef
* 30 g chopped shrimps
* 1 tsp finely chopped onion
* 2 tbsp finely chopped carrots
* 1 pc (60 g) chicken egg
* 1 tbsp soy sauce
* 1/2 tsp sesame oil
* salt and pepper to taste
* 5 pcs lumpia wrapper
* vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:
1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until well blended.
2. Scoop a tablespoonful of filling, wrap and seal lumpia wrapper to make thin rolls.
3. Fry each roll in hot oil.
4. Drain on paper towels. Transfer to a serving platter. Serve with sweet and sour sauce.