Looking to boost your mood? These foods will help

What you eat is linked to how you feel, physically and mentally. But how do you know what foods to include in your diet to help fuel the body and mind?

This article was created in partnership with Alison's Pantry

A good place to start is by adding more wholefoods, which are packed with vital nutrients, to your snacks and meals. Simple things like eating a handful of nuts every day, can help support your mental wellbeing as well as immune system and heart health.

The Alison’s Pantry self-selection department in New World and PAK’nSAVE supermarkets has a great range of wholefoods available for scooping, including naturally healthy, delicious nuts, seeds, legumes and dried fruit, which contain mood-boosting vitamins and minerals. Here are a few tips to get you started!

Brazil Nuts
A good source of selenium, an important mineral that can improve your mood. You only need 1-2 brazil nuts a day to get your daily selenium intake – delicious eaten on their own or added to a pesto.

Pistachios
Contain thiamine, a B vitamin which is good for your mental wellbeing. Pistachios are a great food to snack on anytime of the day.

Pumpkin Seeds
Contain magnesium which helps beat tiredness and fatigue. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over salads and roast veggies.

Dried Apricots
Contain vitamin B6 which supports mental wellbeing and brain function. A delicious snack, topping for cereal and porridge.

Lentils
Contain iron which helps with thinking and learning. Lentils are a perfect base for winter soups and curries.

Head to the Alison’s Pantry Facebook page, and join the Scoop to Boost Challenge to go in the draw to win great weekly prizes by cooking delicious recipes using these wholefoods.

Alison's Pantry
alisonspantry.co.nz