by Christine Pesta
January, for many, is a time of new beginnings. As a vegan, who spends the majority of the year answering questions and explaining veganism, this is a time to encourage those around you who have been asking questions, to participate in Veganuary.
Veganuary began in 2014. It serves as a way for people to give veganism a try. They take the 31-day pledge to refrain from eating meat and dairy. They are encouraged to explore the reasons why vegans do just that all year long.
The site to direct any friends and family to go to, who wish to give it a try, is veganuary.com. There are many resources there: tips and info on how to get started, a meal plan and recipes, as well as information on how this one small change to their lifestyle can make a significant impact on the world.
If you think you know someone who might benefit from becoming vegan (and, isn’t that everybody?), pass on the information and answer any questions they may have as they begin their journey over the next month. Be prepared to serve as a mentor to those who do decide to take up the challenge. You will most likely be the one vegan they know, and they will most likely turn to you for advice.
Always encourage them to keep going. Perhaps form a group that meets one day a week in January to have a vegan meal together and share their experiences and thoughts about their vegan journey. This is a great opportunity to swap recipes, tell them where they can purchase vegan products such as clothes, food, and bath products, etc. Help them to understand that the vegan lifestyle extends far beyond the food on their plates, and that it can be a very satisfying and rewarding lifestyle if they choose to stick with it.
Keep in mind that not everyone will stick with it. For those who don’t, so be it. There is no need to try to get them to continue if they do not wish to do so. They will still have the experience in their mind and will have a better understanding of what being vegan is all about. It has been reported that some of those who drop eating vegan after participating in Veganuary do change their mind and come back to veganism as everything they learned begins to click. The bottom line is to let people come around to it in their own time. Veganuary lays the foundation for some future vegans; it’s all about them being able to make the connection between what’s on their plate and how it got there.
For those of your friends who decide to stick with it, and enjoy the idea of taking up the vegan lifestyle, continue to give them what help, encouragement, and information you can. No one should feel “forced” into doing a thing, or it’s guaranteed they won’t stick with it. They have to be ready to make what, for some, is a significant change to the way they have always lived their lives. For them, they may see everything they have believed, and a few things they did without ever giving thought to, being called into question. It is for them to learn and understand the reasons why people become vegan, but you being there to help should make the transition easier. Some people aren’t lucky enough to have a friend to help, so it is up to all of us to encourage the people around us who are thinking about it to be there to lend support and answer questions, not just during Veganuary, but every day of the year.
Suggest books and films to them, social media sites where they can get information, stores to shop at and products to purchase that will help them get started. There are many ways to be of service to your friends. However, the first thing you can do for anyone who may be open to the vegan path would be to mention Veganuary to them, and stay positive no matter what their reaction to your suggestion. Again, some people may not be ready or willing, they may only have been curious about how being vegan has affected you, but have no intention of trying it themselves.
Below are some books, films, and sites that might help them get started, and help you to mentor them as they take their first steps into a much more compassionate world. Good luck to all!
WEBSITES
Veganuary
veganuary,com
Live Your Life Vegan
liveyourlifevegan,com
The Vegan Society
vegansociety.com
Vegan Outreach
veganoutreach.org
Mercy for Animals
mercyforanimals.org
Compassion Over Killing
cok.net
PETA
peta.org
FILMS
Earthlings (2005)
Cowspiracy (2014)
The Game Changers (2018)
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010)
Vegucated (2011)
Seaspiracy (2021)
Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days (2009)
Forks Over Knives (2011)
BOOKS
Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen by Richa Hingle
Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne
But I Could Never Go Vegan by Kristy Turner
Tahini & Turmeric by Fox & Cohen
Afro-Vegan by Bryant Terry
Fast, Easy, Cheap Vegan by Sam Turnbull
Veganomicon by Moskowitz and Romero
The Korean Vegan by Joanne Lee Molinaro
La Vida Verde by Jocelyn Ramirez
Vegan on a Budget by Olivia Biermann
Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen by Chloe Coscarelli
Plants Only Kitchen by Gaz Oakley
Oy Vey Vegan by Estee Raviv
