How to Stay Vegan After Veganuary

Congrats! You made it to the end of Veganuary. How do you feel? Do you have more energy? Does your skin have a radiant glow? Do you feel lighter on your feet?

Well, don’t worry too much if you haven’t experienced any life-changing results. Sometimes the rewards you reap by eating plant-based can go unnoticed; for example, you may be sleeping more soundly without realising, or perhaps your immune system is better equipped for fighting off illnesses. You may not notice any benefits within the first month, but you might do after two or three. So if you’ve got this far, you may as well stick it out for a bit longer at least! To help you out and keep your motivation going, I have listed some reasons for staying vegan after Veganuary as well as some tips to help you along the way. 

You should definitely embrace experimentation in the kitchen when you’re vegan. However, simple and easy recipes are a must, too. If you want your motivation to last, you should find some tasty vegan staple meals that you enjoy, such as spaghetti bolognese, pesto pasta, and tray bakes.

There’s a common misconception that vegan alternatives are only for ‘new’ vegans or people that need an extra hand when switching from animal products to plant-based products–but that’s not true. I’ve been vegan for over six years, and I still enjoy plant-based alternatives now and then. We have many options, from tempeh and tofu to pea protein and seitan! If you don’t like a certain product, try out a different one or different brand. 

Veganism is not about perfection. You can only try your best, which means that you’ll occasionally slip up, as all humans do. We’ve all been there, so remember to treat yourself how you would treat somebody else that’s just trying to do better. Then, try again whenever you feel ready. 

New vegans can sometimes get caught up watching factory farm footage, reading news stories, or filling their heads with depressing statistics that make the world seem bleak. It’s understandable because you want to learn to educate others and keep informed as much as possible. But it’s also important to limit how much you do this because the negativity can eventually take a toll on your mental well-being. So instead, fill your mind with all of the positive reasons you want to be vegan. Meet up with like-minded friends, follow inspiring vegan foodie accounts on social media, visit animal sanctuaries, and spend time in nature.  

The more you know about nutrition, the easier staying vegan will be. Many people go back to eating animal products because they feel hungry all of the time as a vegan, or they don’t have enough energy etc. But once you’re clued up about what nutrients can be found in which plants, you will learn the best diet for you (perhaps after plenty of trial and error, as I did).