The month of January is here and a majority of people have already started working on their so-called new year resolutions. Your New Resolution could be anything – from earning ample money to finding the love of your life and getting married to them to focusing on your physical and mental health.
If working towards your health is your new year resolution, why not join the Veganuary 2022 to become fitter and healthier?
Here’s everything to know about Veganuary.
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary (Vegan + January) is a UK-based non-profit organization that aims to value the earth and all its inhabitants. Each year, this organization challenges people throughout the globe to practice a vegan diet for the whole month of January. This movement aims to promote health, end animal farming, and protect the environment.
Veganuary came into existence in 2014, and ever since, many participants have taken part in the pledge. Besides the January challenge, this movement also supports all the vegan restaurants and businesses throughout the year. In the process, they get a word about vegan diets and vegan culture in the media.
The organization states that more than 500,000 from 200 nations have taken part in this movement by beginning a wholesome vegan diet in the previous year. The numbers are likely to increase this year as it has become immensely popular worldwide.
This 31-day pledge is also advocated by your favorite celebrities – Joaquin Phoenix, Paul Mccartney, Sara Pascoe, Evanna Lynch, Jason Gillespie, Melody Kane, and others.
What are the Benefits of a Vegan Diet?
It is true that a vegan diet may not be for everyone. But do you know that there are several benefits if you go vegan?
Still not convinced? Here are the reasons to make you think again.
1. Good for the Environment
If you are a nature lover and care for your environment, adopting veganism is the best gift to present to mother nature. According to many studies, a vegan diet produces fewer greenhouse gases, thus causing no harm to the environment. Furthermore, it also helps in the conservation of essential sources such as land and water.
2. Lesser Sugar Intake
Today, sugar has become the biggest culprit of your health. Consumption of sugar in the form of processed foods invites diseases like high cholesterol, obesity, blood pressure problems, and others. In the worst-case scenario, you may even suffer from a heart attack. Eliminating sugar from your diet keeps diabetes and other diseases at bay.
3. A Healthy Heart
Saturated fats are a growing cause of high cholesterol, leading to heart strokes and many other diseases. Adopting a vegan diet means bidding goodbye to saturated fats, thus keeping your heart healthy and happy.
4. No More Weight Issues
Animal products such as dairy and meat are high in fat and calories. Eating them increases your weight and invites stubborn fat to the unwanted areas of your body. According to many studies, vegan diets are the most effective way to maintain a healthy weight loss. This diet doesn’t include anything artificial, thus keeping you healthy inside out.
How Do I Get Started?
Now that you have known the many benefits of going vegan, why not participate in Veganuary 2022 and take care of your health?
The good starting point of going vegan is to focus on the things that you can eat on a plant-based diet as opposed to the things that you cannot. The drill is simple – while shopping for your favorite food items in the supermarket, keep an eye on more vegan foods than others.
Most food items such as pasta, bread, peanut butter, jam, rice fall into that category. Thus, you do not have to go out of the way in planning your vegan diet. Just buy your favorite items, design your diet, and you are good to go.
Another tip from Veganuary to get started is to keep switching the foods that you may enjoy to the plant-based versions rather than reinventing your diet completely. For instance, you may still include sausages in your breakfast or a bowl of ice cream and pair them with your favorite vegan options.
Walk into your kitchen and look for all the vegan ingredients that you may use to prepare your own vegan recipe. Tada – you may enjoy it for your breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Is Veganuary Right for Me?
If you are sure that a plant-based diet is a thing for you and you want to do your bit in saving the environment, then Veganuary is right for you.
But beware, pledging to Veganuary means quitting cheese, meat, fish, and other animal-based food staples. A vegan diet isn’t for everyone. But if you have been trying to quit such food for so long and in vain, this movement is your calling. The 31-day challenge will not only ensure that you give up on the animal diet, but also make you look, fitter, slimmer, and healthier.
For The New Vegas
If you have adopted veganism lately, you are right on time to participate in this challenge. To make it easier for you, we have listed down some tips and tricks to help you stick through veganism, even after January ends.
Work on your Plans
First things first! Plan your days and map out all your meals for the entire week. It is also good to prepare your groceries ahead as it saves you a lot of time.
Technology Helps
Considering the popularity of the vegan culture, technology, too, has come forth to help you. You may use many apps and make lip-smacking recipes. If you are in no mood to cook at home, use these apps to search for the vegan-friendly restaurants near you. Not only this, but you may also count your calories using some apps.
Combine with Workout
If your goal of going vegan is to work on your body, combine your vegan diet with your workout routine. It is easy. Design your workout plan and condition your diet accordingly. For instance, if you have finished a heavy workout, include more protein-rich vegan items to complete your protein intake.
Learn about Nutrition
A vegan diet doesn’t only mean that you stick to a particular class of the food. You need to educate yourself about the nutrition you will get from it. Ensure that your diet is balanced and full of nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Zinc, Magnesium, Minerals, and others. When you stick to a balanced vegan diet, you won’t need supplements to stay fit.
You can Drink Milk
Yes, you heard it right. A vegan diet also includes milk. However, it is not the animal milk that you get to drink. Include more options such as almond milk, coconut milk, etc. as an alternative if you are a regular milk drinker. To obtain more calcium, you may switch to the food items like white beans, tofu, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and even plant-based yogurt.
Food That You May Eat
A vegan diet includes everything, ranging from fruits, vegetables, legumes like lentils, peas, beans, seeds and nuts, bread, rice pasta, vegetable oils, and dairy alternatives like coconut milk, soy milk, and almond milk.
Easy Vegan Recipes
Wondering if adopting a vegan diet means compromising the taste? Well, think again. Your vegan diet doesn’t have to be bland. Listed below are the easiest and sumptuous vegan recipes that you may try and savor in this 31-days challenge.
1. Roasted Veggies
For all the lazy bums out there, you do not have to go out of the way to prepare your vegan meals. Just take out your favorite vegetables from the fridge, cut/slice them, and roast them in the microwave after preheating it to 450 degrees. Add veggies like asparagus, broccoli, onions, carrots, cauliflower, beetroot, tomato, cucumber, and bell peppers. Drizzle some olive oil, add your favorite spices, and enjoy!
2. Vegetable Soup
This one is the most comforting recipe you need on a chilly winter night. Make a vegetable stew or vegetable soup and pair it with other dishes like vegan grilled cheese. You can also keep this make-ahead meal in the fridge and warm it up any time you want to savor it.
3. Veggie Burger
If you do not mind giving some more time to your cooking session, why not make a veggie burger for your dinner tonight? Make a patty using all the vegetables. Take your favorite burger bread. Place the patty inside the bread, add some vegan cheese, your favorite spices, some vegan sauces, and grill the burger. We promise you will not settle down with just one.
Time to participate now in Veganuary Challenge
We hope that by now you understand the importance of going vegan. Veganism doesn’t only benefit the environment but your overall health. Veganism is the real cool. Going vegan means bidding goodbye to stubborn fat, unwanted diseases, and other abnormalities that you may otherwise experience in your body.
Dear folks, participate in Veganuary 2022 and win this challenge with flying colors. This movement will transform not only your physical self but your thought process too. We wish you good luck.
For more updates on everything under the sun, keep following.
