January is a time for change and reflection, especially after a heavy Christmas and New Year’s period spent doing an abundance of eating and drinking.
Those looking for a New Year’s resolution to kick habits and institute change in their life can dive deep into the world of veganism and Veganuary, a 10-year-old campaign that introduces the power of vegetables into people’s diets.
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a non-profit organisation based in the UK that was launched in 2014 to promote and educate on the benefits of a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. For 10 years in a row, Veganuary has amassed a year-on-year increase of registered vegan participants hoping to challenge themselves.
A record 706,965 people participated in Veganuary in January 2023, coming from every country and territory in the world (except for Vatican City and North Korea).
What is veganism?
A vegan diet empowers people to avoid eating animal ingredients, products, and by-products, such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, whey, and gelatine.
Several vegan diets exist to accommodate people’s varied concerns on animal welfare, consumption of animal-derived foods and substances, and protection against environmental damage.
Plant-based versions of our favourite meaty and cheesy proteins are commonplace in supermarkets around the world, suiting diners and cooks eager to avoid animal suffering or negative environmental impact.
The term “vegan” was only coined by a British scientist in 1944 but has become popular in dietary and culinary culture since the 2010s.
What are accidental vegan foods?
Many foods, products, and ingredients you regularly eat are accidental vegan foods, from snacks and cereals, to beer and wine, to pantry essentials.
Sweet & salty snacks
- Doritos Lightly Salted
- Walkers crisps
- Pringles
- Clif Bar
- OREO
- Skittles
Dishes
- French fries
- Hummus
Pantry essentials
- Pasta
- Rice noodles
- Porridge
- Fruit jam
- Peanut butter
Cereals
- Kellogg’s Frosties
- Kellogg’s Rice Krispies
- Weetabix Original
Beer
- Heineken
- Carlsberg
- Corona
- Peroni
- Budweiser
- Guinness
