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Veganuary: could you go meatless for a
month?
There are numerous reasons not to eat meat, which is why a new campaign is urging us to love veg
this January
Rex Features
According to the Daily Mail, Jamie Oliver – not a man to shy away from a heartfelt cause – is giving up meat and dairy
this month to support Veganuary. Promoted in association with the animal rights charity Viva!, the aim is not just
about persuading the reluctant public to go meatless but to educate us about the benefits of veganism: for our health,
bank balance and the planet.
Judging by the facts in a report released by Defra, the average person eats almost 127 animals per year, or around 10
animals a month. That's a lot of meat. Vegans, on the other hand, eat a plant-based diet and avoid meat, dairy, eggs
and honey. And here lies the crux of the problem – how to convince carnivores to forgo that bacon sarnie and cheesy
omelette for the unappetitising preconceptions of a vegan diet, largely tofu and kale.
Getty
Ruminate on this: being vegan guarantees that you'll hit your five-a-day fruit and veg target (keeping your doctor and
loved ones happy), and positive side-effects include weight loss and more energy. A US study of 500,000 people
found that those who ate red or processed meat died prematurely more often than those who did not partake of
it, while animal fats and proteins are thought to raise the risk of us developing illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and
heart disease.
Not eating meat also saves food. Animals eat up to 16lbs of grain to create 1lb of edible flesh and 50% of fish caught
go not into our mouths but to feed the farm animals we eat. Raising cattle also uses vast amounts of water, much
more than what is required to grow vegetables. And if you lie awake at night worrying about the fragility of Earth, take
heed: the gas produced by livestock is the second biggest contributer to global warming – more than all of the world's
transport systems combined.
After the indulgences of Christmas, January is as good a time as any to go green. If you're game but don't know
where to start have no fear, you won't starve – the Veganuary website has advice on books and online shops you can
utilise and what to order when eating out, as well as many recipes, including vegan croissants for breakfast
and dinners such as quick pad Thai and easy spaghetti bolognese. Even if you don't last the month, even if you go
vegan just one or two days a week, we reckon it will make a difference. Nice one, as Jamie would say.
Related links
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On Bing: vegan recipes
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Tomatoes link to cancer prevention
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best
Kazvegan 03/01/2014 15:08
Love being vegan - feel better, food is great. Nothing has suffered or died for my plate. A super
initiative that is also raising money for charity. Well done and have a super Veganuary to everyone
who is stepping up and taking part!
56 16 Replies (8)
ZoiaZelina 04/01/2014 01:13
Strange how many people are saying we have the teeth of an omnivore. We don't. Dracula, however
does and that's one reason we find him scary! We are in the family of great apes who are largely plant
eating animals. We are not in any group of animals that are classed as carnivores or omnivres. Our
teeth are the wrong shape to hold struggling prey; we cannot rip through hides; our nails are unable to
tear aniamsl apart; our guts are too long to digest meats healthily - that's a reason why meat eaters
get much more cancer of the colon. Meat and dairy eaters also suffer much more heart disease,
stroke, diabetes type II, gallstones, kidney stones, certain cancers... there's a message there from
nature, join Veganuary and enjoy being vegan. One thing's for sure, I've got much more energy since
ditching meat and dairy.
45 14 Replies (3)
Catherine K 05/01/2014 00:11
Omitting animal fat from your diet is bound to be better for you. I'm not a huge fan of Jamie Oliver, but
like what he is proposing to do here. He will show how to be healthy and vegan. Nobody is forcing
anyone else to join in. I look forward to hearing what is on the menu.
34 7 Replies (0)
owen bain 03/01/2014 12:00
Shame all the statistics come from the US where their meat is predominately grain fed, and horrific for
your diet. In UK, we are predominately grass fed. There is a massive difference eating meat from
animals brought up on their natural diet, to one that is forced upon them. You are what they eat.
That said too many people regard meat as something must have everyday, plenty of nice veg to eat a
few cheaper meals a week, to make up for more expensive quality meats
http://www.gourmetfo​cus.co.uk/2013/08/om​etimes-there-are-boo​ks-you-read-that.htm​l
34 11 Replies (1)
silviar 05/01/2014 06:48
As a vegan now, I wonder if meat eaters should be advised to go vegan right away: like everything
else, those who try to make changes that are too sweeping in their diet can end up finding it all too
difficult and chucking it in. I gave up red meat, then white meat, then fish - prawns were the last to go.
Then eggs, finally cheese. It worked for me to do it over a number of years, and it's been a lasting
change. We all grow up with bad eating habits, and unfortunately many of these are closely linked to
our feelings of warmth, family, home, memories, etc. Much improved health and a clear conscience as
to treatment of other intelligent species and our planet is worth it in the end, but I've found it takes
time. Don't be discouraged if you can't do everything right away - small steps in the right direction are
the thing.
25 7 Replies (2)
Christine Marchant-Hubbard 07/01/2014 21:56
I`m not really interested in any of the food programmes or cooks or chefs! I certainly do not eat meat
every day, maybe once or twice a week which I think is plenty. I have pasta and vegetable meals but I
do like cheese but don`t go over the top with it. I really don`t mind what people eat as it`s their choice
but I do believe that food and cooking should be taught from an early age, there are a lot of people out
there who cannot cook and just buy what they think looks good in the supermarkets. Maybe shopping
properly should be taught from a young age as well!!??
15 0 Replies (0)
Bubbles762 03/01/2014 16:12
People who think there are no ethical or health problems with eating meat are ignorant. Educate
yourself people.
41 28 Replies (2)
hennie661 05/01/2014 19:51
Brilliant idea as being vegan is about wonderful choices not restrictions and I hardly ever eat tofu
except the delicious toffu rosso by Taifun and I've never eaten kale, very strange concept to have of
being vegan!!
Icecream, cake and chocolate are delicious too - it's not about giving up things, it's about trying new
food, some you'll like, some you'll not like and some you'll love [;0)
18 5 Replies (2)
Flat Foot 04/01/2014 11:43
Some of my friends are vegan, they seem healthy enough but they are so slim (thin) that I worry for
them should they succumb to any minor ailment. I don't think their bodies could sustain too long a
recovery period. Also they are very pale, and are fairly weak compared to my meat eating friends.
Personally, I like meat too much to consider giving it up, plus part of my lively hood is meat produce.
Each to their own I suppose!
As an aside, some vegan meals should be tried by meat eaters, they are very good!
31 21 Replies (4)
Molly 12 07/01/2014 17:58
well after reading in more depth I will not become a vegan, just a vegetarian, I like my cheese, eggs
yoghurt and milk
13 5 Replies (3)
louise-11 05/01/2014 12:07
More
As a qualified nutritionist I would not recommend that people completely cut meat and animal
products out of their diet as it would cause a serious deficiency in many nutrients that can be difficult
to obtain from a purely vegan diet. For example oily fish is a great way to get your recommended
intake of omega 3 and good bioavailable sources of vitamin B12 come from animal products.
I would however recommend people eat less meat and less processed meat such as
takeaway burgers, sausages etc and switch to cooking methods such as grilling, as a lot of research
has linked high intakes of meat to bowel cancer (and therefore eat more vegetables!). A few meat free
days a week is a good way to keep things varied but you can't argue that eggs and milk are 'bad' for
you. They are excellent food sources for all sections of the population.
30 25 Replies (7)
MIRAI_Intelligentsia 03/01/2014 19:27
More
I can give you many reasons for moving to a Vegetarian diet:
1) many of our historical elite were vegetarians: Einstein, Tesla, Da Vinci, Twain, Plato, Edison,
Gandhi etc. its a diet for the more ethical and educated.
2) the number 1 worldwide killers are not Wars and Nature but Cancer and Heart disease brought on
by eating cooked meat, dairy and junk foods. The number one killer in Scandinavia is dairy. The USA
is the sickest/fattest nation in the world. The UK is the sickest/fattest nation in Europe. Both heavy
meta eating, dairy and junk food consumers. Whereas vegetarian based countries like Japan
(they were vegetarian for 300 years) and Singapore (mix of Indian and Chinese cuisine) are the most
27 22 Replies (5)
Nandinii 08/01/2014 11:45
More
I am sick and tired of vegans claiming their diet is healthy. It is not healthy because it is vegan, it is
healthy because they pay attention to what they eat. It is very possible to have a vegan junk food diet.
Lots of people around me did it when they were young and idealist straight edge punks.
But the vegan diet is not the most healthy one. The only thing it can claim is being the most ethical
one. Stop feeding people false information and bull-****. Vegans around the world are dealing with
nutrition defecits. Some have intestinal problems. I have had so many intestinal issues while on a
vegan diet, following advise on nutrition then from the vegan information centres, who were claiming it
was the healthiest diet on the planet. The problems were so severe I had to be turned inside out at the
hospital.
9 4 Replies (1)
Justice 4all 07/01/2014 13:10
Been a Vegetarian for 14 years, tried being Vegan for a couple of months but found the time, effort
and lack of ability to eat out just to difficult
7 2 Replies (2)
silviar 07/01/2014 05:13
Flat foot: thanks for your questions. Like everyone else, I get the common cold in winter now and
again, but my general health is very good, my blood pressure is on the low side, and I don't take
vitamin supplements. My GP recently retired and the new one insisted I have a whole battery of tests
because 'you're bound to be short of iron'. They all came back with good/average scores and low
cholesterol. But cutting certain foods out of your diet won't undo the risks of smoking or heavy alcohol
consumption - they're a separate issue.
Chris ****: I'm sorry if my comments annoyed you, they weren't really meant for convinced meat-
eaters, but for those who think they might like to give meatless a try. I've found though, that really
convinced meat-eaters don't bother getting angry and offensive about vegan/vegetarianism (they
wouldn't even bother reading this) so all the best with your thought-processes.
6 1 Replies (0)
Noodle919 08/01/2014 11:29
More
Some of the responses to this article make me ashamed to be a human being. The point which the
'meat eaters' are missing is that although we are widely considered to be 'omnivores' it doesn't then
follow that we 'have' to eat meat... as research has proven, you can get everything you need from
fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans, soya etc... So if you can live a healthy lifestyle without having to
slaughter innocent animals, than why not?... I will tell you why... ignorance.
and as 'Cypher' from the 'Matrix' puts is... 'ignorance is bliss'
I myself am a vegetarian of over 4 years, and i hope to one day become vegan. During these 4 years I
have been ridiculed, verbally abused and ganged up on by these bigoted, uneducated mc'donalds
8 6 Replies (3)
Terry Eaton (VoyagerXIX) 10/01/2014 21:55
More
There is never a shortage of folk who say something to the effect of, "Why can't YOU be like ME?"
They are all playing Control Games.
The Religious
Vegetarians
Politicians
Animal-rights fanatics
Fascists
Racialists
Sexual deviationists
6 4 Replies (1)
olinceska nocturna 09/01/2014 12:47
I guess the whole idea of carnivore, herbivore or omnivore really evolves around our ability to
consciously aknowledge this, and also realize that we have the power to choose. Compared to other
species, we will survive when moving from omnivore to herbivore. Our moral standards should prompt
us to override our genetical design. The decision is ours!!
2 0 Replies (0)
ninknpoop 09/01/2014 11:27
Jamie could do with losing weight. anyway, Jaime is on TV on friday nights with his night feast
program. 17th Jan he's cooking a whole salmon and a DIY hog roast. Good lad. Good timing with the
TV schedules there for your vegan month. The man has always been a ****, sorry I meant cook? BTW
it's not all tofu and kale. Well, not in our house
4 3 Replies (0)
Alan Bishop 08/01/2014 12:10
We have thousands of foods in this world that dont consist of suffering to cows in dairy farms, e.g.
baby calf's taken away from the mothers, hens at slaughter houses because they slow down their egg
cycle, why do we hate other creatures this much, those creatures show all love and kindness to other
animals, yet we torture them, kill them, cage them, rape them, skin them, make them amuse us, just
so humans can "cook" their flesh or parts for a few moments of taste, the taste comes from the things
we add to their fle**** not raw, THE DAIRY AND MEAT INDUSTRY ARE FOR MONEY AND SELL A
LIE, let stop been so bloody selfish and greedy, every one suffers
4 4 Replies (0)
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