Free Mood-Boosting Starters at Berkhamsted Giggling Squid in January

Living Magazines Berkhamsted Giggling Squid

As the fun of the festive season has been and gone and sunny smiles are at an all-time low, it’s official, January really is no laughing matter.

Research commissioned by Thai restaurant group, Giggling Squid, has revealed:

  • Almost 1 in 3 Brits (29%) say they’re least likely to smile in January
  • Almost half (48%) of Brits say they feel their mood is lower in January than any other month
  • Over half of Brits say spending time with family is their top mood booster (54%) closely followed by laughing (50%) and kind gestures (40%)

With the research highlighting time with family, laughing and kind gestures as the top mood boosters, Giggling Squid is encouraging Brits to wave farewell to Dry January and hello to ‘Thai January’, by enjoying a mood-boosting experience at their local Giggling Squid.

Rooted from the ‘land of smiles’ and with positivity in its name and nature, Giggling Squid’s entire ethos is centered on guests leaving their restaurants feeling fulfilled, both physically and emotionally. From the carefully considered interior of each of its locations and the truly welcoming atmosphere, to the shared generosity of spirit that lies behind every guest experience; even the menu is designed to lift guests’ moods, featuring an array of delicious dishes crafted from the finest ingredients.

Chosen for their use of quality, flavoursome ingredients, the Giggling Squid’s dishes are designed to increase happiness, thanks to mood-boosting ingredients including:

  • Seafood and chicken – Containing vitamins B3 and B6, nutrients that are important for our mental wellbeing
  • Chillies – Guaranteed to warm us up on cold, gloomy winter days, a recent study even found that consuming chilli peppers could help lower your chance of dying from coronary heart disease and reduce the risk of death by stroke. The presence of the anti-inflammatory compound capsaicin, which creates the spicy burning sensation, is thought to be behind the health boost. Plus the body releases endorphins as it deals with the heat!
  • Chocolate – Containing iron and copper, nutrients that help keep the immune system functioning normally (good news as being unwell can really affect our mood)
  • Coconut – Containing potassium to help maintain blood pressure
  • Pineapple – A deliciously zingy source of vitamin C, which helps to prevent tiredness and fatigue, symptoms that often go together with being fed up

Furthermore, sharing plates and delicious trio desserts also encourage social sharing, highlighted as one of Brits’ top mood boosters!

Registered dietitian Juliette Kellow says, ‘Many studies show a link between food and mood. In particular, a healthy, balanced diet that’s packed with nutrient-rich foods such as wholegrains, fish, fruit, veg, beans and nuts has been shown to be linked to a lower incidence of depression. Ultimately, eating well for our body and mind go hand in hand. And of course, there’s nothing better than enjoying a delicious meal out with family or friends to put a smile on our face and lift our mood.’

Giggling Squid’s mood-boosting menu is inclusive of all tastes, with a dish for every dietary requirement; so, whether you’re vegan or gluten free, there’s a mood-boosting feast waiting for you!

The Giggling Squid serves an array of tasty tuck-ins, including:

  • Chicken Satay
  • Tender Sirloin and Coconut Tips
  • Hunger Pang Chicken with Rainbow Salad
  • Thai Green Curry
  • Vegetable Paneang (vegan)
  • Chilli and Basil Gra Pao (vegan)
  • Sweet Heavens Above trio dessert, featuring Salted Caramel Souffle, Mini Melting Heart Chocolate Dessert and Pineapple & Coconut Finger

Embracing Thai generosity and putting the joy back into January, Giggling Squid is also offering a free starter every Wednesday in January to those that visit for a mood-boosting meal.

Pranee Laurillard, who cooked up Giggling Squid alongside her husband Andy in their tiny fisherman’s cottage (now their Brighton restaurant) back in 2002, has also shared her top tips for embracing the positivity of Thai spirit:

‘In Thailand, we believe that giving is better than receiving. This Thai generosity is reflected in mealtimes, which are all about lots of dishes that everyone shares. Our primary focus is to welcome guests as if they are coming into our home, to enjoy our food and leave with happy hearts. Thai culture teaches you to believe in your gut feeling and do what you need to do from the ‘feeling in your stomach’. So, what better way to ensure your actions promote a positive start to the year than feeding yourself happy with a menu of mood-boosting dishes?’

To celebrate the start of the new year and embracing ‘Thai January’, Giggling Squid’s free starter offer will be available every Wednesday from 1-31 Jan 2020. Visit www.gigglingsquid.com/mood-boosting for more information.