The Times Australia
Mirvac Harbourside
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

The Perfect Champagne Day Pairing: Luke Nguyen’s Chargrilled Lemongrass Beef Skewers

Celebrate Champagne Day on October 24th with this delicious recipe and elegant pairing from Luke Nguyen, Australian Lanson Ambassador. This special day is the perfect moment to savour the harmony of fine food and exceptional champagne with Maison La...

Italian Lamb Ragu Recipe: The Best Ragù di Agnello for Pasta

Ciao! It’s Friday night, and the weekend is calling for a little Italian magic. What’s better than twirling up a rich, hearty pasta with a glass of bold red wine in hand? The real secret to Italian pasta isn’t just the noodles; it’s those incredible ...

Not all processed foods are bad for you. Here’s what you can tell from reading the label

If you follow wellness content on social media or in the news, you’ve probably heard that processed food is not just unhealthy, but can cause serious harm. Eating a diet dominated by highly processed foods means you’re likely to consume more kil...

Italian Street Kitchen: A Nation’s Favourite with Expansion News on Horizon

Successful chef brothers, Enrico and Giulio Marchese, weigh in on their day-to-day at Australian foodie favourite, Italian Street Kitchen - with plans for ‘ambitious expansion’ to be announced in the coming months.  Italian Street Kitchen: A slice o...

Mirvac Harbourside

Times Magazine

YepAI Joins Victoria's AI Trade Mission to Singapore for Big Data & AI World Asia 2025

YepAI, a Melbourne-based leader in enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, announced today...

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an onli...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beau...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data anal...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right c...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in t...

The Times Features

Is Laminate a Good Option For Kitchen Benchtops?

When it comes to renovating your kitchen, one of the most important choices you’ll make is your be...

Albanese Government failing to defend the rights of ex-service personnel

The Albanese Government is failing to defend the rights of ex-service personnel to seek a review of ...

Increase your holdings and hold your increases from a wisely diverse investment portfolio.

What comes to your mind when I ask about which investments are most important to you? I imagine we w...

Canberra Just Got a Glow Up: Inside Kingpin’s Dazzling New Attractions

Canberra’s entertainment scene just levelled up. Kingpin entertainment, Australia’s home of immers...

The Capsule CEO: Ashley Raso’s Reinvention from Property Developer to Fashion Founder

From property developer to creative founder, Raso positions Capsule WD as the wardrobe system resh...

Yellow Canary partners with global payroll audit leader Celery to bring pre-payroll review technology to Australia

Payroll compliance is becoming tougher for Australian employers. Underpayment cases continue to do...

Noticing These 5 Issues? Contact an Emergency Plumber Now

The invisible arteries running through homes, plumbing systems, streamline daily life discreetly...

The Perfect Champagne Day Pairing: Luke Nguyen’s Chargrilled Lemongrass Beef Skewers

Celebrate Champagne Day on October 24th with this delicious recipe and elegant pairing from Luke Ngu...

Bribing kids to eat vegetables might backfire. Here’s what to do instead

It’s a tactic many parents know well: “eat two bites of broccoli, and then you can have desser...