At the time of writing it is Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year according to psychologist Cliff Arnell.

In fact, in designating a miserable start to the working week, Mr Arnell says he was actually hoping for a bit of reverse psychology in that people would determine not be beaten by the blues and do something to cheer themselves up instead.

Thank goodness for Checkout, therefore! Putting pen to paper about food always brings a smile to my face – especially when the food in question sits firmly in the comfort department.

What is it about pastry that inspires a feel-good factor, for example? It’s the smell, I reckon. There’s nothing to top the divine aroma of freshly-baked pastry which is why I would recommend hot-footing it to Burton in Lonsdale village stores where they sell made-in-Lancaster Diggles pies (meat and potato, chicken and mushroom, steak and kidney, cheese and onion, from 99p to £1.25).

Butcher Mark Duckworth of Dales in Kirkby Lonsdale swears by a Scotch egg to cheer himself up – his are made with local free range eggs and his own pork sausagemeat (£1 each).

Honey is another comfort food. For all you Winnie the Poohs out there, The Honeypot at Hawkshead has on average more than 50 to choose from. Owner Fiona Wilson’s favourite is New Zealand Manuka because of its healing properties. I wonder if Prince William got to taste some at source?

Of course honey is scrumptious spread on a freshly made slice of toast – Oak Street Bakery’s large farmhouse white loaf costs £1.40.

And talking of farmhouses … next week is Farmhouse Breakfast Week so as well as toast to kick-start your day, why not try something from the Rude Health Porridge range at Country Harvest at Ingleton. Pick from fruity date, morning glory, or top banana, from £3.75 per 550g pack. This no added salt or sugar oat blend includes barley, rye, quinoa, sesame, pumpkin and poppy seeds, so it is creamy … but with a hint of crunch.

Back to comfort foods and you can’t beat a hearty casserole – served with a steaming pile of mashed potato, of course – to cheer your day.

Furness Fish & Game at Flookburgh (open Tues to Fri), which is one of only three companies in Cumbria registered to process game, has a special offer on fresh diced venison casserole meat – a 500g pack costs £4.80 or buy two packs for £8.

There’s an amazing offer at Aireys of Ayside too – purchase 10lbs of any of the following Galloway-cross beef for the special price of £16, mince; £19, stewing; or £20 braising steak.

Also, at Sillfield Farm Shop at Endmoor (open Thurs – Sun), farmer Peter Gott has a special offer on pork steaks – purchase a minimum weight of half a pound and pay only 99p each for pork steaks in lemon and chilli marinade, or wild garlic marinade. Simply fry or grill.

And finally to the ultimate comfort food – chocolate. Among the range of a dozen or so made-fresh-daily cakes at Lucy’s of Ambleside you will find chocolate tiffin (65p per 100g), one of my favourites.