This January, Try Vegan For A Month | Souley Green x Vegauary 2018

2017 is coming to an end, and we thank you sincerely for the support you've shown us this year!

As the new year approaches, now is a time to reflect on what we want to improve in 2018. It can be wanting to improve your health, acting more on your beliefs or even wanting to feel better both physically, and mentally. Trying out being vegan just for a month may help you achieve all of these!

Veganuary is a campaign that encourages people to start a new year on a healthy note. Participants remove all animal products (meat, seafood, dairy, eggs and honey) from their diet till 31st January. You may wonder, "That sounds daunting, why do that?" Here are three main reasons why people are so inspired to try it!

1. Health

It’s proven that by not taking animal products one cuts down on growth hormones, cholesterol, saturated fat, uric acid, carcinogens. All these upset our bodily systems in various ways. A well-planned plant-based diet can be equally nutritious with lower risks of inflammation, stroke, cancer, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. In fact, the British Dietetic Association had already confirmed that ‘well-planned vegan diets could support healthy living for people of all ages’.

2. Environment

We're all aware of how to live greener; by recycling and turning off the lights etc. But removing animal product from our diet is actually the most efficient way to reduce an individual's carbon footprint. The production of animal products burdens the environment greatly - from land, crops and water needed to raise animals, to the transport, refrigeration and other processes involved from farm to plate.

Find out how you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save water, protect nature, reduce pollution, save energy and protect wildlife just by changing what's on your plate here!

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

3. Animals

The mass production of animals harms them in more ways than we often acknowledge. We are often aware of the extreme exploitation of animals for fashion, entertainment and medicine. But many are still unaware that animals exploited for meat and dairy are just as outrageous, or even more so. To understand what millions of creatures we share the planet with go through to be made into food, continue reading here (non-graphic).

Female cows are forcibly impregnated their whole lives to give milk.

It may be challenging to change your diet even for a month, but we've got you covered. Here are some resources to help you stay on track, be inspired and discover new flavours!

Eating Out

• Generic guide to eating out in Singapore
• Guide to eating vegan in Singapore's hawker centres 
• Eating at common eateries in Singapore
• Database of vegan options in non-vegan eateries
• Global directory of vegetarian/vegan eateries (Singapore directory here)

Grocery Shopping

• Guide to getting vegan groceries in Singapore
• Where to find vegan cheeses, yoghurts, butter etc

Nutrition

• Introduction to vegan nutrition
• Detailed research on plant-based nutrition
• Athletes on a vegan diet

Getting Support

• Free Singapore vegan starter kit
• Calendar of vegan events
• Vegan bloggers who review eateries or share recipes
• Social media groups for Singaporean vegans

Vegan laksa from Loving Hut. Photo credit: morethanveggies.

We hope that this post has been informative and inspiring to you. Start small with good intentions, and you'll go far! Thank you for caring about the Earth, we wish you success this January!