Doing Veganuary? Here are Seven Tips to Thrive
Plus, a little bonus advice.
Happy new year! It’s January, and let’s be honest, one of the very few good things about January is Veganuary. It’s that time of year when restaurants launch plant-based menus, supermarkets stock up on vegan options, and brands everywhere sing the praises of animal-friendly living. The campaign, launched to encourage people to try vegan living for 30 days to save animals and help combat the climate crisis, is going from strength to strength: in January 2024, approximately 1.8 million people worldwide tried vegan living thanks to the campaign. If you’re one of those signing up for 2025, here are some tried-and-true tips from a veteran vegan (12.5 years!) to help you love plant-forward living.
Think of what you can add, rather than what you are removing.
Don’t picture Veganuary as “restricting” or “limiting” your diet. Rather than removing ingredients, you’re replacing them. Can’t have your favourite morning yoghurt? Try a dairy-free version. Missing fish and chips? There are countless tofu-based options. Keen baker reaching for eggs? Grab a vegan cookbook and explore new alternatives. When I first started looking into vegan food options, I discovered countless new ingredients - and I’m not talking about just seitan and tempeh. Who’d ever even considered lentils? Or beans? Seaweed? All of a sudden, I was getting so much more variety in my diet. Veganism can actually be the opposite of restrictive - it can really open up your culinary horizons.
Learn the nutrition basics.
One common pitfall of new vegans is defaulting to faux meats and then complaining that they’re feeling unhealthy. Well, duh! The Beyond burgers and smoky vegan cheeses of the world are only meant to be once-in-a-while treats. A healthy vegan diet is based on the basics: fruit, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds - and yes, the occasional indulgence. Not knowing enough about vegan nutrition is what makes lots of new vegans stumble. Whatever your diet, you need to know where your nutrients come from, but for vegans this is trickier as most nutrition info out there is targeted at omnivores. However, as veganism has grown in recent years, there is much more knowledge about how to thrive and live healthfully while eating plant-based. Check out Vegan Society’s health info for everything you need to know.
Indulge in the Veganuary menus.
One thing (among many) that I dislike about January is the ludicrous idea that during the darkest, coldest month of the year, after we’re deprived of all the twinkly merriment of the holidays, we should also deny ourselves anything fun. It’s the month of empty bank accounts and of waking up to an alarm clock once again, and in addition to that we also want to start dieting? I say screw the restrictions (at least occasionally), and brighten up your January darkness with an indulgent Veganuary dinner at one of your favourite restaurants. Try out new things, treat yourself and see if you can find the fun in this new way of eating.
Don’t beat yourself up when you slip up.
Notice that I wrote “when”, not “if”. You WILL mess up. You’ll eat something that isn’t fully vegan at some point during the month. It happens to all of us! You’ll buy chocolate and not check. You’ll not think about the fact that honey comes from an animal. And let’s face it, freaking milk powder is in absolutely everything. In a while, I bet bananas will have milk powder in them. So when you do ingest something that’s off limits, don’t make a big deal out of it - because it isn’t. Literally every vegan on the planet has been through this. Chalk it up to experience, say “oh well”, and continue on your vegan path.
Nix the extremism.
Seasoned vegans may get their panties in a twist now but this is a hill I’m willing to die on. I am now giving you full permission to let go of the tiny, insignificant details. Lemons that may or may not have been waxed with beeswax? They’re okay to buy. Veggie burgers grilled next to the meat? Go for it. Barista has no idea whether the wine is vegan? Feel free to booze away (well, responsibly). And “may contain traces of milk and eggs” is just something that’s put on the packaging in case someone is severely allergic and needs to avoid every trace. No need to be super-rigid about avoiding those products just because you are doing Veganuary. It will not help the cause, and might even be detrimental. Here is more on this:
Learn about the ethics.
The key to staying vegan? I believe it’s being deeply anchored to your “why”. In fact, I think most former vegans are no longer vegan because they lost sight of the reason they got started. So before you embark on this journey (and while you are on it), study the reasons why people go vegan. Find out more about the devastating cruelty of the meat and dairy industries, and the atrocities behind factory farming. Believe the animal rights organisations - they are the only ones who take the time, put in the effort, and take the risks (trust me on this one) to go behind the façades of these deceitful industries. They are telling the truth. Find out more about the ways in which animal agriculture is absolutely devastating the planet. And remember those things next time you’re tempted to throw this whole Veganuary thing in the bin and reach for that steak.
Find your tribe.
Perhaps the most important tip to help you enjoy your vegan experience. Connect with other vegans! Join local vegan Facebook groups, or find a Meetup and go meet some new people. Veganuary’s own Head of Policy and Communications, Toni Vernelli, told me a while ago: “It’s important that you don’t feel alone or isolated. Joining these groups will also help you keep informed of all the new vegan products and restaurant options that are always being launched – which it turn will make staying vegan even easier!”
Bonus tip: Take it beyond the kitchen.
Vegan living is not just about what’s on our plates. Animals are widely exploited for fashion, cosmetics, home décor, and entertainment. And while I’d never advocate that you throw out your entire wardrobe or replace all your furniture just because it’s Veganuary, I do believe that it’s a nice touch to make sure that any new purchase that takes place during January is vegan. To find vegan cosmetics, consult PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies database, and also do check out the PETA-Approved Vegan list of brands that offer vegan fashion. Once you’ve discovered just how indulgent, creative, fun and inclusive vegan living can be, the only question that arises is one that most vegans ask themselves: why didn’t I do it sooner?
Guys, a little note: I’m travelling mid-Jan, so will be taking a little break from Kind of Wild for the next two Fridays. All you lovely paid subscribers will receive The Kind List as usual on the first Tuesday of the month, and then I’ll be quiet until the 24th. Have an awesome start to 2025 and see you soon!
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I love how practical and down to earth your advice is - I so often see people criticising veganism as being inaccessible or expensive or over strict but like … it literally doesn’t have to be? It’s just like eating normally except it’s vegan, why make it so complicated? I think you’re right that the why is really important too. It’s a big change and a really powerful one but it takes a while to adjust so remembering why you’re doing it takes you a long way.