No matter your mood, the weather or your schedule, you can’t go wrong with a bowl of garlicky, herby pesto. Rather than opt for the store-bought stuff poured over fibre-less white pasta, try this speedy, veggie-packed recipe for all the light comforts of your favourite meal plus the added benefit of a tonne of plants. Nine, to be precise. 

That’s because five-a-day is no longer the goal, and research suggests we should actually be aiming for 30-a-week. In fact, those who hit that target have been shown to have a more diverse range of gut bacteria than those who eat 10 or fewer a week. More gut diversity equals better brain function, greater production of serotonin and dopamine, and a happy digestive system.