Why I choose to go Vegetarian for January

Like many of us, I try to begin every new decade with a challenge. Whether that be the classic ‘Dry January’, starting a new fitness regime, or cutting down our spending habits. Nothing feels better than kick-starting the year with a bang. For me, it’s Veggie January – yes, the fraudulent version of Veganuary (I will attempt it one year I promise!) I began my tradition last year along with my boyfriend and thought it would be rude not to continue this into 2021.

Vegetarianism, like Veganism and Pescatarianism, is on the rise. It is estimated by Finder UK that by the end of 2021, 13 million Brits will have ditched meat and turned veggie. Though meat-based diets still remain the favourite at 86%, vegetarian diets are expected to have the most new recruits in 2021, as 2.8 million intend to take up this lifestyle. They do not however,  seem to predict that the biggest change will come from veganism. If the 2 million people who intend to become vegan this year in their survey actually do so, the number of vegans will increase by 132%,  an impressive rise to say the least.

Regardless of the hype, a challenge like this really helps me stay motivated and powers me through the drizzly weather and good ol’ January blues. It’s not for everyone and I’m not here to persuade you otherwise, but if you’re looking to try the vegetarian diet, January or not, here’s 5 reasons why.

1. Diet benefits

It’s well known that the vegetarian and vegan diet is much better for our bodies. Usually through these diets, we tend to get our 5 portions of fruit and veg a day which means we are getting an important mix of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. High fruit and vegetable content can also help protect you against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Leading a healthy diet is incredibly important to me so this reason is a no brainer. Yes, you can still lead a healthy lifestyle including a balanced meat-based diet, but I’ve really experienced a difference basing my meals purely around vegetables.

2. Keeping motivated & feeling accomplished

As mentioned above, I really like a challenge and having something like this lined up really helps to keep me motivated throughout the January blues. Throughout the lockdown periods especially, I think a lot of us have struggled with motivation. I have worked from home since March and although I am enjoying the lack of commute and comfortable surroundings, separating that work-life environment can be difficult. This, partnered with the uncertainty of life as we know it and being thrown from our regular routines, is just sometimes too much to handle. This new goal and routine, however, has helped me to get excited about meal-times and doing the food shop (as sad as it might sound!) and it’s really helped to keep my spirits up throughout such miserable times.

3. Trying new foods

I think this may be my favourite aspect of veggie January- trying new foods, brands, and exploring substitutes. Usually I am too scared to branch out and try new things – there’s nothing worse than ordering food or labouring over a meal and not enjoying it. However, I try my best to branch out in January and add things to my basket I wouldn’t usually consider. From tofu thai curry to veggie burritos, I’ve managed to broaden my food options not only for January but for the remainder of the year too.

An item I will continue to use throughout the year is definitely Richmond’s vegetarian sausages. I’ve previously tried Linda McCartney’s and Heck’s ranges but Richmond’s tops the charts. I’ve also been enjoying Alpro’s dairy-free milk, specifically their soya milk. It’s now a firm staple in our weekly shop and a cows-milk cuppa now seems a bit strange to me!

4. Spending benefits

On average, vegetarian food is a lot cheaper than meat. We’ve all seen the vegetarian options on a menu at a restaurant, generally they tend to cost you a lot less. Of course, this is because the ingredients used are a lot cheaper themselves – naturally an onion bhaji burger is going to be cheaper than a prime beef burger – but if you consider vegetarianism as an expensive lifestyle, let me tell you it won’t break the bank. Plus, if you’re planning on giving it a go in January like myself, most of the supermarkets jump on the Veganuary trend, meaning most meat-free substitutes and veggie-friendly options will be discounted.

One tip to help save money is just to organise your greens effectively. As a vegetarian, you’ll be unsurprisingly eating a lot more vegetables and you can produce a lot of waste if you don’t keep on top of your best before dates. To help, I have a food diary which I use to track my meals and ensure I am using everything I’ve bought.

5. Shows me what is possible

Ok, so this sounds incredibly cliché and cringe but making the decision to try vegetarianism hasn’t been a struggle, it’s really been quite a breeze. In January 2020, I remember being tempted by meat and struggling to focus but this time around, I’ve found it much easier. This makes me think that maybe next year or beyond, trying something a lot stricter like veganism will come easier too. For me, this just shows how it is possible to remove meat and fish from my diet without sacrificing too much and I would recommend it to anyone!

Plus, many mainstream restaurants and takeaways we know and love are now making their menus much greener and making vegan/vegetarian options a staple. I recently tried Nandos’ great imitator wrap and I was surprised at how nice it was. Giants like McDonald’s and KFC have also added vegan burgers and wraps to their range and even local independent places are becoming more accessible too. Let’s hope food outlets keep it up!

Laura Buckle

Featured image courtesy of JillWellington on Pixabay. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.