We know that eating well is important to our wellbeing. Nutrition is one of the five key interventions of the Mustard Seeds method for stress resilience. If we want to adopt new habits round food, we need to make it easy. But I’m a busy headteacher, and so I need to make it as simple as possible to nourish myself and others on the go.

The first thing is to be realistic. Not every meal is going to be perfect. I have a family and everyone has different things they will or won’t eat, and they come and go at different times. But when I’m hungry or I need to produce a meal quickly, I want a go-to that doesn’t involve reaching for ultra processed food.

Over the years, I have discovered that soup is that go-to. You can make soup from just about anything. I start with a base of vegetables and stock cubes. From there the possibilities are limitless. I boil up vast vats of it, blend it to smooth with a simple stick blender so nobody can complain that there is something in it they don’t like, and then keep some in the fridge and some in the freezer, portioned in old takeaway boxes.

Try the halloween pumpkin boiled up with a whole orange and some sweet potatoes, seasoned with ginger and pepper. Broccoli, stalks and all, can be boiled up with stilton cheese and a dash of red wine. My mother in law makes one called ‘Cream of Sunday veg’ where she even throws in the roast potatoes and blends it all up. Red peppers, tins of tomatoes and sweet potatoes seasoned with paprika and chilli if you like it spicy, makes an excellent crowd pleaser. Add lentils or other pulses for extra protein and to make it even more sustaining. Basically, anything goes.

Sometimes it doesn’t look very promising in the pan when it’s cooking, but once it’s blended it always turns out just fine.

Serve it with your favourite bread if you are in a rush, and as a side with a baked potato if you have more time. Real food, ready to go. I promise it will lift your mood.

I often make soup for others. At work, I make it for a working lunches with colleagues. At home, inviting people over for a quick walk followed by soup is an easy thing to plan. It is always appreciated. People seem to like the simplicity and lack of fuss of a bowl of soup, a fresh bread roll and maybe a bit of cheese. And of course, as social creatures, sharing a simple meal with others is bound to boost stress resilience too, so it's a double win!