I’ll admit it was hard. Temptations are everywhere and I am a sucker for a good cheesy pizza. But, with many doubts, cravings and near slips I survived my first week of Veganuary! And this is how you can do it too.
Oh lord it’s happened…..we’re giving #veganuary a go this year ! @breadstkitchen https://t.co/Cj0NQml0E5 pic.twitter.com/dRbcTeP8BU
— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) January 7, 2019
I wasn’t sure what I could and couldn’t eat, so firstly I did some research. I always thought that being vegan would put a limit on what you could eat but what I found was far from it. There are a million and one options when you are vegan, and I was shocked at the amount of food that I eat on the daily that is already vegan. For example one thing I love is milk. I drink it on its own, have it with cereal, tea, it’s an important staple of my diet. But being vegan I can have soy, almond, coconut and rice milk, the list goes on. Foods that I love like Oreos, Pringles and peanut butter were all already vegan. This helped bridge the gap and let me have my sweet treats every now and then. After doing a big food shop which was surprisingly cheaper than expected (around £15 for the week) I was off and ready to set sail.
On the second day, all I had to tell myself was you’ve done a day! You can do six more! But that’s easier said than done. I started off well. I’d had my soy porridge in the morning which had given me loads of energy. I packed a lunch consisting of a Linda McCartney sausage roll, salad, and fruit. And I was excited for a vegan bean chili that I had prepared for tea. However, once I sat down to eat lunch and saw the cheese butties being pulled out… I thought that was it. It’s hard to resist temptation. Trust me. But, with a little motivation anyone can do it.
Mid-way through the week I felt good. I was eating a steady diet and felt healthier than I did eating my regular frozen food. I found myself cooking more meals (that didn’t include using a microwave) and was eating more fresh fruit and veg. The benefits are undeniable.
One downside to the whole endeavour was the social side of things. It may sound weird, but cooking so much took up a whole chunk of my night. Meals out at first were nearly impossible. Fast food chains like McDonald’s and Burger King don’t cater for vegans so it was hard to go out with friends for food. However, if you’re willing to spend a little extra and go to restaurants like Nandos, Frankie and Bennys and Zizzi you’ll find that all of them have a great range of vegan options.
By the end of the week I got into a pattern. I knew what was suitable for me and learnt about the best places to eat and shop. Temptations were still around and I did miss the taste of a strong cheddar cheese bap, but overall I didn’t just survive the week I thrived! I’m excited to go vegan for the rest of the month and explore new foods. I feel healthier, stronger and might just be the next Jamie Oliver!
This manageable goal is one that everyone should try and I believe that going vegan is a big life change that might just be for me.
For a top 10 list of the best vegan restaurants in Cheltenham click here!
https://jmag.glos.ac.uk/top-10-places-to-fill-your-stomachs-this-veganuary/
