If January is still getting you down two weeks in, it could be time to look at a few lifestyle changes to get that spring back in your step.

Our diet can have a huge effect on our mood – ever notice that you get crabby and cranky after filling up on sugar? The great thing is that by eating the right foods, we could actually improve our mood, alertness and energy levels without any effort.

Here are some foods to include in your diet this month to make your day a little brighter!

1. Bananas
Bananas contain an amino acid called typtophan as well as vitamin B. Both of these work together to help our body produce and absorb the neurotransmitter serotonin, a known mood-booster. So get peeling!

2. Turkey and chicken
Lean proteins like turkey and chicken contain the amino acid tyrosine which not only helps to lift our mood, but can actually stop us getting the blues in the first place. Win! 

3. Porridge
Swap your toast for a warming bowl of porridge for a mood-lifting breakfast that'll keep you full all morning. Oats have a low glycaemic index (GI) and so their energy is slowly released into the body, meaning your blood sugar stays stable. Blood sugar dips and spikes are one of the main causes of mood swings.

4. Oily fish
Salmon, tuna and sardines are all great sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are mood-boosters than our brain does not naturally produce by itself.

5. Dark chocolate
We'll take ANY excuse to eat more chocolate, but this one is actually legit! Eating two squares of dark chocolate a day has been proven to reduce our body's production of the stress hormone cortisol, leading to a calmer and happier you!