How to Stay Vegan After Veganuary? 5 Tips!
Staying Vegan
Many people try going vegan in January for the infamous Veganuary.
Veganuary is a charity-funded, month-long vegan challenge created by a group of vegans who wanted to increase awareness of the benefits of a plant-based diet, without being restrictive or depriving themselves.
Veganuary aims to help people transition to a vegan diet gradually and sustainably, by providing them with recipes and advice throughout the month. It is completely free to join, with all the support you need, including a daily vegan meal plan, shopping lists, meal plans, meal prep ideas, and support groups. You also get the opportunity to win the weekly #veganuary challenges held on social media. There are also amazing offers available from loads of businesses to celebrate the month.
Whilst this is a great challenge and an introduction to veganism, for some people, this is not just a challenge but the start to a new way of life.
But once the month is over, many people go back to their old habits. So why is that? And should you go back to meat and dairy once you have realized the benefits of going vegan? I’ll tell you why you should stay vegan and how you can make it easier to stay that way in the future.
How to stay vegan after Veganuary
Research shows that the vast majority of people who try out veganism in January stick with the lifestyle. This might not be forever but it is a good sign that many carry on with the diet.
Sticking to being vegan is often difficult but these ideas can help:
- Keep trying plant-based recipes
- Join a club
- Try new products
- Focus on your health
- Meal prep
Keep trying plant-based recipes
One of the main reasons for not sticking to a vegan diet is that people are not sure if they will be able to get enough protein without meat. However, there are many other sources of protein that are vegan-friendly.
It is important to keep trying new recipes and finding foods that include all your required nutrients. This will help you stop feeling like you are missing out or feeling ‘weak’ on a vegan diet.
Focusing on new foods and expanding your palette will help so that you can enjoy the benefits of a vegan diet without the restrictions.
Join a vegan club
Everyone has a different image in their mind of what the word vegan means. Some people think of vegans as hippies or alternative thinkers.
However, today veganism is becoming more mainstream and is increasing in popularity. Today, there are over a million people in the UK who identify as vegan. It’s estimated that around half a million of these are under the age of 35.
So, there are obviously a lot of people you can connect with. Why not join a club either online or in person to continue your vegan journey and learn more about the lifestyle from people who will be happy to share tips. You are also more likely to stick with the lifestyle if you have people to support you.
Try new vegan products
Once you’ve decided to go vegan, the first thing you’ll need to do is explore new products to replace your old favorites. There are now vegan versions of just about everything, so the possibilities are endless.
From meat alternatives like seitan and tempeh to dairy products and household products like cleaning products and even toilet paper, the list of products you can now find that are vegan is growing all the time.
Some of the most popular vegan products to try include:
- Seitan and tofu
- Vegan cheese
- Vegan milks
- Pizza
- Sorbet
- Meat alternatives – burgers, sausages etc
- Nut roasts
Start exploring the amazing ranges on offer and make your new lifestyle exciting rather than restricting.
Focus on how being vegan improves your health
People who have been following a vegan diet for years say that it has improved their health, fitness, and weight. It also has positive environmental impacts because it reduces the demand for meat products.
The benefits of a plant-based lifestyle are innumerable. A plant-based diet has been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation, improving cardiovascular health, and reducing the risk of diabetes and cancer. But one of the biggest advantages is how it affects your weight.
By focusing on the positive health changes in your life it will be easier to stick with this diet.
Meal prep
Preparing your meals is a task you’ll find helps you stay on track when you decide to stick with being vegan. By preparing the food you’ll each in the week it takes the difficulty out of deciding what to have. It’s also a great way to ensure you’re incorporating as many of the new vegan foods into your diet as possible.
You can find a variety of recipes online, or you can simply use your imagination and try out different vegan recipes! It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on what your friends and family are eating, because you never know when they’ll be trying something new and discovering the amazing world of vegan food!
Hopefully these 5 tips will help keep you on track after Veganuary. Remember veganism can be for life not just for a month long challenge!
Osvaldo Callanan
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