Veganuary - A Nutritionist’s Perspective

Veganuary, started in 2014, is an organisation that has helped support individuals and companies to follow and enable a vegan diet. People can opt in to do a 31-day pledge to go vegan for the length of January as a starting point. They provide free recipes, blog posts and tips on staying healthy while vegan. Their work with companies like Subway, Morrisons and Dominos has helped increase the number of vegan-friendly options while out-and-about as well as increased the variety and choice on supermarket shelves.

I applaud their efforts for their impact in the food industry and providing nutritional support for the individuals who want to follow a vegan diet. They are a great resource for anyone interested in following a vegan diet.

From a nutritionist's point of view, I aim to support an individual’s choice if they choose to follow a vegan diet. However, it is important to consider that it may not be suitable or possible for every individual due to it being a highly restrictive way of eating.

If you are someone interested in following a vegan diet or signing up for Veganuary, there are some important things to consider and be aware of.

·        Eating a vegan diet does not mean you are automatically eating a healthy and balanced diet. This way of eating does require nutritional knowledge, time, and planning.

·        It is generally recommended to take a B12 supplement while eating a vegan diet as it can be tricky obtaining an adequate amount from vegan-suitable foods.

·        If you enjoy this way of eating and want to continue for longer, ensure you speak to a nutritionist to ensure your diet is balanced and supports all your needs.

There are some things that do worry me a little when it comes to following a vegan diet, or any sort of diet where there is a strong relationship to a person’s identity.

For example, like with many things, humans tend to label and categorise people. I do not agree with the identification of a person based on their diet. I prefer to encourage saying “I eat a vegan diet” rather than stating “I’m vegan”. By removing the identification, the pressure, negative feelings, and stress reduces when a person decides to move away from eating this way or does so accidentally.

I also worry about elitism within such communities. The strong identification with the community can stir a “them vs us” mentality and create a superiority complex in reaction to others who choose not to follow a vegan diet. It can even happen within the vegan community, for instance, when veganism extends to other lifestyle factors like clothes and make-up that people wear. There can be an immense amount of pressure experienced once you’re “in” that world.

If you are new to the vegan diet and want tailored nutritional support or other help, I am happy to discuss this with you during a consultation. You can book your Discovery Call here. I look forward to working with you!