Veganuary - Choose Vegan This January!
Whether you’re a lifelong vegetarian, or have just begun to discover the benefits of a plant-based diet, now is the perfect time to give a vegan diet a try!
“Veganuary” was started by a UK-based nonprofit in 2014 as a way to encourage trying a vegan or plant-based diet for the month of January. These diets exclude all animal products (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, whey, honey and gelatin).
Most people opt for a vegan lifestyle for a variety of ethical reasons, like the inhumane treatment of animals in factory farms, the role animal agriculture plays in climate change and the consumption of Earth’s resources, and the harmful conditions for workers in these industries. Others choose a plant-based diet to take control of their health.
No matter your motivation, switching from a Standard American Diet to one based on plants —especially in a society filled with meat, fish, dairy, eggs and highly processed food— can feel challenging. But with the right tools and preparation, the transition to a vegan diet can be easy (and can even become a life-long commitment)!
In their 2022 campaign, Veganuary inspired and supported over 620,000 people to try vegan! Folks across the globe (over 220 countries and territories) signed up for the challenge. For recipes, plus eating, shopping, and dining guides, head over to the Veganuary website and pledge to try vegan this January!
You can also visit our Resource Guide for additional info on transitioning to a plant-based diet.
And finally, here are a few tips to help with your transition:
Take a slow and steady approach.
While it might seem exciting to go all-in and 100% plant-based for a month, the all-or-nothing approach is not usually conducive to long-term success. We recommend using Veganuary as a transitional period. That might mean starting with Meatless Monday and only consuming vegan foods that day. You could also try doing plant-based Monday through Friday and allowing yourself more flexibility on the weekend. Changing your diet can feel challenging socially, so make the parameters work best for your success. Don’t get hung up on labels and rules, instead take baby steps on your journey to a plant-based diet.
It’s easy to “veganize” your favorite foods.
For instance, if you tend to eat meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans on Mondays, you don’t have to change your plans (just your grocery list!). Most big box-stores and grocery stores offer meat, dairy, and egg substitutes. Simply switch out the non-vegan items in your recipe, and you’ll be enjoying vegan in no time! Also, what are your favorite fruit and veggie dishes? Chances are, you’re already eating some vegan things every day!
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Once you start reading the labels on your favorite foods, you’ll probably be astonished at the small amounts of animal products (like milk, milk powder, or whey) in many foods you wouldn’t expect. There are animal byproducts hidden everywhere — did you know that the Vitamin D in fortified cereals is typically made from lanolin, which comes from sheep’s wool? Trying to eliminate every trace of animal products from your diet can feel overwhelming, making it even more difficult to stick with the Veganuary challenge. So don’t sweat the small stuff, and instead focus on forgoing meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs for now. As you move out of your transition period into a lifelong change, you’ll learn more about which products to avoid.
Last but not least, enjoy the ride!
After 30 days, see how you feel and know that not only have you made a positive impact on your health, you’ve already made a difference in the lives of farmed animals and the humans who work with them, too! And don’t forget to look for support if you need it! It can feel isolating to make big changes, especially if no one else in your household is on board. Head over to our Facebook Group and connect with like-minded people!
Happy Veganuary!