Google AI
The Times Australia
The Times Food and Dining

.

Fresh Ideas for Celebrating the Year of the Snake

  • Written by: Jayne Travers-Drapes, Co-Founder of Box Divvy

The Lunar New Year is here, and with it comes the Year of the Snake—a time for fresh beginnings, family connections, and, of course, delicious food. As celebrations kick off, Australian families are turning to summer’s bounty of fresh produce to create vibrant, meaningful meals that honour tradition.

Food, Family, and the Spirit of the Season
The Year of the Snake is about wisdom, mindfulness, and connection. Sharing meals with loved ones, trying new recipes, and cooking together all strengthen those bonds. Whether it’s a simple stir-fry or a grand Lunar New Year feast, the food you prepare can reflect your values, honour traditions, and inspire joy.

Snake beans take centre stage this year. With their long, elegant shape symbolising longevity and prosperity, they are a natural fit for Lunar New Year dishes. Paired with other seasonal stars like bok choy, sweet corn, carrots and dragon fruit, these ingredients bring both flavour and intention to festive feasts.

Seasonal Ingredients to Celebrate the Year of the Snake

This time of year offers a wealth of fresh, locally grown produce to elevate your Lunar New Year table:

  • Snake Beans: Crisp, versatile, and symbolic of long life, these are perfect in stir-fries, salads, or even as a crunchy side.

  • Bok Choy and Asian Greens: A staple for quick, healthy dishes, these greens shine when paired with garlic, ginger, or oyster sauce.

  • Sweet Corn: Add a sweet, vibrant touch to dumplings, soups, or grilled dishes for a modern twist.

  • Carrots and Root Vegetables: Their natural sweetness and versatility make them ideal for hearty vegetarian dishes that bring warmth and colour to your spread.

  • Dragon Fruit: With its vibrant red skin and mildly sweet flesh, dragon fruit is an exotic and nutritious addition to your table. It’s packed with antioxidants, fibre, and vitamins, making it as healthy as it is beautiful.

Celebrating Fresh Beginnings with Fresh Produce

Lunar New Year is a wonderful reminder to embrace the seasons. By choosing what’s fresh and local, we’re not only enjoying better flavour and nutrition—we’re also supporting Australian farmers and celebrating the abundance of summer’s harvest.

At Box Divvy, we’re passionate about connecting communities with fresh, seasonal produce that’s sourced locally. Our local Food Hubs make it easy to eat well while supporting small-scale farmers. This Lunar New Year, it’s easier than ever to prepare meals that are both meaningful and delicious.

As you plan your celebrations, remember that food is more than just sustenance—it’s a way to connect, to celebrate, and to look forward with hope and intention. Together, let’s make the Year of the Snake a time of abundance, health, and happiness.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Food & Dining

Food Poisoning: How to Understand Food Labelling Codes—and Protect Yourself

Food poisoning is one of those risks that feels distant—until it isn’t. In Australia, thousands of cases occur every year, many of them preventable. One of the most overlooked defences is something every shopper sees but not everyone fully understa...

Chef knives: Setting up a home or upgrading, does price equate to quality?

For anyone serious about cooking—whether setting up a first kitchen or upgrading an existing one—the question inevitably arises: how much should you spend on a chef’s knife, and does a higher price actually mean better quality? The answer, as with...

Supermarket Prices Are Up — and So Is Dinner at a Modest Eatery. Why?

For many Australians, the weekly grocery shop and a simple night out for dinner have quietly become two of the most noticeable pressure points in the household budget. What used to be routine—filling a trolley or grabbing fish and chips—now require...

Homemade Food: Cheaper Than Takeaway, Healthier Than You Think — and Easier Than Ever

As the cost of living continues to bite across Australia, households are taking a harder look at everyday spending. One of the most immediate pressure points? Food. The convenience of takeaway and delivery has become part of modern life — but it ...

Times Magazine

The 2026 Met Gala: Fashion, Power and the Theatre of Exclusivity

Each year, on the first Monday in May, the global fashion industry converges on the steps of Metro...

Australian Wine Guide

A Quick but Informed Guide to the Varieties and Popular Brands of Australian WinesDon’t let a wine...

What next from Apple

The question of what comes next for Apple Inc. is no longer theoretical. With leadership transitio...

Leapmotor Hybrid EV Review

The Leapmotor hybrid EV—most notably the Leapmotor C10 REEV (range-extended electric vehicle)—has ...

Navman Gets Even Smarter with 2026 MiVue™ Dash Cams

Introducing NEW Integrated Smart Parking and Australia-First Extended Recording Mode Navman to...

Why Interactive Panels Are Replacing Traditional Whiteboards in Perth

Whiteboards have been part of classrooms and meeting rooms for decades. They’re familiar, flexible...

The Times Features

Labor derails regional freight to fund high-speed piped…

The Albanese Labor Government’s decision to abandon the critical New South Wales to  Queensland leg ...

GraceX Launches Psychological Safety Platform as Psych…

Australia’s approach to workplace mental health has entered a  new and consequential chapter. Work H...

Australia Pays the Price for Labor’s City-Centric Infra…

The Albanese Labor Government’s decision to abandon the Gladstone connection to Inland Rail is ano...

Fast Food Is Called “Sometimes Food” For Children. Ther…

For generations, parents were told that fast food should be “sometimes food” for children rather t...

KMS x Daisy Edgar Jones Met Gala

For the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, Celebrity Stylist, Bryce Scarlett, created a voluminous, polished ...

Sweet success as Council green-lights $150 million Choc…

Glenorchy City Council has approved the $150 million Chocolate Experience at Cadbury, clearing the w...

Goldwell x Margot Robbie at the Met Gala

For the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, Celebrity Stylist, Bryce Scarlett, created a defined, twisted updo...

Team sport the MVP for kicking kids’ mental health goal…

Findings from one of the most comprehensive reviews to date examining sport participation and ment...

The 2026 Met Gala: Fashion, Power and the Theatre of Ex…

Each year, on the first Monday in May, the global fashion industry converges on the steps of Metro...