10 foods for happiness

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There are lots of ways to find happiness—puppies, Prozac, pranayama, for example. But eating your way there may be the best, says Drew Ramsey, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Ramsey’s new book, The Happiness Diet, (with Tyler Graham) examines how the modern American diet is not conducive to mental health or happiness, and the many recent studies that link depression to diet.

“Food choices dictate a lot about brain health,” says Ramsey, which is good news, because we can make smarter choices, like carrots over Cheetos.

And the old adage about “eating the rainbow”—think purple cauliflower and red beans—also boosts brain-cell functioning and your general level of joy.

Here are 10 happiness-inducing foods that Dr. Ramsey says make real Happy Meals. —Lisa Elaine Held