Each year, Veganuary see’s hundreds of thousands of people try out a vegan lifestyle for 31 days. Will you be among them? Find out what Veganuary is, how to do it, what impact it has, and what our network members say about it.
Let’s get into it…
First off, let’s start with the basics: What actually is Veganuary?
Veganuary is the concept of people trying a vegan diet for a month in January, and seeing how it goes. A vegan diet means eating 100% plant-based – no meat, dairy, eggs or any other animal products.
It can be a great way to try new and delicious food, learn more about veganism, and think about how our choices affect animals, the environment and health.
The most important thing to note about Veganuary is that YOU CANNOT FAIL!
The idea is that you give it a go by doing as much or as little as you can. This might look like 4 days a week vegan for some people, a complete vegan challenge for others, and for some it might be just dipping their toe in and exploring the world of veganism for one month, one meal at a time. It really is up to you.
But even though a lot of people try Veganuary as a New Year’s resolution-style health kick, it can be as healthy or unhealthy as you want – there’s no judgement!
Going solo versus signing up
Technically, you can do Veganuary completely on your own. But a lot of people sign up with the UK-based charity Veganuary.
Veganuary (the non-profit organisation) say 629,000 people took part in 2022, and the number is growing every year.
The benefit of signing up to Veganuary rather than doing it on your own is you’re buying into a concept and community, which can keep you motivated and on track. You’re not literally buying anything – it’s free to take part – although as a charity Veganuary do obviously ask you to consider making a donation.
Veganuary send you daily emails with information and encouragement. These start out focused on food and recipes, but as the weeks progress they introduce content on animal welfare and ethics, as well as the impact of a plant-based diet on the environment and health.
There’s also a Veganuary Facebook group for that real-time interaction and support. Most of the group are vegan newbies, but there are also some vegan veterans to help out with advice. You can find lots of mouth-watering recipes and ideas in this community – from naturally plant-based meals to dishes with meat and dairy alternatives.
SCC’s Veganuary Workplace Challenge
Suffolk County Council (SCC) are taking part in Veganuary’s Workplace Challenge for the third year running, with our logo proudly displayed on Veganuary’s website.
Over the years, we’ve had many staff get involved, and some even blogged about their experiences for other members to follow their journeys (more on that below).
If you decide to sign up or you’re still sitting on the fence, jump into our private members MS Teams chat where you can discuss with like minded people and access support and encouragement from colleagues.
Keep an eye out on this webpage and in the Teams chat for updates on what the network are doing to celebrate Veganuary. Some highlights are set to include:
- Weekly virtual lunch chats with colleagues (vegan veterans and newbies alike)
- Special menu items available in campus restaurants
- Perhaps even some senior leaders or fellow colleagues taking part and blogging their experiences…
Lunch time meet up’s
We will be holding lunch time meet ups every Tuesday throughout January from 12pm-1pm. Everyone and anyone is welcome. Come along, have a chat, and bring your lunch.
These are totally informal, there’s no set agenda. Just turn up and see where conversation takes us. A good opportunity for those who are trying out Veganuary and want to share tips, recipes, and generally network with others.
One of our members will host each of the sessions to ensure we can all get in and be around to answer questions about Veganuary. It’s just to ensure you have a go-to person in the virtual room if you need anything.
Dates are as follows: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th January.
If you’re not already part of our Veganuary MS Teams site where you can access the meet up’s, drop us an email at vegannetwork@suffolk.gov.uk to get added.
We hope to see you there!
What our members say about Veganuary
A number of our network members have tried Veganuary in the past. Here are some takeaways from their experiences:
“Doing Veganuary helped me make the jump from vegetarian to vegan. All the communication from Veganuary was engaging and motivating, and their online community was really supportive.” – Andy (2021)
“I feel better as a result of doing it, and I have more energy. This is a priceless gain. What I took away from it is a strong belief that a vegan diet and lifestyle is healthier.” – Anthony (2020)
“It’s been a great challenge and I’m really proud of myself for seeing it through. I have learnt a lot over the last month and it’s made me aware of the importance of education.” – Lauren (2019)
“It’s been a real positive experience for me and it hasn’t required the huge effort I thought it would to eat out, eat at home and to convince the kids to try some plant based alternatives.” – Hannah (2019)
What are you waiting for?
Well, there you have it. Everything you need to know to try Veganuary.
You can sign up to Veganuary 2022 now. Once you get nearer to January you’ll start getting those regular emails, recipes and meal plans and loads of support and encouragement.
The great thing about Veganuary is that unlike other New Year’s resolutions it’s very achievable and time-bound – you only do it for 31 days. If you absolutely hate it, you never have to look at another vegan sausage again!
Read our previous Veganuary blogs
Get in touch
You can give us feedback on this article by using our contact form or emailing vegannetwork@suffolk.gov.uk.
Find out more about our staff network, and how to get involved.
Vegan Staff Network 