• To celebrate World Health Day, Uber Eats unveils the top 10 foods scientifically proven to be healthy for both the mind and body including chocolate, red meat and kimchi
  • In partnership with food scientist Jozef Youssef, Uber Eats has uncovered that carbs, along with green and yellow foods, help turn your frown upside down
  • ‘Happy’ orders peak in Australia on Friday evenings at 7pm
  • The most popular mood-boosting meals ordered on Uber Eats in Australia include pasta from The Italian Bowl in Sydney, Salmon from Poke Me in Melbourne and Sweet Potato Chips from New York Minute in Brunswick

We’re constantly reminded that eating well will help to improve heart health and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and even certain cancers — but what about taking care of your mind? In celebration of World Health Day, Uber Eats has partnered with globally-renowned experimental chef Jozef Youssef, to unveil a definitive list of mood-enhancing foods that are proven to be healthy for your mind.


According to Youssef, who is also Associate Editor of the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, carbs are not the enemy and are in fact one of the best ways to incorporate serotonin-producing foods into your diet.

Youssef’s research also showed a correlation between certain ingredients and improved mood, with different elements, including texture and colour, also yielding positive effects:

  • Crunchy and chewy foods, along with antioxidant-rich foods such as avocado, mango, blueberries and figs are proven to prevent and relieve stress
  • Green foods like vegetables calm us down while we associate yellow foods like bananas with happiness
  • Nutrient-rich foods like fish help us get through a busy day at work
  • Chemicals in foods like chicken, red meat, chocolate and peanuts are proven to make us happier

Craving for some feel-good food? Uber Eats’ data reveals that the most popular mood-boosting meals ordered in Australia include pasta from The Italian Bowl in Sydney, salmon from Poke Me in Melbourne and sweet potato chips from New York Minute in Brunswick, with orders of ‘happy foods’ peaking at 7pm on a Friday evening.

Jozef Youssef comments: “There is a clear scientific link between the food that we eat and our mood. It’s commonly said that variety is the spice of life, so having a rich and varied diet helps us maintain a happy mind and body. Services like Uber Eats that offer a diverse array of happiness-inducing meal options help us boost our mood by taking our taste buds on a non-stop adventure.”

Jeanette Mellinger, Head of User Experience Research at Uber Eats adds: At Uber Eats, our mission is to make eating well effortless, every day for everyone. Although the definition ‘eating well’ means different things to different people, we can get one step closer to offering food recommendations that most contribute to this, by working with Jozef Youssef to understand the science behind how food makes us feel. We strive to constantly provide diverse meal options, and now we can do so by understanding our biochemistry and our moods, not just the latest food trends. We’re looking forward to connecting consumers with food that improves their days, at the tap of a button.”

The top ten scientific mood-boosting foods

  1. Sweet Potato – vibrant in both colour and flavour, it is a delicious complex starch, beneficial for the production of serotonin, also known as ‘happiness’ neurotransmitter.
  2. Salmon – another vibrantly coloured ingredient, much loved for its buttery texture and feel, salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which benefits the brain.
  3. Kale – crunchy and earthy, kale is another complex starch that is also good for serotonin production.
  4. Bananas – beaming with a big yellow smile, bananas are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and pre-biotic foods which help with digestion – and this impacts mood!
  5. Blueberries – these vibrant little berries contain special antioxidants called carotenoids flavonoids and other antioxidant compounds like vitamin A, C, E, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus.
  6. Red meat – a good source of tryptophan which is essential in the production of serotonin and provides a number of essential nutrients, including protein, zinc and vitamin B12.
  7. Mango – flesh bursting with the colour of sunshine, soft to touch and a heady sweet aroma, mango is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
  8. Chocolate – a prebiotic and antioxidant treat known for putting a smile on most people’s faces.
  9. Walnuts – coincidentally shaped like a brain, walnuts are known to be highly beneficial for our brain and are not only packed with antioxidants but also contain a number of other neuroprotective compounds, including vitamin E, folate, melatonin,omega-3 fats.
  10. Kimchi (or sauerkraut) – fiery in both flavour and colour, kimchi is a prebiotic food and the lactic acid bacteria formed during the fermentation of kimchi may also help your body break down pesticides.

Most popular mood-boosting restaurants in Australia:

  1. The Italian Bowl, Sydney (Pasta)
  2. Poke Me, Melbourne (Salmon)
  3. New York Minute, Melbourne (Sweet Potato Chips)
  4. Grill’d Healthy Burgers, Melbourne (Sweet Potato Chips)
  5. Fox In The Corn, Melbourne (Pasta)
  6. Poke Me, Melbourne (Marinated Tofu Bowl)
  7. misschu, Melbourne (Popcorn Chicken)
  8. Grill’d Healthy Burgers, Sydney (Sweet Potato Chips)
  9. New York Minute, Melbourne (Milkshakes)
  10. Vegie Bar Takeaway, Melbourne (Sweet Potato Chips)

Peak days and times for feel-good food orders via Uber Eats in APAC:

  • Australia: Fridays at 19:00
  • New Zealand: Fridays at 19:00
  • Hong Kong: Sundays at 18:00
  • Taiwan: Sundays at 18:00
  • India: Sundays at 20:00
  • Japan: Saturdays at 12:00
  • Korea: Thursdays at 11:00
  • Malaysia: Fridays at 19:00
  • Singapore: Sundays at 18:00
  • Thailand: Thursdays at 18:00

Order mood-enhancing meals and more via Uber Eats with these simple steps:

  1. Download the app. Login with your Uber account, or create a new one.
  2. Tell us where to deliver. Work, home, almost anywhere.
  3. Browse restaurants. Choose from hundreds around you.
  4. Get in-menu recommendations. Tailored to your tastes.
  5. Track your order. From restaurant preparation to delivery.

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About the research and data

Scientific research compiled by Jozef Youssef in March 2018. Additional data was consolidated through an analysis of Uber Eats food orders from March 2017 – February 2018 across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.