What is Veganuary? Why Everyone Is Going Plant-Based For A Month

What is Veganuary? Why Everyone Is Going Plant-Based For A Month

Have you always wanted to go plant-based but couldn’t find the motivation? Maybe a community is all you need for a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. Plant-based meat alternatives like impossible burgers and beyond burgers are readily available in grocery stores that are opening up to more plant based food options. Every year since 2014, the UK non-profit organization has been promoting veganism by encouraging people to follow a plant-based lifestyle in January. Since then, people have been rallying behind Veganuary.  In 2021, the movement reached an all-time high with a record of 500,000 people who signed up for the challenge. This is a huge increase from the 400,000 recorded participants last year.  According to Veganuary’s Head of Communications, Toni Vernelli, the support from British supermarkets is a game-changer this year. Tesco already ran advertisements on television and radio, promoting Veganuary for the first time. Aldi, Asda, and Iceland also supported the movement by giving out recipes to the participants. Not only are they marketing the movement, but they’re also educating people about the benefits of a plant-based diet and encouraging people to give the vegan lifestyle a try.  People trust them in this regard. Being primary players in the food supply, supermarkets know that the only sustainable way to move forward is by going plant-based.  

How Do I Participate in Veganuary? 

It means for the whole month of January, or if you start late, for 31 days, you’ll only eat plant-based food and purchase only vegan-friendly clothes, cosmetics, cleaning products, and other household items. To keep you accountable, you’ll receive daily email support from Veganuary.  To help you complete the challenge, the emails include info for beginners, plant-based recipe ideas, shopping tips, tips on how to take care of your health and the environment, and of course, your daily dose of motivation! Try our Veganuary plant-based starter kit to get started on your journey today and try delicious plant-based foods and snacks that are as delicious as they are nutritious.  

Beginner's Guide To VeganuaryPlant based pizza topped with peppers and other veggies is a delicious way to get you through the Veganuary 30 day challenge.

If you’re a beginner, here are some tips before you start your plant-based journey. 
  • Slow and steady
No major changes can be achieved overnight. Start with foods you’re already comfortable with like tofu or salads and experiment with other recipes as you go along. 
  • Have a positive mindset
Instead of focusing on what you’re cutting out of your diet or saying things like “I can’t eat meat anymore,” focus on the things you can get more of. Think about it this way. Now you can have more fruits and smoothies!
  • Try out the new restaurants.
Treat the challenge as an adventure. Now that you’re going plant-based, you can eat at the new vegan bistro right around the corner. You can even make a game out of this by checking out all the vegan restaurants in your area. 
  • Plan ahead
Just like any other project, the first step is always to plan ahead. To avoid the mental load of prepping the meal every single time, make a meal calendar, and batch-prepare your food on a weekly basis. This will save you a lot of time and money. 
  • Take supplements
It’s understandable that you won’t know a lot of vegan recipes when you’re just starting. Therefore, you may not be taking enough of your macros and needed vitamins from your food for the first few days. To make sure you’re not missing out on nutrients, take supplements, especially B12 and vitamin D. If you want to try the vegan lifestyle, there’s still plenty of time to sign up at veganuary.com/try-vegan. Start your journey to sustainability with the proper information and a powerful community.