IF you need a boost, you are in good company.
January in a pandemic calls for food that makes us feel good from the inside out.
Fish, meat and a rainbow of fruit and veg are the real mood-boosters, not cake or chocs.
So try these swaps and wake up to a sunnier outlook with the help of some great recipes from morrisons.com.
Top of the swaps
Swap fish and chips for fish with sweet potato fries: Fish such as cod, salmon and tuna are loaded with goodness. salmon fillets, 220g, for £4 or three for £10. Or buy two line-caught cod fillets from Asda for £3, saving 19p.
Sweet potatoes contain vitamin B6 and magnesium, both great for flicking the switch on your mood.
Swap sugary cereals for porridge: Oats are packed with mood-boosting selenium. They also slowly release energy into the bloodstream, which keeps blood sugar and mood stable.
Morrisons has reduced a kilo of porridge oats from £1.20 to 79p, saving 41p.
Swap pasta for lentils: Lentils are a superfood for mood control. Try them in a curry, alongside a pasta sauce or in a salad. Tesco’s microwave Mexican style lentils, £1, will be an instant hit.
Swap complicated dishes for simple steaks: Forget creamy sauces and heavy meals. Instead, serve up a simple steak with stir-fried veg or salad.
An occasional dish of red meat can be good for the mood, as well as a little luxury at a time when we need a treat. Morrisons has sirloin, rump, bavette or Denver steaks for £3.50, or buy two for £6, (200-350g).
Swap takeaways for turkey: Now Christmas is a distant memory, you can give mood-balancing turkey another try. Tesco 500g turkey thigh mince, £2.70, works a treat for burgers or Bolognese, giving you a big protein boost at the same time.
Swap sweets for dark chocolate: If you want to indulge, go for a square or two of dark chocolate, which causes the brain to release endorphins and boost happiness levels.
Asda has a Lindt Excellence 85 per cent cocoa dark chocolate bar for £1.99, or buy two for £3.
Swap crisps for a handful of nuts: Brazil nuts, in particular, are packed with mineral selenium. Studies link low levels of it with increased rates of the blues.
Just three nuts a day will give you enough. Morrisons Brazil nuts, 200g, are £2.50, or enjoy alongside other nuts in a two-for-£4 deal.
Swap toasted cheese sandwich for egg on wholemeal toast: Inside that fragile shell, eggs are a superfood. Serve them poached, boiled or scrambled on top of wholemeal bread for a mood-boosting lunch.
Asda has cut the price of six large free-range eggs from £1.10 to 89p, saving 21p.