Participating in Veganuary brings so many benefits. There are of course well publicised perks of improved health and environmental impact by following a plant based diet.
There are other great reasons to get cooking some Vegan meals this month
New Recipes for 2022
Use Veganuary as an excuse to look up some new vegan recipes. Newspapers, magazines, TV and social media are full of such recipes. Try cooking a few you like the sound of and at least one is bound to become a new addition to your regular meals.
2. New Ingredients
Many of the staple ingredients of vegan meals may be new to you. Quinoa, Nutritional yeast, Tofu and Tempeh are all super tasty when you know how to cook them. For a simple supper, coat tofu cubes in cornflour and spices and fry in oil until crispy.
3. Saving Money
Vegetables are the cheapest part of any meal so it stands to reason if you are incorporating more of them into your diet. Pulses such as lentils and beans are also very reasonably priced. You can use the savings to buy some new spices for your spice rack or a new cookbook!
4. Better Sleep Health
January is the month of those very dark mornings which can make getting out of bed a challenge. Being well rested following a great nights sleep can really help. Nichole Dandrea-Russert on the website Purelyplanted.com says "Plant-based diets are high in complex carbohydrates, including fibre and isoflavones (phytonutrients, a.k.a nutrients found in plants), which may help with quality sleep. Plant-based foods can also be sources of tryptophan and melatonin, which are known to aid in good sleep hygiene. Tryptophan is an amino acid precursor to serotonin and melatonin production, two neurotransmitters that regulate sleep."
5. Eating Out & New Stores
Your new favourite store may just be the one you visit to source your Veganuary necessities. There are some amazing independent food shops and delicatessens out there and this month is just the one to check them out. Also if the thought of cooking your way through Veganuary is a little too much most restaurants have lots of vegan options or you may find a Vegan restaurant becomes a new favourite.
Check out our Veganuary Cookalong at https://www.itsfromscratch.org/event-details/mid-veganuary-cookalong and get inspired!