The start of a new year is traditionally associated with making resolutions. This often involves making positive changes in one’s life that can serve a greater purpose, benefit oneself, and improve one’s overall quality of life. For many people, becoming more health-conscious and prioritizing good nutrition is at the top of the list. And, for those interested in going vegan in 2021, ‘Veganuary’ is a good place to start.
A portmanteau combining ‘Vegan’ and ‘January,’ Veganuary is a UK-based initiative that seeks to encourage and support “people and businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people.” In another clever play on words, the movement aptly blurs the lines between resolution and revolution, establishing itself as an important advocate for health, ethics, and awareness of the impact that animal and animal product consumption has on the environment. As the nonprofit’s mission statement makes clear, Veganuary seeks to better the lives of all living beings and stands for the harmonious coexistence between the people and the planet.
“Since 2014, Veganuary has inspired and supported more than one million people in 192 countries to try [going] vegan for January – and beyond. We have worked with businesses to drive up vegan food provision in shops and restaurants, and have made veganism more visible and accessible through our work with national and international media.” - Veganuary.com
Within the last several years, veganism has become increasingly popular. This upward trend in veganism also largely coincides with its acceptance into the mainstream media. The number of people turning to a plant-based diet increasing at a steady and rapid rate encourages the production and invention of more vegan alternatives to animal-based food products. Whether strictly vegan or living a mostly plant-based diet, the consumer is no longer required to compromise on any conventional products due to the abundance of plant-based alternatives.
Despite a natural degree of resistance from more traditional approaches, the benefits of veganism have become increasingly clear. According to ChooseVeg, data from 2016 shows that eating a vegan diet reduces your carbon footprint by 50%, promotes longevity, and reduces the risk of heart disease or stroke. In fact, “researchers at McGill University and McMaster University found that study participants who consumed the most fruits and veggies were 30 percent less likely to experience a stroke.” In addition to these outstanding health benefits, a vegan also saves the lives of approximately 30 animals each year while also saving 1,100 gallons of water and 45 pounds of grain each day.
This is where Veganuary comes in: people enjoy and seek challenges, and Veganuary provides a structure to do so that offers support and increases success. This comes in the form of daily newsletters with helpful tips, guides, recipes, cookbooks, and even online forums for discussion. In addition, committing to Veganuary has a motivating effect in the sense that you’re not alone in your undertaking, but rather accompanied by hundreds of thousands of people every year. Of course, the positive effects and benefits associated with veganism may only become noticeable after a considerable time as a vegan. As such, the effectiveness of committing to only one month of veganism can be equated to exercising intensely for one month only to give it up at the turn of the calendar. At the very least, however, you will have spent one month understanding what it takes to eat balanced meals, what is like to live as a vegan, and you will have developed a more attentive attitude in regard to what you put on your plate and how you consume. In the end, a large majority of those who take part in Veganuary continue to adopt a plant-based lifestyle beyond January and throughout the rest of the year.
In essence, Veganuary’s goal is to raise awareness of the far-reaching benefits of veganism, and to equip people to partake in those benefits. This movement can help one ease into the new lifestyle and become more open and flexible to nutritional alternatives, all the while acknowledging that veganism does involve a degree of planning, preparation, and thought. Principally, Veganuary implores consciousness of our own actions and how our decisions affect different aspects of the greater world we are all a part of.