"I've been vegan for eight years – one thing you must know before starting Veganuary"

From getsurrey.co.uk

By Lizzie McAllister

Some 25million people participated in Veganuary in 2024, with even more set to take on the challenge this year – but content editor Lizzie McAllister says there are some things to know before you dive in

The new year is almost upon us, and whether you're looking to take up a new exercise regime, ditch booze for a month in the name of Dry January or read more, many of us will be setting resolutions for 2025.

For lots of us, January is a time to re-examine our eating habits, either for the sake of their health or for ethical reasons. This may explain the ever-growing popularity of Veganuary, which sees participants forgo all animal products for the entire month of January.

In 2024, a record-breaking 25million people worldwide left meat, eggs and dairy products off their plates in the name of the challenge, and it is thought 2025 will be an even bigger event than last year. But for some, the thought of giving up some of your favourite foods for 31 days can be daunting.

I've been vegan for most of my adult life. I made the switch to vegetarianism in my second year of university and ditched dairy and eggs less than six months later, and I've never looked back.

But when I first stopped eating meat eight years ago, it came as a huge shock to my loved ones. Up until that point, I had been the kind of person who didn't think a meal was complete unless it included some kind of animal product – and, truthfully, that's a belief I held onto for a while even after I decided to make the change.

In the early days of my veganism, I found my new diet restrictive. I had no idea what I was doing in the kitchen at all, let alone without eggs, butter and bacon – or the convenience of meat-heavy ready meals or oven pizzas. When I would go out to eat with meat-eating friends, I'd often be forced to order the one vegan item on the menu and feeling deprived.

But in reality, being vegan can open up a whole new culinary world. Nowadays, most major UK cities have a few vegan and vegetarian restaurants and there are many dishes that are naturally vegan out there. I wasn't a particularly adventurous eater before I ditched meat – becoming vegan forced me to try things I perhaps never would have tried before.

It also forced me to fall in love with cooking, and with hundreds of vegan chefs now sharing recipes on social media every day, it couldn't be easier to find delicious meals you can make at home. Some of my favourite content creators include Bosh!, Gaz Oakley, Sophie Waplington, Rachel Ama, and Joanne Molinaro, but there are endless professional chefs and home cooks alike that you can take inspiration from, many of whom now have their own cookbooks.

For those looking to take on the challenge, the one piece of advice I'd offer is this – get curious. Rather than feeling like you're giving something up, see this as an opportunity to learn more and explore new ways of eating and loving food. Instagram and TikTok are great places to start, and there are tonnes of resources online that can point you in the direction of your new favourite plant-based eatery.

So while taking the plunge and trying to avoid animal products for a whole month might have you feeling like you're missing out, I'd encourage you to reframe how you think about veganism. I would never change the way I eat, and I see being vegan as an opportunity to broaden my dietary horizons, rather than as a limitation.

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/ive-been-vegan-eight-years-30677389