Different cultures have long associated certain foods with luck, especially around new year's when we all naturally feel entitled to some good fortune. Like most superstitions, the reasons why these foods and not others are chosen can be vague and even simplistic. The Chinese eat long noodles for longevity. The Italians eat lentils--shaped like coins-- for prosperity. And American southerners eat black eyed peas--cool little guys, each tainted with a black eye--on a bed of collard greens because, apparently, they look like coins on dollar bills. Go figure. Some stories, however, date the legend of the black-eyed peas all the way back to ancient Egypt where they were eaten to show humility to the gods. Whatever the superstition, and whether or not you buy it, the fact is that you can't go wrong eating black eyed peas and collard greens. Both are extremely healthy foods that will leave you feeling--and looking--like a million dollars. And that's always a lucky thing to happen.