It’s January, so of course there are New Year’s resolutions everywhere. Whether you go in for them or not, Veganuary is one that lots of people are interested in, so here’s my two pence on how to ‘eat Vegan’, either for Jan, or forevs.

Side note: you don’t have to do all or any of these, nor do you have to ‘be more plant based’. But if you want to, go for it <3

Set your intention. Messaging around eating more plants in January gets a bit blurry...is it for health? Is it for weight loss? Is it for the animals? The environment? Or maybe just a challenge to see if you like it. If you are curious about whether Veganism is more healthy, see my previous blog here, but remember that Veganism isn’t a weight loss diet, it’s an ethical choice (and it isn’t for everyone….)
Eat enough. Quite often I see people transitioning to 100% plants, and just taking out the animal products. This is good in theory, but in practice you might be left feeling quite hungry & unsatisfied! You might find you need to eat bigger portions, or more frequently than usual, as often plants are less energy dense than meat. This is ok! Try to listen in to what your body is saying & remember that we are all different, so do what works for you.
Drink enough fluid. Chances are you will have increased your vegetable intake, and your intestines might not be used to the level of fibre. Drink a bit more water to help digest, and if you are uncomfortable just dial it back a little. If you are seriously struggling maybe seek a bit of advice from a nutritionist or other health care professional
You can still eat pizza. Or chips, burgers, cheese etc. These food are all available as vegan alternatives, and whilst they may not be exactly the same, they can be very tasty and enjoyable in their own right. Processed doesn't mean bad!
Experiment!! Vegan food doesn’t need to be bland. There are so many incredible recipes to choose from, all you need is a little forward planning in the supermarket to get the right herbs & spices. I love Vietnamese & Thai food, so I am always experimenting with flavours and vegetable combinations to get the balance of salty, spicy, sweet & sour - yum!

If you are looking for help with food, diet optimisation or advice on any aspect of nutrition, get in touch with me here.

5 tips for plant-based eating