Veganuary 2020 is in full swing. The annual January challenge – urging people to ditch the meat and diary for a month – is currently making people nervous and headlines around the world.
In fact a segment pitting a hunter against a vegan to debate veganism in Has Vegnauary Gone Too Far? was recently aired on the British program, The Morning Show. (See video below) I don’t even know where to begin with this ridiculous sensationalized fluff.
A handful of articles in various mainstream media have also thrashed veganism citing concerns about drops in essential nutrients and protein deficiency. I can’t believe we are still having these arguments in 2020. Quite simply put, it’s a whole bunch of plant-based baloney.
During Veganuary 2020 (and the rest of the year), let’s drown out the naysayers and noise. Take the challenge for what it is. Give up the meat and the dairy. You got this. It’s 2020. The resources are out there for you.
I wrote a very popular post last year highlighting some tricks and tips for being plants for the month. Read it here. Also do not miss out on So you wanna be vegan? (I can’t believe I wrote this post five years ago!_
Anyway with the rise of plant-based options at grocery stores and restaurants, I am excited to see what this year will bring. About a year ago, I wrote about the overhaul of Canada’s Food Guide. I only hope that these science-based recommendations have encouraged you to consider what you put on your plate.
Who to watch in 2020
I recently came across Avant Garde Vegan on YouTube. While professional chefs and recipe content developers are a dime a dozen on YouTube, I love this dude Gaz Oakley. He seems very down to earth and genuinely interested in food, people and the animals. Hear his backstory in this video where he explains how he left the industry then came back stronger than ever as a vegan chef.
I am sharing this video on knife skills because I am not sure everyone is born learning how to cut properly and efficiently. I hope you get something out of his video. Be sure to check out his archive for recipes and this excellent video Salt of the earth, a food & travel documentary.
Are you taking part in Veganuary? Have you reduced or stopped your meat or dairy consumption recently? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
I’m not vegan but I do eat about 75-80% plant-based. I’ve attributed that change in my diet to keeping my RA symptoms mostly quiet. My son was vegan for part of last year and it was tough for him (and us!). That did open up my eyes to finding creative ways to incorporate protein into a plant based diet and has stuck with me. Giving up milk (I still eat cheese in moderation) was one of the best things I’ve done.