This year is looking set to be Veganuary’s biggest year ever; here are some tips if you are thinking of joining in!
1. Be kind to yourself. Changing lifelong habits can be hard; it’s a big step to even consider making some changes. Don’t judge yourself if you fall off the wagon; just move on and try again the next day. Congratulate yourself for the progress that you do make! Your journey towards being more plant-based might take a month, or it might take longer. The 'end point’ at the end of January might be to become fully vegan, or it might be to eat a certain number of plant-based meals per week. Remember, life is an ongoing journey. Being kind to yourself is of crucial importance.
2. Embrace ‘mindful’ consuming. Use Veganuary as a means to begin to see the world in a new and more mindful way - take the time to stop and consider where different products come from, how they are made, what goes into them, their environmental impact, their impacts on animals and on people. When you start reading ingredients lists, for example, it can be very surprising just how many products contain animal-derived ingredients of one form or another. But, equally, there are large and ever-growing numbers of entirely plant-based alternatives and exploring these can be a hugely rewarding and positive experience - exploring new tastes and flavours, and exploring a new awareness of what we consume.
3. Go at a pace that feels right for you. Some people try going vegan overnight; for others, a more gradual transition feels appropriate. Some people will want to concentrate on a ‘whole foods plant-based diet’ while others will want to explore all of the plant-based alternatives to processed meat products (burgers, sausages, pizzas, ready meals, and so on). Everyone is different. Go at a pace, and follow the path, that feels right for you.
4. Be positive. As you go through the month, think to yourself ‘what am I gaining?’, ‘what am I learning?’, and not ‘what am I missing out on?’. As indicated above, many people who become vegan find it to be a very positive and life-affirming experience. After all, from an ethical point of view, it is founded in a notion of being more compassionate towards all living creatures. Enjoy the experience - and if you find that you miss certain foods, look for alternatives and over time those feelings will cease. It’s perhaps a bit like when people try to reduce the amount of salt they cook with: at first this is difficult and meals taste strange, but over time cooking with low or no salt becomes the new normal.
5. Sign up to the official Veganuary challenge. Sign up here to ensure that you benefit from all of the free resources and information that Veganuary makes available, including hundreds of recipes as well as nutrition tips, shopping guides, and so on.
Finally, why not begin by browsing for some “Veganuary Essentials” (and treats - “Vego” chocolate bars are amazing!) at The Vegan Kind supermarket:
Good luck and enjoy the journey; by being open-minded and trying Veganuary, you’re doing an amazing thing for the planet, for people, for animals, and for yourself!!
