Veganuary!

Yep. You've heard of it. 2019 may well be the year of the Vegans; what with their alternative diets taking the world by storm. Some of you may have dismissed this post at first sight of the V word, but I thought it was about time I brought it up.

Veganism is classed as a diet free of meat, eggs, dairy and other animal products.

2019's way of trying to boost veganism is through the registered charity, Veganuary, who are encouraging people to try going vegan to start their year.

It is thought that vegan eating habits are one of the best ways to improve dietary lifestyles, the welfare of animals and the environment in a time of climate change crisis.

And, what better way to start this plant-based push than to try and influence the minds of Parliament. That's right. As part of the Veganuary campaign, London recently saw projected posters, advertising Theresa May as an advocate of veganism.

It was thought that this would be a good way for the government to lead by example, as well as to show their seriousness about tackling climate change.

Thousands of people are expected to join the pledge to adopt a vegan diet at least for this month, with the hope that it will continue throughout the rest of the year.

There have been books released on How to Go Vegan, as well as celebrity vegan recipe cookbooks to pull you in (see Joanna Lumley's 'Random Green Soup' that includes peppers, vegan pesto and of course, 'anything green'.)

Surely if celebs can do it, then so can we.

Veganuary Campaign Launch, 2019

If, like many, you are still in the debatable stage of whether to try veganism or not, here is a little list of pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

* Vegan diets can reduce the risk of heart disease - the reduced consumption of meat and dairy can lower cholesterol and blood pressure

* Plant-based products are full of antioxidants which help to fight against toxins in the air, keeping your body healthier

* Animals live a more humane life due to the reduced amount of meat production

* Carbon footprint associated with meat production is reduced

* Dairy and meat free alternatives are widely sourced, providing a balanced diet full of protein still found in soya, beans and pulses

Cons:

* The risk of certain vitamin deficiencies, particularly B-12 and D which are usually found in meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products

* Not knowing what is available; checking every single food label for what you can and can't eat can be tricky, especially if the product is unclear. Some vegan products do not have a vegan label which can make the whole process a little more time consuming

* The ethics of alternative product manufacturing - Almond milk is one of the biggest dairy alternatives, but also one of the worst for environmental ethics. It takes almost 25 gallons of water per ounce of almonds to produce the nut milk, which can cause droughts in the countries that the nuts are grown. Because of its high water content, it also has less nutritional benefits than people are lead to believe

* In addition, the air miles of transporting certain products counter-balances the aim to reduce carbon footprint

Climate Change: Which Vegan Milk is Best? BBC News

It's a hard balance to get a grip on.

However, because vegan diets and environmental conscience are on the rise, there are far more vegan and eco-friendly foods products to choose from, so eating in a restaurant or doing your weekly food shop is now better tailored to meet those dietary needs.

There is plenty of information out there to research and find out what your stance is on veganism.

Some will choose veganism based on dietary requirements alone, due to what is better and healthier for them personally. Others will consider how ethical their alternative products are, and some will even base what they consume on whether the company or brand is involved in any other animal based productions.

Doing just one of these things is enough to encourage your environmental conscience; it's the awareness and the way that we think about the effects of these products on our world that counts, the rest simply follows.

Leaping into a vegan diet can take you down a long and complicated road, but with patience and the right knowledge, it is achievable. First, I would consider why it is that you're choosing to do it. For your body? For animals? For the environment?

Whatever the moral stance, to do it at all is a step that you should be proud of.

I am not a vegan.

Technically, I am a pescatarian, as I don't eat meat but I still eat fish. I was vegetarian for four years when I was younger, until my mum bought salami one New Year's and I caved. I then ate my body weight in Peperami, to the point that the smell of them now sickens me.

It was when I started uni that I slowly began to re-introduce a meat-free diet, which started purely for financial reasons as meat was expensive.

I then realised how little I missed eating meat, so no longer needed to consume it. What helped is that my mum went vegan at around the same time that my dad stopped eating meat, so both replaced meaty foods with healthier, plant-based products.

I still eat fish on occasion so I maintain a balanced diet and no longer drink cows milk in my tea - simply because I don't like it. I could not live without butter and cheese because that would ruin jacket potatoes for me, but for me, that's okay.

BOSH! Mushroom Wellington, made and decorated by Mum

My diet changes have been a gradual process, based on my likes and dislikes, as well as learning how satisfying a plant-based diet can be. Eating this way has also lead me into a more environmentally friendly mindset. Though I still consume some products that vegans might not, I still consider where my food comes from and am aiming to be as ethical as I can.

At the end of the day, your diet has to suit you. Maybe you have a flexible, mainly meat-free diet but you enjoy a good steak on occasion, bringing about a new craze of 'flexitarians' perhaps; it's having the awareness of why veganism is on such a hype at the moment, and being open minded enough to rid yourself of the common misconception that vegans just eat leaves.

A vegan diet can be nutritious, filling and seriously yummy, which I know from living in a primarily vegan household. If you don't believe me, check out the BOSH! plant-based cookbook (*a second book is being released this year and I'm really excited!*)

It will honestly blow your mind. Who knew vegetables could be so damn good?

I think that once the diet, or at least the acceptance of the dietary side of things is tackled, it is easier to focus on the next bit; beauty and skin products, cleaning products, toothpaste and the materials in your clothes.

A simple bit of good advice? Give it time.

Jumping straight in to a completely new diet, taking away all of the foods you used to love, can be overwhelming, but if we aim to accomplish one aspect of veganism at a time, slowly, but surely, we can reach that ethical end goal.

What's important is to focus internal values and first understand why this is taking place in world. What does it mean to you?

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You can take the Veganuary pledge here: https://veganuary.com/

Also check out these amazing recipes, for anything from simple breakfasts, show stopping dinners, puddings and even cocktails: https://www.bosh.tv/recipes