My strongest Rosh Hashanah memories are sitting between my dad and Zaida in synagogue, impatiently eating hard candies while braiding the strings on their tallit, eating round challah studded with raisins, and of course, dipping apples into sweet and sticky honey.
While apples and honey are delicious and kid-pleasing (over the age of one!), beautiful child-friendly Rosh Hashanah food traditions don't have to stop there. There are so many more symbolic foods called simanim to enjoy during Rosh Hashanah.
In the spirit of making Jewish education fun, engaging, and delicious, I’m sharing quick and simple simanim-inspired snacks for your High Holiday season, each with a message or learning to help incorporate Jewish values into your every day routine.
Apples and Honey Toast
Spread cream cheese onto a slice of challah, top with thinly sliced apples, pomegranate seeds, and honey.
- We eat apples and honey for a sweet new year, what can you do to be extra sweet this year?
Simanim Snack Mix
Combine popcorn, freeze dried apples, fish-shaped candies or crackers, as well as air-fried pea snacks to create a delicious snack mix full of symbolic foods.
- We eat fish heads (or candies!) to show that we can be a leader with our heads, not be tails, or followers - how can you be a leader at school or at home?
Pink and Black Eyed Pea Hummus:
Make your favorite hummus using black eyed peas in place of chickpeas. Add some cooked beets, or beet powder for added color.
- We eat black eyed peas for good luck - what do you want a little extra luck with this year?
Stuffed Dates
Open your date and remove the seed, then fill with your favorite nut butter and top with pomegranate seeds.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Add ½ cup of canned pumpkin or squash to your macaroni and cheese (boxed is fine!). Stir until everything is combined.
- When we eat a squash or pumpkin at the Rosh Hashanah table, we’re symbolically hoping to let go of negative traits to let our best selves shine through in the new year. Is there a bad habit you can let go of this year?
Green Spinach Smoothies
Blend spinach, frozen banana pieces, milk, apple slices, cinnamon, and greek yogurt until smooth.
- We eat greens to symbolically surround ourselves with loving and warm people. What can we do to help our community be a supportive and welcoming place?
Cabbage Slaw with Apples
Combine shredded cabbage, carrot, and apples with green onion. Dress with lemon juice, honey, olive oil, and salt.
- We eat carrots so that we are judged favorably in the new year. What do you think it means to “be judged favorably?” What does it mean to use good judgment?
Bonus: Think abouts what foods represent values that your family wants to highlight in the new year. (If you’re feeling silly, create some puns to go along with them – for example, “I have grape expectations for the new year.” Or, “You’re one in a melon!”)
About the Author:
Micah Siva (@noshwithmicah) is an award-winning cookbook author, trained chef, registered dietitian, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. After graduating from the Natural Gourmet Institute of Health & Culinary Arts, she pursued a career in nutrition and later worked for global brands, media outlets, and publications in food media. She shares Jewish-inspired, plant-forward recipes through her blog, Nosh with Micah. Micah lives in the Chicago area with her young son, Ari, husband, and dog Buckwheat.
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