INSPIRATION: IT'S VEGANUARY - TIME TO GO SANS BEAST?
Veganuary is here, a time to inspire + support people who are vegan curious. There are so many benefits to choosing a diet free of animal products - whether you are looking to reduce your environmental impact, improve your health, or want a kinder + more ethical world for non human animals. Go sans beast (literally, 'without animal') for January + see what a difference it makes.
Veganuary encourages people to adopt a vegan lifestyle for January + (potentially) beyond.
"If you look at the climate crisis or the violence of our food system and feel helpless, thinking 'I wish there was something I could do' - you can. Sign up to try vegan this January." Joaquin Phoenix
Why go vegan?
For us, the answer is simple: with billions of animals suffering in factory farms, going vegan ensures we aren't supporting animal cruelty. Just one person going vegan for a month can save the lives of 30 animals. Data from last year's Veganuary campaign indicates more than 2 million animals were spared in just one month.
Going vegan is also hugely beneficial for the planet, with an Oxford University study suggesting a vegan diet is the single most impactful lifestyle choice you can make for the environment.
“A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use...It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car,” Joseph Poore, Oxford University
So why wouldn't you?
Getting started
Plan + prepare. Avoid the panic of 'what am I going to eat' by doing some planning before Jan 1st.
Sign up to Veganuary for daily tips + support from a like minded community, and peruse our Creative Journal for vegan recipes + restaurants as well as articles on the impact of animal agriculture versus cruelty free alternatives.
Stock up on plenty of veggies, fruit, pulses, nuts + grains, and seek out vegan cookbooks + online resources to help give you meal ideas. We love recipe ideas from Rachel Steenland, Max La Manna and The Minimalist Vegan to get you started.
VEGANISE YOUR FAVOURITE MEALS
If you're concerned about missing your regular food choices, there are more + more vegan alternatives coming onto the market.
Fable is a delicious meat alternative made from shiitake mushrooms, and they have a huge range of online recipes including vegan bolognese, burgers + bao buns. All of the taste, none of the cruelty.
The Vegan Dairy in Dromana, Victoria, produce a delicious range of plant based cheese, butter and creme, and Melbourne brand Loving Earth manufacture plant based chocolate that is truly joyful.
There's really nothing you need to miss out on.
CHECK YOUR FASHION + BEAUTY CHOICES
Opt out of leather + fur in your fashion choices by choosing cruelty free. Sans Beast is (obviously) entirely vegan + PETA certified, with leather alternatives including eco PU, recycled PU + organic cactus fabric, that all tread more lightly on the earth than chrome tanned leather.
Good Guys Don't Wear Leather are a Paris-based vegan shoe brand we adore, with cruelty free sneakers, sandals + boots all made in their fair trade factory in Portugal. The delightful Merry People make vegan gumboots that are robust + long lasting.
For some cruelty free face time, Fluff and Sukin are two of our favourite Australian brands - or you can check out our Guide to Cruelty Free Beauty for more vegan beauty options.
RECONSIDER YOUR MEDIA DIET
Take the time to watch Dominion, Seaspiracy, Forks over Knives + Cowspiracy to learn about the reality + impact of the animal agriculture industry, and about plant based diets overall. It's helpful to remind yourself of the reasons you're changing the way you live + eat during Veganuary.
We have enormous respect for the photojournalists of We Animals Media, and if you're truly interested in learning more about the plight of non human animals on our planet, their coverage is extraordinary (fair warning, it can be harrowing viewing).
EMBRACE THE JOURNEY
Don't be put off by thinking you have to achieve perfection. We can all have an impact on our bodies, our planet + the lives of animals by being more mindful of the choices we make.
January is a time to reset, recharge + reaffirm focus for the year ahead. What better time to give Veganuary a try?
XO, Studio Sans Beast
