Life be hard, and no one needs me to tell them that. Working, dealing with family, trying to have a social life, whether it’s on social media or in the physical form, I could go on and on. It can all get quite frustrating and tiring. Keeping the mind in order is very important.

There are many ways of keeping our mental health in check and one thing many people overlook is their diet. I’ve always been a strong believer in the benefits of sticking to a mainly healthy diet.

Oh, believe me when I say, I love treating myself to the odd bit of junk; pizza, chocolate, crispy bacon, and a glass or two of red wine. But when I’m eating more bad than good, I get achy, fatigued, and I find it harder to concentrate.

It’s all about the balance!

For me, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Mine sets me up for the best part of the day.

I have porridge most mornings with a teaspoon of peanut butter and a sprinkling of brown sugar mixed through it. You can get very adventurous with porridge. Add fruit, honey, cream, nuts and seeds.

My husband isn’t a big fan of porridge, but he orders it in certain Irish guest house or hotels because they serve it with cream and a measure of whiskey.

The main reason I eat porridge is because oats are good for lowering cholesterol and they’re also good for the brain.

My current exchange student absolutely loves Irish soda bread, so I’ve been making it a lot lately. Sometimes it turns out fine, other times it’s a flop.

Today I came across a recipe on YouTube by Darina Allen. Seriously, it’s the easiest one I’ve come across so far. (It’s all about letting the fairies escape.)

I followed Darina’s recipe and mine turned out perfect… well, almost. It tasted delicious but it went a bit sideways when my Mason Cash baking stone split after five minutes in the 230c oven. I had to quickly rescue my bread and place it onto a baking tray. That’s why it’s a bit out of shape. (Previous recipes I’ve tried only called for a 180c oven). I’m disappointed this broke because it was a present from my sister-in-law, Mary, and I loved it.

My son and his fiancée recently added a couple of ducks to their family. My dad used to eat duck eggs, so I’m always reminded of him when I eat them.

They are huge and the yolk is a beautiful orange colour. They’re so tasty and 100% organic.

This one was a little undercooked for my liking to be honest. I should have given it an extra minute or two. I spooned it into a cup and mashed it up with Himalayan salt and a wee knob of butter.

I’ve recently switched to de-caffeinated coffee too and I do feel the benefits.

I suppose as we get older our energy levels diminish and we have to do extra things to help us along. But that’s okay with me! When I was younger I didn’t have time to write or run a blog, so I’m very grateful to be at this stage in my life.

Here’s a link to some more mood-boosting foods!

Let me know in the comments what your favourite mood-boosting foods are.

I can’t let you leave without asking you a question…..

Would you like a peek inside the pages of my fictional novel? It might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.