Veganuary is a national challenge running annually, encouraging people to try a Vegan diet over January. Since its beginning in 2014, participation has been steadily growing, reaching 400,000 in 2020!

So... why Veganuary?

There are many reasons why people want to reduce their meat consumption as explained by the Vegan Society; which cites research linking vegan diets to lower BMI and rates of obesity and links lower blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

• The effects of a vegan diet can include weight loss, increased energy, and improved skin and gut health. So if you are struggling with these factors it may be of personal benefit!
• Compassion for animals or concerns about the environmental impact, are additional drivers for adopting the vegan lifestyle.
• According to Ecowatch, a staggering 35% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from food production of which  57% are from animal agriculture and their Veganuary article explains that the potential impact of the 2022 Veganuary campaign may have saved the equivalent of 62,304 tons of CO2 emissions.
• The Climate Change Committee has recommended a 20% shift away from all meat and dairy by 2030 (rising to 35% by 2050) in order for the UK to meet net zero carbon targets.

SOS-UK are encouraging universities and individual students to engage in more sustainable food choices and have produced this  sustainable food guide. It outlines key actions that institutions can take, and 15 actions students can take, with links to numerous resources and additional information, which includes choosing ‘Better meat and dairy’. And MSC Sustainable Certified Seafood.

Your Union venues are striving to deliver on the recommendations, such as stocking Fairtrade Tea and coffee, sourcing from local suppliers where possible and providing a wide range of vegan and vegetarian options,

Is it hard to be a Vegan?

There is a significant amount of information online about veganism, including BBC Food which has lots of vegan comfort food recipes, and this BBC video clip explains vegan food shopping from a student’s perspective. Once you have become more aware of what you are buying, it becomes much easier to know what to look out for, what to avoid and how to shop on budget. There's endless resources online including our Veganuary Starter Kit article which contains lots of recipes, tips and advice.

If it is still difficult or unsuitable for you, that’s ok – trying a vegetarian diet for a month is a great step too. The Vegetarian Society provides lots of recipes, hints and tips to help you, and BBC Food have produced a range of £1 vegetarian family meal plans for those looking to do so on a budget.

What if I don't want to completely drop meat for the month?

You can still feel good about adopting a flexitarian diet! A flexitarian diet is primarily plant-based but with small amounts of meat & dairy. It is a casual approach to vegetarianism and allows animal products to be consumed in moderation; even aiming for 2-3 meat free days a week can be a great place to start. The Proveg UK website provides free online programmes and recipes tailored to your preferences.

What about eating out at restaurants?

When venturing further afield, this handy restaurant finder from Happycow comes in really useful for finding vegan-supportive restaurants!

How can I do more past Veganuary?

If you’re looking for vegan and vegetarian ideas and support closer to home, or looking to Get Involved with activism surrounding sustainability and vegan/vegetarian themes, why not check out our very own Project Earth Society?