Veganuary: Debunking the myths

gives us her thoughts and advice on taking part in Veganuary

DURING all other months of the year, vegans tend to get a bad reputation for being in-your-face and smarmy in their decision to eliminate animal products from their diet and lifestyle. But in the month of January, many seem to follow in their footsteps and take the plunge into a plant-based diet.

Having taken part in Veganuary before, I noticed that there are a lot of opinions on this ‘temporary’ life choice: people either thinking it is an impossible feat, a ridiculous waste of time or an interesting marketing tactic that forges a kinship between capitalism and the plantbased community. Many all-year-round committed vegans also seem to have a lot to say on the topic with regards to the emergence of readily available options in the supermarkets and restaurants that other months don’t bring. Why can’t these options be available all year round? My experience with an introduction to veganism during January strays from these debates; I think once we depoliticise veganism as a con- cept, we can see the positives in Veganuary. I believe that if you want to make any changes in January that you plan to maintain throughout the year, they need to be small and without pressure. This ‘ethos’ applies to Veganuary massively; once I realised that I could approach it however I wanted to, it became a change that has been semipermanent. During Veganu ary, I made small manageable shifts to a plant-based diet that were affordable and didn’t daunt me. I switched minced meat in dishes like bolognese to lentils; I found tofu to be a good addition to my weekly stir- frys; and I used plant-based milks over others. There is often a stigma that eating plantbased is more expensive than eating meat and dairy, especially when supermarkets bring out expensive alternatives to meat, but I can guarantee that my food shops come in cheaper than most of my friends who eat meat and use animal products. If you avoid big brand names like Quorn etc. you can still eat enough protein and cheaply.

When it comes to snacks: vegan chocolate, eggs and cheese do leave much to be desired, but crisps, cere - als and biscuits are all easier to find than you think, so much so that you are probably even using them without realising it. Once you change how you view Veganuary, you realise that you can eat more plantbased than you thought and can thus be more sustainable and environmentally friendly in your diet. The marketing tactic ‘Veganuary’ only makes it more accessible and is a useful gateway into eating, not completely or strictly, more plant-based. Whilst dry January is an almost implausible achievement for university students, Veganuary is more practical.