Veganuary is designed as a simple, low-pressure way to try a vegan diet at the start of the year.
Rather than asking for a permanent lifestyle change, it offers a clear timeframe to test new foods, rethink familiar meals, and see how plant-based eating fits into your day-to-day routine.
It’s a welcome reset for the body after the overindulgence of the festive season.
Even so, the idea can still feel overwhelming at first, especially if meat and dairy are regular staples for you.
And, with so many choices and opinions around veganism, it’s easy to overthink the process.
For most people, Veganuary works best when it builds on existing habits instead of replacing them overnight.
So, if you want to give veganism a shot without going full-time, follow our tips to help you get started.
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a commitment to veganism during January (hence, Veganuary). If you are vegan, you do not consume animal products - that includes meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey.
You also avoid using anything that contains animal products or abuses animals. For example, make-up that tests on animals or clothing made from leather.
The Benefits of Veganuary
For some people, Veganuary is useful as a reset that encourages more plant-based meals and a better understanding of how vegan food fits into everyday life.
Here are some of the benefits:
● A short-term commitment: Changing your entire diet can feel daunting. Veganuary offers a defined one-month window to try vegan food and habits without the pressure of a long-term commitment.
● A chance to restart vegan habits: Sticking to any lifestyle change can be challenging, and many people move in and out of vegan eating over time. Veganuary provides a clear opportunity to reset and start again with fresh motivation.
● Higher fibre intake: A vegan diet centres on plant foods such as fruit, vegetables, beans, lentils, peas, and pulses. As a result, many people naturally increase their fibre intake during Veganuary.
● Trying new foods and products: Veganuary encourages experimentation with ingredients and alternatives you may not normally buy. For some people, this includes discovering plant-based versions of familiar foods that they enjoy just as much, or even prefer.
● Reduced environmental impact: Animal agriculture requires significant land, water, and resources, and is a major contributor to deforestation and habitat loss. Shifting toward a vegan diet can help reduce demand for these resource-intensive systems.
● Avoiding animal-derived products: Veganism excludes animal ingredients and products tested on animals. This applies not only to food, but often to toiletries, cosmetics, and household items, depending on individual choices.
How to Get Started With Veganuary
Maybe you’re on board with trying a month of veganism, but you don’t know where to start. If that sounds like you, keep reading for our Veganuary advice.
Look Up Veganuary Recipes
It’s January 1st, and you’re ready to go. But when you open your cupboards, you realise you don’t have a clue how to cook vegan food. The first place to start is looking up vegan recipes.
You can create a Pinterest board or invest in a vegan cookbook. If you have a friend who follows a vegan diet, drop them a message and ask if they have any recommendations.
We advise starting with simple recipes, such as dahl or vegan pasta and sauce with veg.
You should also begin with foods you know you like. It’s normal to get excited, but trying too many things at once could overwhelm you.
So, during the initial week, choose vegetables and fruits you enjoy. And good news - most carbohydrates like rice and bread are vegan. Just be sure to check for the vegan stamp of approval.
Read more: 5 Vegan Collagen-Rich Foods to Hack Your Hormones.
Make a Veganuary Mealplan
A new diet brings the challenge of figuring out what to eat each day. You may feel motivated at first, but when tiredness or a busy lifestyle hits, you reach for your old comfort foods.
After a tough day at work, you don’t want to cook a two-hour vegan meal you’ve never made before. And a takeout sounds pretty good.
A trick to avoid this trap is meal planning. At the start of each week, write out what you’ll eat for every meal from Monday to Sunday.
Make batches of food, so you’re not constantly cooking, and don’t plan a new recipe on the day you also have parents' evening, the gym, or a deadline at work.
Oh - and don’t forget snacks! Being vegan isn’t about cutting out treats. There are plenty of vegan sweets, ice cream, chocolate, and desserts you can enjoy.
Dine Out at Vegan Restaurants
Many restaurants offer vegan options, especially in cities. You can have anything from a portobello mushroom burger or butternut squash risotto to tasty lemon pasta.
If you can, check the menu before you dine out. Each meal should have a sign showing it’s vegan, but you can ask the person serving you if you’re unsure.
Experiment With Vegan Products
A fun part about doing something new is that you get to experiment.
You might try oat milk in your coffee and realise you prefer the taste. Or find that fried cauliflower with beans, rice, and Tabasco sauce is an instant hit in your house.
You could discover a vegan alternative to your shampoo and a world of beauty products you never noticed before.
Maybe you like the vegan alternative, maybe you don’t, but the important thing is that you tried.
And remember, at the end of the month, you can always keep the things that worked and drop the ones that didn’t.
Switch to Vegan Supplements
Certain supplements include animal-derived ingredients such as gelatine or fish oil. Vegan alternatives exist for most common supplements and are suitable for plant-based diets.
At Arella, we’re here to support your wellbeing through Veganuary and beyond with our range of plant-based supplements:
Arella Collagen
Arella’s liquid collagen is totally vegan and free from animal-derived ingredients. It uses VeCollal®, a plant-based formulation that is designed to identically match the amino acid profile of Type I collagen, something bovine and marine collagen sources do not provide.
This makes it suitable for people following a plant-based diet who want collagen support that works better with their own body and doesn’t come from animal sources.
Arella Pause
Arella Pause is a vegan supplement created to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and the post-menopause stage of life.
It is formulated with plant-based ingredients selected to support hormonal balance, skin health, and overall wellbeing during this time.
The formulation focuses on gentle, consistent support without relying on animal-derived ingredients, making it suitable for plant-based lifestyles during hormonal transition.
Arella Skin Gummies
Arella Skin Gummies are a vegan, mixed berry-flavoured supplement formulated to support skin health from within.
They contain antioxidants, prebiotics, and key nutrients including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc, which work together to support skin clarity, hydration, and elasticity.
The formulation is designed to support the gut–skin axis and help maintain balanced, clearer-looking skin over time, without the use of animal-derived ingredients.
Embrace Veganuary With Arella
Veganuary is a simple way to step back and reassess the choices you make around food, supplements, and everyday products.
You might decide to continue eating vegan, make a few long-term swaps, or treat January as a one-off reset. Any of those outcomes is valid.
If you are taking part, choosing vegan supplements keeps your routine aligned without adding extra complication.
Arella’s plant-based supplements are designed to fit naturally into Veganuary and into life beyond it.
