As the calendar turns to January, many people start to think about their New Year’s resolutions. When you’re setting intentions for the year ahead, you may plan to exercise more, learn a new skill, start your own business, or just eat a bit healthier.
Another popular resolution is making the switch to a vegan diet. Veganuary is a movement that encourages everyone to embrace a vegan lifestyle throughout the first month of the year. But how easy is it to ditch the meat and animal products and go plant-based?
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a campaign that invites people to try out a vegan diet in January – it’s a perfect time as a new year kicks off, and people are motivated to embrace change and explore healthier lifestyles. The challenge means saying goodbye to not just meat but also dairy, eggs, and honey.
The campaign started in 2014, and even though the challenge is to keep up a vegan diet for the whole month, the goal is not just to encourage a temporary shift in eating habits but to create awareness about the ethical, environmental, and health benefits of veganism.
Why should you participate in Veganuary?
Currently, 4% of the UK population is vegan, a figure that has been growing steadily over the past few years. There are many reasons why people choose to make this huge lifestyle switch, and Veganuary provides a perfect chance to get a taste of the vegan lifestyle and see if it’s for you.
For some people, taking part in Veganuary is a purely ethical choice. This group of people want to stop using and consuming animal products, so they are not a part of the suffering caused when animals are raised for food.
Other people are more concerned about the environmental impacts of the meat, dairy, and other animal product industries. Going vegan is thought to be one of the most effective ways of lowering your carbon footprint.
The last group of people are encouraged to swap to a vegan diet for health reasons. Some studies suggest that a well-balanced plant-based diet can help to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Tips for a seamless vegan transition this Veganuary
For those accustomed to regular meat and animal product consumption, eliminating these elements from your diet may seem like a significant change. However, with a bit of guidance, the journey to Veganuary can be more manageable. Here are some tips to assist you along the way:
1. Educate yourself
Plant-based nutrition is very different to what you’re used to if you regularly eat meat, fish, dairy and eggs. You’ll need to ensure you’re getting the right amount of protein and vitamins as those you consume on a meat-based diet.
Educating yourself on how you can replace animal products with nutrient-rich alternatives is extremely important to maintain a balanced diet.
2. Choose local, high-quality produce
Harper Fine Dining private chefs are passionate about sourcing the best quality local produce and going vegan is a great opportunity to do the same.
Visiting farmers markets in your area gives you access to a range of locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Not only are you supporting local farmers, but it can help you lower your carbon footprint even further as you’re not buying produce that has travelled great distances to get to your table.
3. Get expert support in-person or online
Being vegan isn’t as rare as it was a decade ago, which means there is plenty of support out there for anyone looking to make the change.
Most food and recipe websites have vegan sections filled with plant-based recipes that you can recreate yourself at home. If cooking isn’t your forte, our experienced private chefs can design, prepare and serve an array of delicious vegan dishes which make plants the star of the show.
4. Connect with the Veganuary community
Veganuary is a great time to go vegan as thousands of people make the shift together. Joining an online Veganuary community is an easy way to share experiences, tips, and recipe recommendations to make the transition more enjoyable.
5. Start gradually if you need to
You shouldn’t feel like a failure if you don’t go all in with Veganuary, easing into veganism gradually is just as much of an achievement. Start by dedicating specific days of the week to plant-based meals, allowing your taste buds and habits to adjust organically.
As January approaches, embrace the journey of Going Green with Veganuary, and let the delicious world of plant-based living redefine your new year’s resolutions.
