Interest in the vegan lifestyle continues to soar, with more than 700,000 people trying the ‘Veganuary’ charity challenge in 2023 – and even more tipped for 2024. Beyond dietary changes, people looking to try out the vegan lifestyle could consider making switches to their beauty routines too.
If you’ve completed ‘Veganuary’, you are probably wondering where do I go from here? With February just around the corner and Veganuary coming to an end, we have some great tips on how to make the most out of being Vegan.
1. Protein
The main question on everyone’s lips when it comes to eating vegan is, where do you get protein? Well, it may not be as difficult as you think. Beans, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, nuts, nut butter, seeds, oats, quinoa, rice and vegan meat-free alternatives contain good amounts of protein. A bit of research will show you that it isn’t that hard to get enough protein. If you’re worried about losing your gains, there’s even vegan protein powder to help top you up.
2. Batch cook
Yes, just a bit of meal planning and some batch cooking can save you time and energy in the long run. Grab some food-safe storage containers that can go in the fridge and freezer and cook yourself a large vegan curry, then pop it in the containers, and you are good to go. Do this with three or more meals, and it should keep you going for a bit.
3. Check the labels
If you’re new to the vegan game, it can be easy to slip up early on. So it’s worth checking the labels of some of your favourite products. You won’t believe the number of things that might have some dairy snuck in there or a bit of chicken stock. Of course, you’ll quickly get used to it and know when it’s worth checking and when it’s not, but it’s better to be a bit overly cautious at the beginning.
4. You can still eat out
The days of vegans and vegetarians not being catered for is over. Yes, we’re in 2023 now, and most restaurants will have one vegan option on the menu. The majority of restaurants are now really good at providing options for vegans, and if in doubt, there a plenty of vegan restaurants, so you don’t have to worry about checking the menu.
5. Supplements
Firstly, we want to say it is possible to get everything you need from a vegan diet if you do your research and do a bit of planning. There are plenty of vegans that are fit and healthy without any supplements. Nevertheless, particularly if you’re dipping your toe in the water, supplements might be on your mind, and there’s no shame in it. Four of the main ones to look out for are iron, iodine, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12. Remember to check the ones you buy are vegan.
6. Enjoy yourself
Ok, so it’s a cheesy (vegan, of course) one to end with, but it’s still worth mentioning. Whatever your reasoning was for taking part in Veganuary and continuing to stay green, make sure you spend your new diet happy! Eating vegan can be life-changing for some people, and for others, it’s a fun challenge. There’s no need to put pressure on yourself. If you don’t like it, that’s fine; but we’d suggest you throw yourself into it, experiment with things you haven’t tried before, try out your local vegan cafes, and don’t forget there are plenty of vegan cakes and puddings to treat yourself with!
