After the indulgence of Christmas, many individuals want to start the new year with a fresh perspective and a new outlook on health, diet and the environment. Veganuary, the pledge to try a vegan diet for the 31 days of January, is increasingly popular year on year for this reason (as well as others).
Dr Kristof Dhont, a psychologist who specialises in human-animal relations at the School of Psychology, has shared his advice on how to overcome mental and social pressures to succeed at Veganuary. He said:
‘Vegan steak bakes, chicken-style burgers, ultimate chocolate cakes—new vegan products are hitting the shelves at breakneck speed and vegan product ranges in supermarkets and restaurants are ever-expanding. Veganism is gaining in popularity. The growing awareness of the ethical concerns related to animal product consumption and the detrimental impact of our meat-eating habits on the environment and our health have shifted people towards more plant-based meals. However, changing your dietary habits can be challenging and not everyone may understand your choice.’
Dr Dhont’s top tips are:
Prepare yourself
Changing your shopping and consumption habits can be tricky because we do most of these behaviours in autopilot mode. Take time to explore the supermarkets, find easy recipes, and prepare your shopping list.
Treat yourself
Veganise your favourite dishes and keep it simple. Unless you are an experienced cook, don’t start with complicated recipes or with ingredients that look too exotic to you. By all means, try new products, but introduce those slowly. Once you got the hang of it, you can get more ambitious and start experimenting at a more advanced level. Plenty of ready meals are available for days with limited time or motivation to cook.
Educate and motivate yourself
Reminding yourself and learning more about the reasons for Veganuary (and going vegan) will give your choice for veganism a clearer purpose. Indeed, it will feel more rewarding the more you become aware of the morally troublesome principles and practices inherent to dairy and meat consumption.
Find a Veganuary buddy
You will find it much easier and enjoyable if you are not alone in your journey and can share your experiences with someone else. You can also find a friendly and supportive community online, including expert mentors who can guide you with practical tips or with more background information. So, sign up on veganuary.com or challenge22.com to get connected and receive the best recipes.
Communicate clearly and compassionately
Inform others about your choice and explain the reasons but avoid coming across as moralistic, as this will be met with defensiveness. Keep your communication short, and do not let your past grievances, your ego or pride get in the way of having productive conversations and your goal to achieve some understanding. Hostile conversations or debating ideological viewpoints can be exhausting and are often ineffective because people rarely change their minds when being told that they are wrong (persuasion resistance). In fact, one of the biggest barriers to ditching meat and animal products is that people find it so appetising. Serving people delicious vegan food while encouraging them to reflect on their own consumption or lifestyle habits, will make them more receptive to veganism.
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