Chinese New Year 2009 as seen on KMGH TV 7 Denver

Year of the Ox: Lunar Year 4707

Chinese New Year Offers Symbols of Health, Wealth and Wisdom for 2009

The Chinese New Year of the Ox begins on January 26, 2009 and is celebrated for the next 15 days. More food is prepared and consumed during this holiday than any other time of the year, and much of the food has symbolic connotations.

Mary Lee Chin, a registered dietitian and first generation Chinese-American is encouraging everyone to hedge their bets this Chinese New Year and indulge in the foods that symbolize health, wealth and wisdom.

Mary Lee brings you New Years greeting from the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. In our ninth year, it will be held at Sloan’s Lake Park this year on July 25 and 26

Boat team registration for both adult and youth teams are now open.
The diverse cultures of Hawaii will be featured at this year's 2009 festival to commemorate the 50th year of its statehood with special activities including a Hawaiian Lei Ceremony, Polynesian dancing, luau ceremonies and much more!
The CDBF will also be featuring the second annual commemorative poster design contest with cash awards for the top three finalists.
For more festival information and New Year recipes, go to www.cdbf.org

FOOD and Health & Wealth: Foods have special significance and it is advised to eat dishes with auspicious sounding names in Chinese.

The Box of HarmonyThe box of candies traditionally offered at New Years is round or octagonal, the form resembling togetherness, and contains dazzling rows of fruit and candies to begin the New Year sweetly.
Candies are given to friends and relatives during their visits.
Each candied fruit is symbolic—though highly sugared, so eat in moderation!
Let’s go over some of the symbolism: I have selected fruits that symbolize wealth and prosperity
Pineapple of wealth
Kumquat - gold, hence fortune, wealth
Lotus seeds, crystallized - a full wallet, many (male) offspring
Candied melon symbolizing good health and growth., having a large number of children
Coconut: promoting togetherness and friendship
Water chestnut) - unity

The Box of Health and Harmony: Can’t get away from being a registered dietitian and making healthy recommendations.
Modernized and updated fruit offerings to also reflect healthy choices.
These are representative of a food group to encourage: Fruit Food group
Nutrient-rich. That is, they provide much more nutritional value in terms of vitamins, minerals and other healthful components, for the low amount of calories they contain.

Tangerines are very popular as, among other things, they symbolize abundant happiness.
Excellent source of fiber and vitamin C
Walnuts- happiness of the entire family
Source of omega-3-fatty acid for heart health
Grapes and raisins - wealth, abundance, fertility, many descendants, family harmony
Use dried fruit in winter at 25-30 cents per serving to help meet your recommended 4 servings of fruit/day economically
Golden raisins
With anti-oxidants beta-carotene and lycopene
Mangos
Golden- wealth
Apple - wisdom, peace
Excellent source of soluble fiber and a kid favorite
Peach, pair of - wealth, abundance, long healthy life, great fortune for many generations
Research on phytochemicals to reduce risk of cancer

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.
Events that take place during this time sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Take this opportunity to celebrate health, and happiness with your family, and focus on getting your four servings of fruit/day—even in the winter
For more information, go to www.cdfb.org