Veganuary: The New Year Resolution You Didn’t Know You Needed

If the first item on your to-do list for 2020 consisted in ‘getting healthier’, which is basically code for ‘get a slimmer waist so that I can fit in that size S dress I bought a year ago thinking I was going to lose weight, but never did and so I’ve never worn it,’ then Veganuary might just be the answer to your prayers.

Launched in the UK back in 2014, Veganuary is a global charity that focuses on promoting a vegan lifestyle, providing all the necessary information and practical advice one might need to transition into a plant-based diet.

Because going vegan isn’t as easy as stuffing your face with Chinese leftovers over an episode of Game of Thrones, founders Jane and Matthew thought the best way to encourage people to make the change was to turn it into a challenge that would appeal to most: going vegan for the entire month of January to kickstart the year in the healthiest way possible — hence the name Veganuary.

Veganuary.com is the largest website of its kind, providing all types of information regarding the reasons why you should go vegan and the best way to do it, sharing recipes, tips and expert advice. Basically, whatever question you might have about veganism, you can be sure you will find it there.

Regardless of your current lifestyle, chances are you’ve heard plenty about the benefits of a plant- based diet: lower cholesterol levels, reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower blood pressure and, probably the most appealing benefit of all, weight loss. Even the Australian Dietary Guidelines approve of this lifestyle, stating that: “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthy and nutritionally adequate.”

However the benefits of veganism go beyond personal health. Not only does it prevent unnecessary animal suffering, but it also reduces the impact of climate change, rainforest destruction, and pollution.

According to a survey conducted by Ray Morgan, Australia’s leading Consumer, Industry and Market Research company, between 2012 and 2016 the number of adults in Australia whose diet is “all or almost all vegetarian” has increased from 9.7% to 11.2%. That’s 2.1 million Australians, or over one in 10 people if put into perspective. That labels the country as the third-fastest growing vegan market in the world, after the United Arab Emirates and China. That’s quite impressive, if you ask me.

January is almost over, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to give the challenge a try. Whether you do it for a week, a month or two, you are bound to experience the benefits of an animal-product- free lifestyle. It might be difficult at first, but it will certainly be worth it. If Beyonce can do it, so can you. Be like Queen B.