Veganuary 2019

It’s that time of year again. We’ve all indulged in just a little too much; too many holiday treats, too much red wine, too many rich and savory meats, cheeses, appetizers, and desserts. The typical over doing it in December moves into the usual “get fit quick” mentality of January when everyone is hoping to jump on the bandwagon to better health.  We want to lose weight, get in shape, and feel good. We want to right the wrong.  We try to find that perfect diet, hit the gym, and stay true to our New Year’s goals.  Our motivation is at its highest point. Nothing can go wrong now.  We are in it to win it.

We hear of all the latest greatest diets- paleo, South Beach, Atkins, ketogenic, flexitarian (is that even a real word?), Weight Watchers, the Zone, Jenny Craig, and  vegetarian. You name it. I’m sure there is a diet for it. There are thousands of different diets out there for your choosing.   Which one is right and do all diets create the same results for different people?

What if I told you that you didn’t need a new, yearly diet plan to fix your yearlong battle with food every January?

What if I encouraged you to try something new, something completely easy in some minds, more than extreme in other people’s minds?

What if I encouraged you to simply go vegan? Say what? I’m sure you’ve heard the myths. We eat nothing but salad and grass.  The vegan lifestyle is only for the posh people because it’s so expensive. We all die from lack of protein. We are just a bunch of hippie weirdos!

As a vegan for the last four years, I can assure you that all of those myths are just that……myths.  Becoming a vegan was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life.  I took the leap for the animals.  My health improved significantly.

This “diet” is not really a diet at all.  It’s a movement; a compassionate lifestyle that not only helps the animals and the environment, but creates perfect side effects like weight loss, mental clarity, and overall greater health. According to the Vegan Society, veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.

https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism

Maybe you’ve heard of the yearly jump start to the vegan lifestyle?

Veganuary!

 It happens every New Year in January. 

Veganuary is a charity inspiring people to try vegan for January and throughout the rest of the year. The large numbers of meat and dairy consumers making the decision to go vegan, even if only for the month of January, is growing rapidly.  Veganuary’s vegan cofounders, Jane Land and Mathew Glover, picked January because it’s a typical time for resolutions and new beginnings.  As a married team, they are dedicated to changing public opinions and attitudes on the vegan movement. Like all vegans, they wonder why they didn’t become one sooner.  When all of your family and friends are eating meat, dairy, and eggs, how can that be wrong? In reality, how can it ever be right?  The reduction in the suffering of animals, the environmental impact on our planet, and the improvement in personal health make veganism a win for all.  Their website provides all the information and practical support to help people transition easier to a vegan lifestyle. 

https://veganuary.com

This fantastic website will help you along on your journey. 

• Nutrition
• Recipes
• Starter Kits
• Why
• News and Blog
• Eating Out Guide
• Donations

The time is now.   The Veganuary campaign makes your vegan leap a piece of cake (vegan cake of course).

The support for a vegan lifestyle is growing, rapidly.  Consumers are demanding vegan choices and companies are producing the goods.  Restaurants, even traditional steak houses, are offering plant-based meals for their patrons and we aren’t just talking side salads or plain baked potatoes.   The Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat Burger are two perfect examples of the exploding meat alternative sensations spreading across the world. 

Roasts, sausages, cheeses, and even eggs are now being mass produced vegan style. New and exciting vegan food products are hitting the shelves daily. 

You can go to most websites and find locations of their products near you.   In doing the research on this article I was pleasantly surprised to find the Impossible Burger was being sold at a local pub near us.  We have been wanting to try them, but no place around our small town carried them, until now.  We have an official date night this weekend to go out and have vegan burgers together.

https://impossiblefoods.com/locations/

The growing movement doesn’t stop there.  Vegan apparel, accessories, and personal products are also in high demand and once again, companies are listening and responding.

Check out Leafy Souls large selection of vegan clothing, accessories, and even musical instruments. Their logo is simple.  “We aim to bring morality back to humanity so that we can create a compassionate and sustainable future.   We do this by making it easy for you to purchase ethically manufactured products, and spreading the message through hand-crafted apparel. 

https://leafysouls.com

There has never been a better time to take the vegan leap.   Happy Veganuary!  Are you in?