Veganuary is an exciting movement, to be sure! And since it is the beginning of a new year, I thought it would be wonderful to discuss its merit.

What is Veganuary?

   If you’ve never heard of Veganuary, it is a social movement that raises awareness in the new year about veganism and vegan-related causes. It is also a challenge, to try out a vegan diet and/or lifestyle for the first month of the year. Or in some cases, to begin a vegan lifestyle in the first month of the year. 

   In January, we find that our virtual spaces get louder with Veganuary content. We see plant based documentaries and recipes, discussions of animal rights and the environmental impact of animal agriculture. In many ways, it’s wonderful!

Raising awareness

   Being for veganism as a whole, I think Veganuary is a great tool to raise awareness about what veganism is and why someone might choose it. As well as how to make it sustainable for individuals who, let’s say, may not like salads. Or those who think that you can’t be vegan on a tighter budget. 

   I love to see new people becoming aware of their own values and changing actions in order to be more in alignment with them. And that’s whether or not they end up going “full vegan”. I think there is value in everyday folks learning that a vegan lasagna can be just as good. And I like to see them choosing an Impossible burger over a beef burger, even if there is more nuance in the issue.

   Not to mention, Veganuary means that people who already are vegan get to be seen as more normal individuals. In my decade of being vegan, I’ve certainly met some individuals that regarded my veganism as strange, confusing, or even intimidating. The higher demand for vegan products and the more normal saying the words “plant-based” and “vegan” become, the easier life gets for vegans. And parallel to that, the lives of animals (at least, one would hope). 

   When we normalize veganism and plant based eating, we empower many more people to make the choice to pursue it. For all these reasons, Veganuary is wonderful! That being said, I didn’t go vegan in January. 

My Story

   I found out about veganism back in February of 2013. While I had never heard the word before then, once I did, it was like a lightbulb went off in my mind and my heart. I knew I had to investigate, so I did. 

   First, I learned about what it was, and why. I learned about how we treat animals and for the second time in my life, that little toggle in my brain shut off. I realized that “the chicken” that I ate used to be “a chicken”. That is to say, alive. Individual. With a disposition of its own, the ability to suffer and feel love. I simply couldn’t shut it off this time. 

Sudden decision, slow learning curve

   I knew in the next month that going vegan was something that I needed to do in order to become more in alignment with my values. And although it scared me, I committed to it. But that doesn’t mean that everything was simple and okay right off the bat. 

   I actually didn’t tell the people in my life about the change that I was making for a couple weeks. I admit, I was worried about their reactions. Especially that of my mother, since I was still a minor and was worried she wouldn’t let me go vegan. (Read more about that story here.) But that wasn’t the only barrier to get over when it came to going vegan. 

The long road ahead

   I’ll admit, I had no idea what I was getting myself into back then. I did hardly any research about how to eat vegan food in a healthy way. I found that you could, and that (at the time) was enough for me. But as I went on, I realized I truly had no clue how to eat food that nourished me and satisfied me. I was only focusing on what I “couldn’t eat”. 

   Looking back on it, I’m pretty proud of my growth. I learned how to cook while being vegan, and I learned about eating square meals. But if I had tried vegan for Veganuary, I don’t think I ever would have stuck with it long enough to see that success.

My opinion on Veganuary

   The biggest strength and weakness of Veganuary is that it’s lumped in with the new year. On December 31st, scads of people feel motivated to birth a new self into this world. And that fact coupled with the perceived idyllic nature of veganism and plant based eating makes it easy to see why it has grown to be such a phenomenon. 

   But we also have to remember that come February 1st, most people find themselves burnt out on their New Year’s resolutions, remembering why they hadn’t already done them in the first place. In fact, I know very few people who manage to fit any new habit into their lives at all, much less those that they dreamed of in the new year. So why should veganism be different?

   While Veganuary puts a spotlight on veganism in a new way (and a pretty flashy one at that), I wonder if it does any more good than simply raising awareness of what veganism is as a whole.  Not to say that that alone would be a bad goal. But if it’s attracting the sorts of people who will not stick with it in the long term by and large, it’s important to ask ourselves if it is an effective strategy. 

What do you think?

   Ultimately, I’m glad I learned about veganism in February. It broke the rationalization in my brain that it was something for me to try out and instead made the connection that this was how I wanted to live my life (and needed to, if I was going to align with my supposed values). 

    But I’d like to hear from you. Did you go vegan in January? And if you’re doing Veganuary this year, is it something you see yourself doing for the rest of your life? Thank you for reading, subscribe if you’re looking for more conversations about veganism, and have a great day!