With influencers like That Vegan Teacher, a Canadian activist representing vegans in a bad light, vegans have a less than ideal reputation in the 21st century, especially among the Gen Z audience. This causes mis-information and hurtful stereotypes to be spread. Veganuary aims to change that perception and make veganism a part of the norm through a month-long challenge.
What is Veganism
Before we dive in, we have to understand what exactly being vegan entails, “They [vegans] don’t eat meat, and they also don’t eat any milk or eggs,” Is what Azmi Pasha believes vegans to be. Veganism is the practice of abstaining from animal products. This means they refrain from consuming any meat, dairy, and egg products. While the diet is important, it’s not the only aspect of veganism. According to the Vegan Society, veganism is also, “A philosophy and way of living that exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purposes.” Using this new definition, many vegans also avoid using any products that contain material or ingredients derived from animals. They also refrain from using products that do testing on animals and going to places that use animals for entertainment, like circuses or road-side attractions.
What is Veganuary
It first started in 2014 when a UK non-profit organisation decided to take a stand and promote veganism and awareness of animal cruelty by encouraging people to join them on a month-long challenge called Veganuary. Veganuary is an annual event taking place from January 1st to January 31st. It inspires and motivates people to try a vegan diet and increase their support for animals. Millions of people have been a part of this challenge, with an average of over 300,000 participants yearly. The supporters and team’s vision is to prevent animal cruelty, protect the environment, and improve the health of its participants. To achieve their goal, the people running Veganuary plan to spread veganism and awareness with their campaign. They’ve also gained the support of several celebrities, like Billie Eillish, who says, “…by replacing meat consumption with plant-based foods, together, we can give the earth a fighting chance”.
Vegan Options
When questioned about what would discourage someone from trying a plant-based diet, Pasha says, “Family opinions…or not really being ideal since the diet is limited”. Vegan options are often poorly advertised, but in reality there are many alternative products and companies that supply vegan options. According to the Vegan Society, there are over 70,000 vegan products available. Brands like Impossible Foods and Daily Harvest are great companies that give a variety of options to implement into your diet. Moreover, Veganuary also aims to increase vegan options in shops and restaurants. In 2024 alone, they have helped launch more than 21,000 vegan products and menu items. The organization also offers more than 100,000 vegan recipes on their website, from breakfast to dessert and from Korean cuisine to Portuguese cuisine, there’s something in there for everyone.
Whether you are motivated by health, ethical concerns, or environmental impact, Veganuary offers people an opportunity to explore a plant-based diet and its benefits. It can just be a fun temporary challenge or the start of a lasting lifestyle-change, whichever one it is, Veganuary is something open to anyone and everyone. So, will you give Veganuary a chance?
