If you became vegan for Veganuary or as a new years resolution you’re probably in one of two places right now. Either you’re embracing your new vegan lifestyle and loving the kale or you’re struggling not to go back to your own habits. For some of you this will change on a daily or even hourly basis! I want you to be proud of what you’ve achieved so far and go easy on yourself for any slip ups or cravings you’ve had.
It’s important to stop and reflect on the past couple of months. Why did you decide to go vegan? For many people it’s the animal welfare aspect of an omnivorous diet that makes them ditch the dairy, while others do it for health reasons. Whatever your reasons, has anything changed? The animal welfare side sadly remains the same, but I’m sure you’re feeling the health benefits of your improved diet already.
Let’s have a look at what you can achieve with just one month of veganism. With four weeks of vegan eating you have saved around 15 animals from slaughter. Vegans save around 200 animals a year which is a huge number. You’ve also saved the use of an unnecessary amount of water. One pound of beef uses at least 2,500 gallons of water as opposed to tofu which only uses around 244 gallons. You’ve saved vital food resources as it takes up to 13 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of meat. Basically you’ve been living a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and humane life for the past month!
If you’re having trouble keeping to your vegan diet remember that veganism is not a change that has to happen overnight. If every American cut meat out of their diet for Meatless Monday, an estimated 1.4 billion animals would be saved from factory farming. Therefore the number of animals you save by eating vegan for most of the week is staggering.
Being vegan is not just a diet, it’s a lifestyle. By transitioning to vegan you have saved lives, helped the environment and become a more compassionate and caring individual. Be proud of your journey so far, you are amazing.