10 Tips for Rocking Veganuary 2019

Last day of the year! 2018 has been a tough one for everybody, but it has still been a great year of growing and learning; lots of ups & downs, and challenges. I can’t help but to feel grateful, for how much support VeggieJeva has gotten, and how much it grew. This page went from having 20 views a month, to having thousands in a flash; and although that might seem small to some people, it’s a milestone for me.

But, going back to those challenges that I mentioned, there’s a challenge coming up right at the beginning of this new year: VEGANUARY 2019! Are you familiar with this? Last year, Veganuary was a hit, the campaign grew by 183% with 168,524 people signing up. This year it’s expected to break that record since veganism is growing exponentially. If you’re not vegan, but always wanted to be, this is your chance to join a collective of people who will essentially be on the same boat.

However, I understand that this can be slightly overwhelming to some. So many things can go wrong, and they will go wrong; people will judge you; you’ll be lost at times. But HEY, we’ve all been there, and I’m here to let you know that IT WILL BE OKAY. Even if at times, it seems like the vegan community is a scary place, because there are some vegans out there who dedicate their every breathing seconds judging for their mistakes; let me tell you those vegans don’t represent the vast majority of vegans. So don’t listen to the vegan police and do your own thing! Trust me, the supportive, non-judgemental vegans will have your back.

So, are you vegan-curious and ready to take the dive? If the answer’s ‘yes’ then you should definitely sign up to do Veganuary here. Making this change can be liberating, fun, and who knows, it could completely transform your life. And if you’re vegan already, Veganuary can give you a bit more support, a few ideas, and some inspiration. VeggieJeva’s top tips will make it easy for anyone, at whichever stage of the journey they’re at.

So here are my top 10 tips for you to rock this Veganuary:

1. GET SOCIAL: Follow bloggers & influencers on every social media platform. Also, there are so many apps today that can make veganuary feel less like a challenge & more like a journey, here are some: Happy Cow, Go Vegan!, Forks over Knives, 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, Is it Vegan?.
2. Don’t fall into the health trap: Back to the vegan police, so many people out there think that veganism should be about kale salads, and 32oz. fruit smoothies. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s so much more to veganism. As long as you live by the definition of vegan, you’re fine! Don’t let anyone guilt-trip you on your journey.
3. Research, RESEARCH, research!: There are so many educational web pages, youtube videos, documentaries, books and podcasts out there, look thoroughly. Nailing this lifestyle will take some time, but it’s doable.
4. Don’t miss out anything: There are so many ways to do veganism. There are no rules, except for not wearing, using and eating animals, other than that give yourself a chance to try every variance of this lifestyle and stick to the one that works for you.
5. Whatever you do, don’t aim for perfection: I know, the pressure it’s on! However, wanting to achieve perfection in any aspect of life is setting yourself up for disaster. Find your why, plan ahead, and enjoy the journey.
6. Meal plan & meal prep: Starting the vegan lifestyle, prices and expenses can shock some people; this will all depend on where you live of course. But anywhere you live, one thing it’s guaranteed: planning ahead saves you money, big time. Here are some FREE meal plans: EatingWell, PETA, Plant Based on a Budget, Veggies Don’t Bite.
7. Veganize the food you love: This is something that I didn’t start doing until I was halfway in and running out of ideas. Trust me, you’ll have so much fun veganizing non-vegan food & nailing those.
8. Find or Build a Support Network: Most countries and cities have Facebook groups that you can join and meet other vegans, ask questions & share your recipes or vegan finds. And if you can’t find one? Build one!
9. Eating out: This by far can be the most overwhelming, but it all comes down to planning & research. There are apps & websites, like HappyCow, that can help you search for vegan-friendly restaurants nearby; those vegan groups that I mentioned before can also help you out with this. Also, don’t limit yourself to only vegan restaurants, there are plenty of non-vegan restaurants that have staff willing to accommodate a vegan lifestyle; just give them a call ahead to allow them to prepare.  
10. Embrace accidents & disasters: Accidents happen, we’ve all been there. Maybe you bought some cheese that looked vegan, but it had casein or whey. Maybe you ate some soup that had chicken or beef broth without you knowing. Maybe you ordered your coffee and forgot to specify the soy milk. It happens, but it’s important to acknowledge it and let it go. Also, kitchen disasters will happen; some recipes will turn out great and others will be flops. Learn from where you went wrong, try not to dwell on your experience. Embrace those things, and enjoy!
11. BONUS: Slip-ups? No problem: Now, slip-ups are very different from accidents. The first time I started exploring the vegetarian lifestyle and stopped eating red meat, at the age 17, the very next day I found myself instinctively ordering a BMT at Subway! I didn’t even notice until I was half-way through the sandwich. Did I feel horrible? YES! But, I acknowledge it, finished the sandwich & the next day I started again. This lifestyle takes some getting used to, and if you make a mistake or accidentally consume an animal product, don’t give up and move on.

The most important thing here is that above everything, just enjoy it. Since going vegan, I have enjoyed every minute of all the plant-based food and drink discoveries. I loved meeting other like-minded individuals and seeing different perspectives within the lifestyle. As well as the knowledge I’ve taken from continuing to educate myself in the field. I am lucky enough to have started VeggieJeva, that has taken me to amazing places. 2018 has been such an incredible year in the vegan environment and 2019 is one that I look forward to continuing to grow & learn more as we embark on a future that takes us further down plant-based routes.

Happy New Year Everybody! Enjoy Veganuary!