Tips for Veganuary

The dust has barely settled on the Christmas festivities, and the leftovers have only just been eaten, but for many of you, Veganuary is here. While it’s a great thing to be a part of, we know it’s not easy to eat Vegan for a whole month, but with a bit of forethought and planning, it can be an enjoyable and, for some, life-changing month. So here are some tips to help you get the most out of it.

Protein

The main question on everyone’s lips when it comes to eating vegan is, where do you get protein? Well, it may not be as difficult as you think. Beans, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, nuts, nut butter, seeds, oats, quinoa, rice and vegan meat-free alternatives contain good amounts of protein. A bit of research will show you that it isn’t that hard to get enough protein. If you’re worried about losing your gains, there’s even vegan protein powder to help top you up.

Batch cook

Yes, just a bit of meal planning and some batch cooking can save you time and energy in the long run. Grab some food-safe storage containers that can go in the fridge and freezer and cook yourself a large vegan curry, then pop it in the containers, and you are good to go. Do this with three or more meals, and it should keep you going for a bit.

Check the labels

If you’re new to the vegan game, it can be easy to slip up early on. So it’s worth checking the labels of some of your favourite products. You won’t believe the number of things that might have some dairy snuck in there or a bit of chicken stock. Of course, you’ll quickly get used to it and know when it’s worth checking and when it’s not, but it’s better to be a bit overly cautious at the beginning.

You can still eat out

The days of vegans and vegetarians not being catered for is over. Yes, we’re in 2022 now, and most restaurants will have one vegan option on the menu. The majority of restaurants are now really good at providing options for vegans, and if in doubt, there a plenty of vegan restaurants, so you don’t have to worry about checking the menu.

Supplements

Firstly, we want to say it is possible to get everything you need from a vegan diet if you do your research and do a bit of planning. There are plenty of vegans that are fit and healthy without any supplements. Nevertheless, particularly if you’re dipping your toe in the water, supplements might be on your mind, and there’s no shame in it. Four of the main ones to look out for are iron, iodine, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12. Remember to check the ones you buy are vegan.

Enjoy yourself

Ok, so it’s a cheesy (vegan, of course) one to end with, but it’s still worth mentioning. Whatever your reasoning for taking part in Veganuary, we’re sure you aren’t planning on spending it unhappy. Eating vegan can be life-changing for some people, and for others, it’s a fun challenge. There’s no need to put pressure on yourself during the month. If you don’t like it, that’s fine; we’d suggest you throw yourself into it, experiment with things you haven’t tried before and treat yourself now and then. There are some great vegan cakes and puddings.