This year, a record-breaking number of people worldwide have signed up to Veganuary, a non-profit UK organisation that urges individuals to uptake a vegan diet. The number of participants has seen an increase in recent years – 170,000 signed up in 2018, 250,000 in 2019, and 400,000 in 2020. So far, a whopping 500,000 people have taken the plant-based pledge for Veganuary 2021 – for many, this will lead to a change in eating habits throughout the rest of the year. The driving force for many behind going plant-based is concerns over animal welfare, but adopting a vegan diet has many other benefits.
It’s no secret that eating meat is harmful to the environment – from water and land use to deforestation and climate change. It’s often hard to believe that small changes we make as individuals can have such a huge impact, but they really can. In 2018, researchers at the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by up to 73%. Going plant-based for a month will show you how easy veganism can be when you get the hang of it, allowing you to make a positive contribution to the climate battle. Post-Veganuary, you can make a difference either by continuing with a plant-based diet full-time or opting for several meat and dairy-free days every week. Think 50/50.
A well-balanced vegan diet can also be very beneficial to your health. When people follow this correctly, a vegan diet can be highly nutritious and reduce the risk of chronic diseases (JAHA, 2019). As the typical characteristics of a healthy plant-based diet include high consumption of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, nuts, seeds and legumes and a lower intake of processed foods, plant-based diets are usually higher in fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. However, the exclusion of animal products from the diet does not necessarily equate to a healthy diet – as with any diet, poor choices can be made that can result in deficiencies and a lack of nutritional balance.
Veganuary gives you an excuse to try exciting new dishes. Vegan food is delicious, and you can start to get a bit more creative in the kitchen! Vegan cooking doesn’t just involve nuts and bland salads – there are now more options out there for a vegan diet than ever before. With all major supermarkets now having a separate plant-based section, it’s so easy to find alternatives that taste just as good as their meat and dairy counterparts – you won’t have to go without your favourite meals.
And, in terms of snacking, we have you covered at Healthy Nibbles. With the Vegan Mini Box, the Vegan Box, and the Vegan Super Box, it’s never been easier to discover delicious new vegan nibbles that fit within your Veganuary pledge. Even your non-vegan friends will love it… go on, give Veganuary a try!