5 Healthy Eating Recipes to Boost Your Mood

Some say that exercise is key to happiness. But even if you workout hard, if you don’t eat well, you won’t feel as good as you could.

To help boost your mood, we’ve compiled five quick and easy healthy eating recipes that will increase your feelgood factor. We also explain the science behind why the ingredients in each of these recipes will bring you joy.

Read on to discover your new go-to healthy dishes and learn about the wellbeing benefits of each of our meal’s key ingredients.

1) Salmon recipe

Research suggests that people who eat fish which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to experience depression.

Fatty fish like salmon are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Including salmon in your diet is a smart way to keep your mood balanced. Salmon is also rich in protein, making it a great post-workout food.

Here’s our favourite healthy eating salmon recipe for you to try: Teriyaki salmon with sesame pak choi. This one’s super quick and easy, so a handy one to cook midweek, after a home workout.

Healthy eating recipes - salmon

2) Nut recipe

Nuts are super nutritious. Rich in healthy fats, fibre and plant-based protein, they also contain an amino acid called tryptophan.

Tryptophan helps our brains to make the mood-boosting chemical, serotonin. Because our bodies can’t make tryptophan, eating foods rich in this amino acid is crucial to our mood.

Nuts are a quick and easy snack that you can eat anytime. But if you want to boost your intake, a nut roast is an easy option. Here’s a simple and satisfying nut roast healthy eating recipe.

Healthy eating recipes -nuts

3) Bean recipe

Beans and lentils are full of mood-boosting B vitamins which help our brains to regulate our mood. Research links low levels of B vitamins with depression and other mood disorders.

Beans are also an excellent source of plant-based protein and fibre, making them a staple ingredient in many healthy eating recipes.

Here’s a nutritious black bean chilli recipe to tantalise your taste buds.

Healthy eating recipes - beans

4) Kimchi recipe

When foods are fermented, live bacteria turn sugar into alcohol and acids. This creates probiotics, which our guts love.

Eating fermented foods like kimchi, kefir and yogurt increases the number of healthy bacteria in your gut.

In a 2016 study, scientists linked having health gut bacteria with a reduced risk of depression. Try cooking with kimchi to help you stay happy and healthy. Here’s a flavoursome Kimchi rice dish we love.

Healthy eating recipes - kimchi

5) Berry recipe

Berries are rich in antioxidants which help our bodies to combat oxidative stress. Scientists have linked diets high in flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, with a reduced risk of depression.

To get a mood-enhancing berry boost in the morning or post-workout, try this super berry smoothie recipe.

Healthy eating recipes -berries

We hope our healthy eating recipes are delicious and make you feel good. Healthy eating goes hand in hand with a good exercise regime. Need more home workout inspiration? Check out our library of workout videos and training plans: