The holiday of Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year, is rapidly approaching. My girls are already learning about the traditions of this joyous time of year. And, of course, they’re learning all about the food. That’s right, it’s almost time to really EAT!

Rosh Hashana, like every holiday, has food-based traditions, including dipping apples in honey (to signify a sweet New Year) and round challahs instead of braided challahs (round challah signifies the cycle of the year). The most fun aspect of Rosh Hashana for kids is the “new fruit” rule, or the tradition of tasting new fruits for a new year. My three year old told me that this week, her class has already taste-tested and recorded no less than five new fruits in class. Here’s a list of what her preschool class has been sampling:

Apples - Ok, these are not new to most kids, but it never hurts to remind people about this wonderful fruit. Colorful, crunchy and with endless cooking possibilities, apples are many kids (and adults!) favorite food. Apples also represent Fall, and since moving to a warm climate, I miss this season most of all. Cooking and being around apples reminds me of the wonderful weather “up North,” and I’ve been able to pass stories to my girls about being a kid myself! Any apple cake recipe will be a big hit for Rosh Hashanah!

Pomegranate - We typically eat pomegranate seeds on the second night of the holiday, which is technically the first day of the new year. The seeds represent the first “new fruit” of the year. If you’ve been following food trends, pomegranate juice is high in antioxidants and is great for heart health. Check out many recipes for pomegranates and have fun with them! Since you can actually eat the seeds, it’s better to give pomegranate to older children who can chew them well.

Starfruit - Kids love this fruit because of the shape after you slice it. Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidents, starfruit is a little tough to eat raw, but it’s sweetness makes up for it. You can juice and cook starfruit, but we think they’re great for making pretty salads.

Mango - We eat a lot of mango, but since we’ve been in a smoothie phase these days, I’ve been buying them frozen so they blend well. My husband can eat multiple mangoes in one sitting, and I love watching the girls get mango-messy in summertime, right before they wash it all off in the pool or ocean. Mangoes are sweet, colorful, and full of vitamins. The site the kitchn has amazing mango recipes to try with your kids, including this mango salsa that takes more like dessert!

Passionfruit - Out of all the fruits my daughter tried, passionfruit was her least favorite (and I have to admit, it’s not one of my favs either). Usually juiced, passionfruit pulp is kind of tough to get to, and it has many unedible seeds to contend with. Passionfruit is full of fiber and is worth trying out in smoothies or mixed juices. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try this amazing looking passionfruit cheesecake recipe!

What new foods will you or your family be trying this year?