Whether it’s making healthier food choices, setting fitness goals, slowing down, or learning a new language, January is a good time to embark on a new journey! Many of us consider making positive changes in our lives at the beginning of a new year and set stringent goals for ourselves, only to give up within the first few days or weeks. The trick lies in not setting a punishing schedule for transformation but settling for gradual progress, in not making grand New Year Resolutions but making small, incremental changes.
One such change starts with Veganuary, a movement that encourages people to try a vegan diet for the month of January. This is not only an opportunity to discover new foods and flavours, but also a chance to learn more about the environmental, health, and ethical benefits of a plant-based diet. And even if you are a non-vegetarian (or a non-believer), hear us out because there is something here for everyone!
Veganuary and Veganism
Veganuary was a challenge started by Jane Land and her husband Matthew Glover in York in 2014. It involves avoiding all animal products all through the month of January. Last year, more than 620,000 people took their pledge to try a vegan diet.
Meat accounts for nearly 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions from food production, with its production causing twice the pollution as that of plant-based foods. A third of global food production is already at risk from our current climate crisis. So, from an environmental perspective, a plant-based vegan diet can help reduce the carbon footprint and water usage associated with the production of animal-based products, especially if the plant-based foods are seasonal and locally sourced.
So, from an environmental perspective, a plant-based vegan diet can help reduce the carbon footprint and water usage associated with the production of animal-based products, especially if the plant-based foods are seasonal and locally sourced.
From a health perspective, a well-planned vegan diet can provide all the necessary nutrients for a healthy diet, but it’s important to be mindful of nutrient deficiencies such as B12, Iron, and omega-3s. Vegan food means food without meat, dairy, eggs, or any other animal-derived ingredients like honey, collagen, or gelatine.
Many people also choose a vegan diet because they believe it is a more ethical and compassionate way to live.
As per one research, more than one in five consumers (22%) in 2022 said that they eat plant-based or vegan food. This number went up from 17 percent in 2019. Back in India too, there’s been a surge in the number of vegan brands, including beyond food.
Being Vegan In India
India has a long tradition of plant-based eating, and many traditional dishes are based on lentils, beans, vegetables, and grains. Many Indians already consume a large proportion of plant-based food. However, a significant part of the population also consumes meat, dairy, and eggs, that are also important sources of protein and other nutrients.
In a poor country like India, veganism is largely an urban concern. From a nutritional perspective, a well-planned vegan diet can provide all the necessary nutrients for good health, but it can be difficult to achieve adequate nutrition in areas where plant-based foods are not readily available or affordable. Some people may have difficulty obtaining enough protein, iron, and other essential nutrients from plant-based sources, as meat, dairy, and eggs are also important sources of protein and other nutrients.
Given the poverty and malnourishment prevalent in India, a vegan diet cannot be a solution for all. Instead, a more sustainable approach is to promote a balanced diet that includes a variety of plant-based foods, along with animal-based products that are ethically and sustainably produced as well as supporting local and small farmers, and promoting sustainable and regenerative agriculture and animal husbandry practices.
But with the rising consumption of the wealthy, which though small as a percentage, constitutes a significant population, veganism offers options for urban India that go beyond food. A vegan lifestyle encourages a lifestyle that finds plant-based alternatives for food, clothing, or any other purpose.
Intrigued? Read on!
Homegrown Vegan Brands
You don’t have to start your experiment with veganism from scratch. We have put together a small, and in no way exhaustive, list of Indian vegan brands in food, fashion, and beauty, that blend design with sustainability and taste, making it a good starting point. For more, check out our earlier story too.
Food
While there is plenty to choose from the traditional Indian foods across the country, from the North Indian chhole and rajma to dosa, idli, medhu vada and appam-vegetable stew from the South, these brands are offering a new age spin to vegan food, as well as offering plant-based alternatives to dairy and meat products.
- One Good: Formerly called Goodmylk and founded by a young vegan and animal rights activist, One Good aims to make delicious plant-based foods affordable and accessible for everyone. So next time you have a late-night chocolate craving, try their Sea Salt and California Almonds, 100% guilt-free!
- Wakao Foods: This Goa-based sustainable food brand offers a range of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook made from jackfruit now widely considered a superfood. Try their latest Hot & Spicy Sausage because it is the Jack of all (good) traits!
- Millie’s Vegan Cheese: Millie’s Vegan Cheese offers plant-based cheese products made of cashews, tofu, sun-dried tomatoes, and other ingredients that are 100% organic. There can be no better way to start exploring vegan foods!
If you are a meat-lover, here is a primer on plant-based meats that are fast gaining popularity for offering the best of all the worlds, with none of the nasties or the guilt!
Beauty & Skincare
Vegan skincare uses products that do not contain any animal ingredients or animal-derived by-products. These products aren’t even tested on animals and are a conscious shift to plant-based alternatives. Tip: Look out for the Certified Vegan logo for proof of authenticity.
- Plum: One of India’s favourite brands, Plum is PETA-certified, 100% Vegan and cruelty-free without any animal-induced products like honey, silk, beeswax, or leather. With their #Empty4Good campaign, they also facilitate the recycling of empty jars and bottles, making it a truly sustainable beauty solution!
- Disguise Cosmetics: Vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and formulated by scientists for the Indian skin, Disguise Cosmetics products are your answer to beautiful, pocket-friendly, and safe makeup.
Source: Disguise Cosmetics
- Asa Beauty: With mindfully created luxury vegan beauty products, Asa offers clean beauty products with smart refillable solutions. This means when you choose Asa, you choose to reduce waste by refilling old packaging. Isn’t that awesome?
Fashion
Vegan fashion simply means clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories that were made without using and harming animals. These fashion items do not have any animal by-products. So goodbye wool, leather, suede, fur, down, or even clothes dyed with animal-origin dye.
- Clothes: To leave a minimal carbon footprint, look up Maati By Neha Kabra and Moonray, two of the many Indian vegan brands that offer timeless, chic, and comfortable clothing.
- Shoes: While you are at it, check out Achilles’ Heels– a luxury brand for custom-crafted men’s footwear, and PAIO, both design-led, vegan brands that will make you rethink why you ever liked leather footwear.
- Accessories: Aulive and Beej are two proudly Indian, genuinely ‘not leather’ brands boasting cruelty-free and plant-based leather alternatives.
Source: Moonray
Don’t Be Hard On Yourself!
84% of vegetarians/vegans abandon their diet and about a third (34%) of lapsed vegetarians/vegans maintained the diet for three months or less, according to this Faunalytics research.
This is not to discourage you, but to say that you don’t have to commit yourself wholly or even substantially to veganism! Most scientists and researchers have consistently recommended against absolutism, especially where veganism is concerned because that means setting yourself up for failure.
Instead, make it about expanding your food choices and discovering new food, fashion, and personal care alternatives. Start slowly by dedicating a day per week to eating vegan food, whether for reasons of health or the environment and see where it takes you!
Last Word, A Caveat
A vegan diet is not appropriate for everyone, and some people may have difficulty sticking to it for a month. People with certain health conditions, such as anaemia or pregnancy, may require more specific nutritional needs and should consult a healthcare professional before making any significant dietary changes.
It’s also important to keep in mind that not all plant-based foods are created equal, and some may have a larger environmental impact than others. That avocado that has travelled a thousand miles to reach your kitchen may be vegan (another debate for another day!) but is it environmentally sustainable? Make sure to research and choose sustainable and local options.
If nothing else, think of Veganuary as a detox after the indulgent festive season. But, ultimately, whether or not to follow Veganuary is a personal decision that should be based on an individual’s own goals and beliefs. If someone decides to participate, it’s important to approach it with a balanced perspective and after being fully informed on the medical and nutritional aspects.
