January is a time to start fresh. We tend to be more focused on our health and wellness and are eager to start new diet routines. Sometimes it can be hard to stick with those, but with so many delicious January Food Holidays, you can find something to tempt your palate while also sticking to those resolutions. It’s the perfect month to bust out your slow cookers, Instant Pots, juicers, and blenders that you just got for Christmas.  Use this guide to help you to plan your menu at home, for creative snack ideas in the classroom, or party fun! I’ll keep adding links as I come up with them. Also be sure to check out my Pinterest boards of Recipes to Try and Montessori Food Prep Activities for even more ideas. Which ones are your favorites?

Monthly January Food Holiday Observances

January is the month that everyone decides to change their eating habits. It’s a great idea in theory, but remember it takes at least 21 days to form a new habit. One of the mistakes that most people make is trying to do a massive overhaul in one fell swoop. Start small with just one at a time and you will be more likely to make it a permanent dietary change. Luckily with so many great themes for the month, most of which are quite healthy, you should be able to find something to tempt you.

For example, it’s Fat-Free Living Month, so you can find new fat-free recipes to try. With it being Bread Machine Making Month, National Wheat Bread Month, and National Baking Month, you can find healthier ways to make your favorite baked goods. Plus anything you can make at home from scratch is usually going to be healthier for you anyway, as you know what’s really going in there and can control it.

Turn your breakfast around as you learn about new recipes for National Egg Month, National Hot Tea Month, and National Oatmeal Month. Find new lunch and dinner options with National Meat Month, National Slow Cooking Month, and National Soup Month. You can even help yourself get more regular with Prune Breakfast Month (although I can’t imagine!). And sure, let yourself indulge every once in a while with National Candy Month.

Daily January Food Holiday Observances

January 1 – National Bloody Mary Day

January 1 –  National Black Eyed Pea Day

January 1 – Apple Gifting Day

January 2 – National Buffet Day

January 2 – National Cream Puff Day

January 3-  Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day

January 4 – National Spaghetti Day – Try something new with Zucchini Pasta Sauce with Toasted Pine Nuts, or one of these 30 Spaghetti Recipes.

January 5 – National Whipped Cream Day

January 6 – National Shortbread Day

January 6 – National Bean Day

January 7 – National Tempura Day (I love tempura! Need to make sure to go to my favorite Japanese restaurant today!)

January 8 – National English Toffee Day

January 9 – National Apricot Day

January 9 – National Cassoulet Day

January 10 – National Bittersweet Chocolate Day

January 10 – National Oysters Rockefeller Day

January 11 – National Hot Toddy Day

January 11 – National Milk Day

January 12 – National Marzipan Day

January 12 – National Curried Chicken Day

January 12 – National Glazed Doughnut Day

January 13 – National Gluten-Free Day

January 13 – National Peach Melba Day

January 14 – National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

January 15 – National Bagel Day

January 15 – National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day

January 15 – National Strawberry Ice Cream Day

January 16 – National Fig Newton Day

January 16 – International Hot and Spicy Food Day

January 17– National Hot Buttered Rum Day

January 18 – National Gourmet Coffee Day

January 18 – Peking Duck Day

January 19 – National Popcorn Day – Try some Spicy Popcorn Recipes!

January 20 – National Buttercrunch Day

January 20 – National Cheese Lovers Day

January 20 – National Coffee Break Day (Isn’t this every day?)

January 20 – National Potluck Day

January 21 – National Granola Bar Day

January 21 – National New England Clam Chowder Day

January 22 – National Blondie Brownie Day

January 22 – National Southern Food Day

January 23 – National Pie Day

January 23 – National Rhubarb Pie Day (in case you want to be more specific)

January 24 – National Peanut Butter Day (I am always all about peanut butter everything.)

January 24 – Lobster Thermidor Day

January 25 – National Irish Coffee Day (I fully support this day!)

January 26 – National Green Juice Day

January 26 – National Peanut Brittle Day

January 26 – National Pistachio Day

January 27 – National Chocolate Cake Day

January 28 – National Blueberry Pancake Day

January 29 – National Corn Chip Day

January 30 – National Croissant Day

January 31 – National Brandi Alexander Day

January 31 – National Hot Chocolate Day – OK, I know that there are differences between hot cocoa and hot chocolate, but most of us use the terms interchangeably. And I still consider this to count – White Peppermint Hot Cocoa. You can find more on this Valentine’s Day Hot Cocoa roundup.

Which January food holiday observances are you most looking forward to celebrating?

Resources:

Foodimentary

Mobile Cuisine

The Nibble

Other Monthly Food Holiday Observances:

January * February * March * April * May * June * July * August * September * October * November * December