What to Eat for Chinese New Year According to Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Chinese New Year marks the transition from winter to spring. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is a key time to strengthen the Kidneys (the source of vital energy) and prepare the rising Liver Qi, which supports renewal, growth, and new projects.

Food plays an essential role in attracting health, luck, and vitality for the year ahead.

🍲 1. Warm, slow-cooked foods

Avoid cold or raw foods.Choose instead:

• Soups

• Broths

• Stews

• Gently simmered dishes

  
  

These warm the body and protect Kidney Yang energy.

🍗 2. Qi-tonifying proteins

The best choices for this season are:

• Chicken

• Turkey

• Eggs

• White fish

  
  

They strengthen Qi, support immunity, and promote vitality.

🍄 3. Healing and “lucky” foods

In TCM, some foods are especially powerful at this time:

• Shiitake mushrooms → boost immunity

• Red dates (jujubes) → nourish the Blood and calm the spirit

• Goji berries → support the Liver and Kidneys

• Ginger → warms the body and moves Qi

  
  

🍚 4. Grains and root vegetables

These ground and stabilize energy:

• Rice

• Millet

• Sweet potatoes

• Carrots

• Squash

  
  

Perfect for starting a new cycle with balance and strength.

🧧 In summary

For Chinese New Year, choose warm, nourishing, and comforting foods, rich in broths, chicken, root vegetables, mushrooms, and gentle spices.According to TCM, eating this way helps you enter the new year with strong, flowing, and protected energy.