Boost Your Happiness With These Happy Foods

Stay smiling on Blue Monday and beyond by choosing a diet that’s rich in vitamin D

- Ali Horsfall

If you need help upping your happiness levels right now, you’re not alone. Blue Monday, which falls on 20 January this year, is the day when we’re officially the most down-in-the-dumps, according to a ‘happiness formula’ that factors in such things as the cold weather, lack of sunlight and number of days since our last payday.

But it’s not all doom and gloom because by tweaking your diet, you can eat your way to a much better mood, says nutritionist RobHobson. Choosing foods high in the ‘sunshine vitamin’ of vitamin D is a simple way of making sure your feel-good tanks stay topped up.

OILY GOODNESS

A really good way to get your fill of vitamin D is by eating oily fish. Salmon has around 400 to 600iu of vitamin D per 100g. Mackerel contains around 400iu, while sardines, fresh tuna and trout are also great vitamin D-rich options. ‘Ideally, we should be eating two portions of oily fish a week, each one being around 140g (cooked) or as a rough guide, a typical fillet of fish about the size of your palm,’ says Rob.

HOW MUCH DO WE NEED?