Karine Laudort You have probably already heard of Veganuary, many people have been taking part throughout the last couple of years in the month-long pledge to switch their diet to fully vegan for the 31 days of January. You may be familiar with how Veganuary works, or maybe you have no idea what it is all about, we are here to give you the rundown on what veganuary is and how you can take part, as well as tips and tricks to help you through the month.
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a non-profit organisation founded in 2014 that encourages people to move to a plant-based diet for January and beyond. This is in an effort to protect the environment, prevent animal suffering, and improve the health of millions of people.
This year is the biggest Veganuary yet, over 500,000 people have signed up to take part in Veganuary 2021. Since the pledge began in 2014, over one million people have already completed Veganuary’s 31-day pledge, this has had a huge impact:
- 103,840 tonnes of CO2eq, which is equivalent to driving around the world almost 15,000 times.
- 405 tonnes of PO43-eq (eutrophication) saved, which is the same as 1,645 tonnes of sewage.
- 6.2 million litres of water saved, the same as flushing the toilet almost half a million times.
- More than 3.4 million animals were saved according to the Vegan Society’s Veganalyser calculations.
How can you get involved?
There are many ways you can get involved, apart from the obvious taking part. If you are finding it hard to transition to Vegan, you can always help make a difference in small ways first.
You can sign up to take part in Veganuary here, it is not too late to get involved! It is free to sign up and if at any point you change your mind, you can unsubscribe. They give you delicious recipes, easy meal plans and helpful tips.
As it is a non-profit organisation, Veganuary relies on donations, so if you would like to help the cause without committing to a vegan diet, you can donate on their website, your donation will be matched by a generous supporter, meaning your donation will have double the impact!
Get involved with fundraising, this does not always have to be a huge event, there are simple things you can do from home, more information can be found on the fundraising page on their website, where you can find suggestions and ideas on how to help.
Do you have a business and would like to help? Last year, thousands of businesses took part in Veganuary, with most experiencing an increase in sales throughout the month. You can get your business involved in Veganuary, with more information here, it could even work in your favour!
You can even get your colleagues involved with the workplace challenge, this is great if you do not want to partake in Veganuary alone, or if you are an employer who would like to show your commitment to sustainability.
Tips to help you complete Veganuary
The Veganuary website has so many resources to help you with completing Veganuary. They have a blog which is regularly updated with posts full of information and useful tips to help you along the way. They also send regular emails with meal plans and recipes so that you will not be stuck for ideas. The website also has a recipes page, which includes recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and sweet treats.
There are lots of Instagram accounts that you can follow which will help you through the month of Veganuary and even further if you decide to stick to it. You can follow the official Veganuary page @weareveganuary where you can find some of their recipes, as well as discussions and tips on places that offer vegan food on their menus.
Get your friends and family involved, it is always easier to stick to something if the people around you are also taking part. You can discuss how you are doing throughout the month, share your favourite recipes and vegan alternatives. Getting your family involved will make cooking meals easier too, if everyone in your household is eating Vegan you will be less tempted to break the pledge.
So get involved in Veganuary, although we are 4 days in it is not too late to start your pledge. The benefits of a plant-based diet are not only great health benefits, but you will also feel great as you are doing your bit to save our planet. Sign up and start your Veganuary journey!
