Each year Veganuary becomes increasingly popular. The challenge for consumers is to eat only plant-based foods for the month of January. The health and environmental benefits of pursuing this diet are clear, but for some the switch to an entirely vegan diet can be a challenge. So here are our top five tips for a truly successful Veganuary experience!

1. Be Creative With Your Protein Choices

During Veganuary it’s easy to get into the mindset of ‘missing out’. But the truth is that Veganuary is a time to try new food options and get creative. And there are so many interesting and delicious protein choices available. Tofu, seeds, tempeh, lentils, Quorn, nuts, seeds. Keep experimenting and find out what works perfectly for you.

2. Remember Your Iron

One of the most sensible reasons to participate in Veganuary is the health benefits it brings. So remember to include iron in your meal and snack choices. Iron creates a protein called haemoglobin. Its purpose is to carry oxygen around the body, and it’s important for energy levels. Nuts, seeds, beans, legumes and green leafy vegetables all contain high levels of iron. So add them to your shopping list!

3. Free Marketing for Businesses 

Veganuary also has the potential to be an important marketing tool for food and beverage businesses. The concept can serve as a powerful and entirely free marketing tool. It can boost brands and restaurants to promote their plant-based products and increase their revenue. The promotion of plant-based products, in addition to providing transparency from farm to fork, can build true confidence and trust with consumers. According to The Food Marketing Institute, over 86% of consumers demand transparency from the food and drink products they consume. 

4. Plan Ahead

If you can plan meals and snacks ahead of time the Veganuary experience will be less of a chore. Stock your fridge with plant-based milks and new protein choices that you enjoy. Also don’t be afraid of vegan treats, since they can reduce your need for diary. Remember to utilise your freezer; cooking up meals in advance can be useful and motivating. Vegan Bolognese or chickpea curry are fantastic plant-based options for the freezer.

5. Stay Motivated and Excited 

It’s important to stay enthused and excited during Veganuary. And a great way to do this is to recount some of the statistics on Veganuary website. In total, 85% of 2021’s participants “will permanently change their diet either by staying vegan or at least halving their intake of animal products”. Secondly, “the number one reason people decided to stay vegan (in 2021) is that it was easier than expected (23%)”. Finally,  according to a recent report on food and climate in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, if everyone on the planet went vegan, the world's food-related emissions would drop by 70% by 2050. So keep going!

If your Vegan food and beverage company is looking to scale and grow via ERP solutions, traceability and demand planing software, get in touch with the industry’s leading innovator, Cashmere, today.