Veganuary is a cool concept. I have to admit that it’s nice to have a month dedicated to veganism. It’s a month that highlights awareness, and that invites people to try to eat plant-based for 31 days. For some, this could be a challenge, for others it can be an opportunity. No matter why someone might try Veganuary, I think that it’s an amazing first step. Although veganism is not just about food, it does make a large part of it. As such, we all have to start somewhere.

Before I go further, I have to clarify that this article isn’t just about Veganuary. My post last year still stands, Veganuary isn’t the only time to try veganism. In addition, there is a massive distinction between plant-based and veganism to consider. Veganuary in my opinion caters to a plant-based lifestyle, which makes sense given the context. However, this blog article provides tips that you can keep in mind during Veganuary and beyond.

Take it slow

Veganuary is a full month of plant-based eating and living. Mistakes will happen, and you will learn something new everyday. Don’t rush into things. Be patient. Learn to understand what it is that you’re doing. Shifting diets can be overwhelming, especially in a world that is omnivorous. The learning curve is steep, so don’t be harsh on yourself if things are hard. Nothing worth having comes easy. This is exactly like picking up a new skill. Things will be hard at first, but over time will get easy. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is to be consistent. Not everyday is the same, but everyday is a new opportunity to show up.

Ask yourself questions to make sure that everything is fine. Things to bear in mind include:

1. Are you enjoying the food?
2. How are you feeling at the end of the day?
3. What are you learning by doing this?
4. Is this something that you can do in the long-run?

For instance, if you’re not enjoying the food, ask yourself why. If it’s the lack of option or creativity, just veganise the foods that you usually have. If you use meal delivery services, use a vegan one. A really good vegan one that I can recommend is allplants. Follow vegan creators on social media. They will be feeding your mind vegan recipes/tips all day long! After all, this is a learning experience. By learning to live as a vegan, you’re one step closer to becoming one.

Ultimately, check in on yourself. Make sure to understand how your body and mind are dealing with the lifestyle change. Once you align both parts, then you can take this wherever you want to.

Always keep learning

Veganuary is a fun way to try veganism. However, the reality is all but. For many people, ethics play a large role for why they are vegan. Understanding the food system, and what that means, can impact our perception of food. Like many vegans, I choose to live a life that does not involve deliberate exploitation of animals. I use this word because it describes a system. It’s hard to articulate in words the horror that animals face because of human demand. I’m sure everyone has at least once seen a gruesome video from a slaughterhouse. The reaction to these videos is very similar across the board — it’s disgust. This is a normal reaction because most people mean well. However, turning away won’t stop the problem, our choices will.

Use Veganuary as an opportunity to learn more about where food comes from, what it takes to produce it, and who pays the price for it. There are many vegan documentaries and books out there that shed light on the matter. Take time to digest the information, and make up your own mind about it. Understanding the whys of veganism will enable you to see the lifestyle more clearly. If you think something doesn’t make sense, seek the answer. It took me almost a year of research to convince myself to go vegan – so don’t feel pressured by making a decision in one month.

Ask questions

Veganism can be very confusing at first. A lot of people know of veganism, but they don’t personally encounter it on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, there aren’t that many vegans out there in the world. So, there are many questions surrounding the lifestyle. Questions like Why do vegans eat fake meat? or Why don’t vegans eat honey? are quite common. In general, I believe that asking questions when you’re unsure is the right way to go. It allows you to seek the truth, and build your own understanding around a topic. In short, question, question, question.

This boils down to my previous point. It’s better to know more about something, than to just follow blindly. The more you ask, the more you will understand. Veganism isn’t perfect, and it’s not meant to be. There will be flaws that one should reconcile with, like in any other way of life. However, I believe that when you ask tough questions, you will build a stronger foundation. When you consume information that is pro/anti-vegan, question the source. Try to find unbiased data if you can. Ultimately, the more research that you do, the better your decisions will be.

Why are you doing this?

There are people that decide to go vegan on a whim. They might’ve watched a video that evoked guilt or despair and thought about making a change. Others might go vegan because of their partner or spouse. In most cases, both will revert back to their old lifestyle once the feelings wane. It’s a sad reality, but it’s very predictable. In my opinion, to be vegan, is to understand that this is a lifelong commitment. This might seem very narrow-minded, but I also believe that veganism transcends our egos. It’s easy to be plant-based, but it’s not easy to be vegan. The distinction here is very clear. If we focus our sights on Veganuary only, the majority of people will only change one facet of their lifestyle. Whether or not they continue to buy products that aren’t cruelty free, or continue to wear leather for example, is not up for debate. As I mentioned previously, it’s only one month.

Concerning veganism, the thinking is different. Being vegan for years requires a why. This purposeful thinking arises after a long time of questioning, researching and connecting the dots. In my experience, it’s difficult to look at meat the same way again once you realise what had to happen. I can’t justify a system that is built on suffering, nor will I support it. As such, how can I go back? If you want to continue your vegan journey beyond a month, start by finding your why.

Reflect

Once you complete your first plant-based month, take a look back to reflect on what happened. Repeat the same questions that I mentioned earlier. Although one month is a short period of time, the first month is usually the hardest. The adjustment period is tricky, but doable. It’s long enough where you notice a shift but not long enough to prompt awkward/difficult scenarios where you might question what you’re doing. As such, it’s important to reflect. In my 7 years of veganism (and counting), I’ve reflected numerous times. Questions that I ask myself include:

1. On paper, am I healthy?
2. Do I make sure to always buy vegan/cruelty-free products?
3. How am I using my voice to advocate for veganism?
4. Am I doing enough to support vegan businesses / charities / sanctuaries?

These are questions that are relevant to me, at the stage of life that I am in. I’m sure over a longer period of time, these questions might change. I look back sometimes at a time when I first became vegan, and compare it to where I am today. A lot has changed, but I’m glad that I’m still doing it. If you’re on the same boat, be proud of yourself for trying to be vegan/plant-based, it takes a lot to do so!

Conclusion

In this article, I share 5 tips that I think can help improve your early vegan/plant-based experience. The points above are connected. They help to ensure that you’re not struggling. They also act as a guiding light towards identifying any existing pain points. Veganism is hard at the start, but it becomes easier as time goes on. If this is your first experience, then I hope that this article provides insight on what’s to come. If you’re interested in being vegan, then use the advice to make it enjoyable. Nobody wants to do something that brings them misery.

Ultimately, my aim isn’t to sell a fantasy. I want to use my experience to offer guidance wherever I can. I believe that being vegan is rewarding. It’s rewarding on our health, the planet, and the animals that we fight for. When things start to click, and being vegan feels right, then I believe that’s when the real fun starts. Until then, keep asking questions, seek out answers, reflect inwardly and remember, always have a why.

Anis