Veganism is on the rise in our world — between the lists of health, environmental and economic benefits — I wondered what all the fuss was about. My younger sister has been eating a mostly plant-based diet for a few years now and makes plant dishes look both delicious and beautiful (check her out here: @bringthebeetback). During Christmas break, she mentioned Veganuary, a challenge during the month of January to lead a plant-based and animal-free lifestyle, promoted by a UK nonprofit organization of the same name. My sister, among other plant-based influencers on the internet, raves about the effects that not consuming meat, dairy and other animal products has on her body. Though I wasn’t sure I could commit to living a fully animal-free lifestyle (not wearing animal products, such as leather or down), I decided to take on the challenge of eating plant-based for a month.
- The Process
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I must admit, I already eat a mostly plant-based diet. My meat consumption is very low, and I typically only choose it when on vacation. I don’t purchase dairy products when buying groceries and instead will have it on occasion if I’m eating out. I love to cook and I prepare most of my own meals at home, so I knew that this challenge wasn’t going to be all that challenging.
The neighbourhood I live in has an independent grocery store that is well-stocked with organic and local products, as well as specialty plant-based foods. When it came to buying groceries, 90% of my cart was fresh produce. Overall, I found that I was shelling out way less money each week because I wasn’t buying expensive fish, milk, or cheese.
Cooking and preparing plant-based food was easy and fun. I already follow quite a few vegan cooking accounts on Instagram, so between Instagram and a quick Google search, there was so much great inspiration. I found myself making recipes I was finding through Erin Ireland’s Instagram page, bonberi.com, or ohsheglows.com, most often, and eight times out of ten they didn’t disappoint. Here are some of my go-to’s:
Bonberi Crispy Kale & Kimchi Fried Rice
Buddhist Chef Tofu in Spicy Peanut Sauce
Loving it Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Minimalist Baker Curried Sweet Potato and Chickpeas
Early in the month, I started to feel the effects that this way of eating had on my body. I felt more energized, was more easily able to focus at school, felt like I was sleeping better and would function better off of less sleep, and felt AMAZING when working out. This was the biggest change I felt. When at the gym, yoga or spin, I felt unstoppable. This may be because I was constantly more energized and found myself working out almost daily in January, so my fitness had improved, but I truly believe the plant foods were playing a huge role. Additionally, I was losing weight and receiving compliments that my body looked leaner. Though this wasn’t the goal going in, it wasn’t disappointing.
- The Results
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Overall, I was shocked. My skin and physique looked good, I was really enjoying cooking new recipes, my mind felt clearer and my energy levels were ideal. I found that through making healthier food choices, I was making healthier choices in other aspects of my life, such as working out more and drinking less. I’ve continued eating a (mostly) plant-based diet since, and am not sure I can go back to eating how I did before. If you’ve ever been tempted to try a plant-based diet, or are curious about it, check out the resources below for interesting information.
@ErinIreland on Instagram
How Not to Die by Dr. Michel Greger, MD – https://nutritionfacts.org/book/
The Vegetarian Resource Group – https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm