Your Fridge Is a Mood Board. Stock It Wisely.
The psychology of the fridge door
Open your fridge. What’s staring back?
A rainbow of fresh produce, neatly stacked cans of functional fizz, maybe some leftovers you’re actually excited to eat? Or is it more like a neon shrine to sugary sodas and impulse buys?
Here’s the thing: your fridge isn’t just storage. It’s a mood board - a visual cue for how you want to eat, drink, and feel. Research shows that what we see is what we choose first. Studies on environmental cues and eating behaviour confirm that simply making healthier items more visible can dramatically change our habits.
So the question isn’t just what’s in your fridge - it’s what’s front and centre.
The food–mood connection
This isn’t just common sense; it’s science. Dr Uma Naidoo, Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist and author of The Food-Mood Connection, has shown that what we eat directly impacts how we feel.
Her research highlights that plant-rich diets - packed with fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, herbs, and spices - are tied to better mood regulation and lower risk of depression and anxiety. In her words: “Your brain on food is powerful - every bite matters.”
Key insights from her work:
Polyphenols and antioxidants in plants reduce inflammation, which affects mood and cognition.
Fibre-rich foods feed the gut microbiome (what Naidoo calls the “second brain”) which produces neurotransmitters like serotonin.
Plant-forward eating supports better focus, steadier energy, and calmer states of mind.
So yes: the food–mood connection is real. And your fridge is where it starts.
Terpenes: plant power in a can
Beyond whole foods, plant compounds called terpenes - the aromatic molecules that give citrus its zing, lavender its calm, and juniper its herbal bite - also play a role in how we feel.
Research shows that certain terpenes can support relaxation, focus, or uplift:
Limonene (citrus peel) is linked to elevated mood and stress relief (NCBI).
Linalool (lavender) has calming, anti-anxiety effects (ScienceDirect).
Pinene (pine, rosemary) may enhance alertness and memory.
At Terps & Co, we infuse every can of Good Herb Soda with functional terpene blends - so your fridge isn’t just stocked with fizz, it’s stocked with plant-based chemistry designed to shift your state.
InZone: earthy, citrusy terpenes to sharpen focus and support ADHD-friendly clarity.
UnWind: soothing blueberry, mango, and juniper notes to help calm anxiety and ease stress.
Small swaps, big shifts
The beauty of treating your fridge like a mood board? Tiny shifts ripple into big ones. Here are some easy swaps to set the tone:
💡 Tips to try:
Swap neon soft drinks → for Good Herb Soda. Same fizz, way less sugars, plant-powered terpenes.
Keep fruit, herbs, or citrus slices in clear jars → so your brain sees “snack” not “too much effort.”
Push indulgences to the back → and pull the functional fizz + plants to eye level.
Think of your fridge like Pinterest → if it looks good, you’ll want to reach for it.
The vibe shift
When you curate your fridge with plants and functional fizz, nutrition stops being about restriction. It becomes about designing how you want to feel.
Want clarity? Put your focus-boosting cans (InZone) where you’ll see them first.
Want calm? Keep your reset (UnWind) ready for the moment you get home.
Because the truth is simple: we eat and drink what we see first. And the more plants, colour, and intentional choices we front-load, the more our everyday rituals align with the version of ourselves we’re becoming
The takeaway
Your fridge is not just storage. It’s a statement. A daily mood board for your nutrition, your energy, and your mind.
✨ Stock it with plants. Stock it with purpose. Stock it with fizz that fuels your flow.