Dry January? Veganuary? How’s it going?

I haven’t done either dry January or veganuary, but I think these campaigns are great to get people talking and thinking about their diet. I eat fish (no meat) which I could do without although it’s handy for a quick meal, but I would really miss cheese. I find the cheese substitutes rather sad and dispiriting!

My dry January will extend till Friday as I’m babysitting tomorrow night plus I want to stick to a “weekends only” alcohol policy. I will carryon with avoiding dairy products which is easier at home, will be a bit more flexible if I’m at someones house or out.

I admit to be looking forward now to a pot of redbush tomorrow morning and maybe a decaf capuccino later on. Another small café happily supplied free warm water today, so just the one that saw fit to charge and several that cheerfully serve it free.
The tai chi class had a collection and it's good to hear of yet more people who already support water charities.
In February I'm walking 100,000 steps for the local hospice. No, it's not a lot and I should exceed my aim but as some days I don't get out it will encourage me to be more active.
Congratulations to everyone else who has achieved a Dry or Vegan January! ?

We’re nearly at the end of the month. Have you been a proper vegan all through and will you continue when January ends?
I’ve been totally vegetarian but ate non vegan when taken out for meals (birthday) and when given comfort chocolate (bereavement)
I shan’t carry on as too many pulses have given me gut-ache for weeks.

Must be true, suzied. Meat eaters tell us so!

So those that give up dairy because of allergy are ok, but those that avoid dairy for other reasons are risking their health?
Plenty of calcium in plant milk, brazil nuts, tofu, green veg etc.

Why do people always have to tell vegans that their diet is rubbish, when really all you need to say is your last sentence?

www.vivahealth.org.uk/bones/calcium-fact-sheet

We get enough calcium, thankyou.

As I said, I'm doing dry January (going o.k.) but I'm not a vegetarian (don't eat a lot of meat though) and certainly not vegan. I believe it can be quite dangerous to health to give up all dairy (unless you are allergic of course). We (especially women) need calcium and many other nutriants in milk etc. If you give dairy up you have to be extra careful about your diet to make sure you get what you need. Anyway I love cheese!

Half way through the month and still drinking only tap water for WaterAid. I drink it warmed as well as straight from the tap as it's so cold lately.
A friend asked for a glass of tap water for me in a café, I was pleased they warmed it but surprised when she later mentioned that it cost £1.50!! I've now bought her a cappuccino in a much nicer café where they provide my warm water without charge!! They also keep full carafes and glasses available for customers to serve themselves to cold water.

vegappg.org.uk/

There's a vegetarian /vegan group in parliament, just in case anyone wants to go to any of their meetings.
vegetarianforlife is about elderly vegans and vegetarians, and what happens when you need to go into a home.
There's a paper on it about labelling of medicines.

Just heard Peter White on You and Yours on R4 introducing the subject of Veganuary by saying that 'the Vegan Community were taking over Dry January and trying to persuade people to adopt a meat-free and dairy-free diet.'

Nice bit of impartial reporting there!

Started Dry January but didn’t last I’m afraid. We are only having a drink at weekends though. Not going vegan, but we are trying to eat healthily and have been eating a lot of vegetarian,meals.

Obviously anything marked vegan will be vegan but I was surprised at this list of things I assumed were vegan but may not necessarily be so. I know about beer/wine & Lea & Perrins but some orange juice and sugars? I had no idea!
www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/10-surprising-food-drink-products-arent-suitable-vegans/

On the other hand, apparently Frys Chocolate Creme is vegan!

Thank you. I'm glad I'm having veggie sausages for my dinner tonight, anyway.
I just feel veggie doesn't really do enough, and I'm such a creature of habit. (Plus I'm lazy!)

Tesco has just introduced a vegan range, and Sainsbury’s do quite a few vegan lines in their “free from” section ( though not all vegan) lots of of supermarkets do the Alpro yoghurt, dairy free marg, plant milks etc, so not too difficult. Veganuary have a website with loads of recipes.

Thanks again. I just clicked onto the books section, and saw lots of pink snouts poking through bars on the covers.. it just seems such a massive undertaking.

www.viva.org.uk for recipes and lots of information.

Thank you. I've been considering at least trying vegan food for a while. I'll have a browse.

Fresh food at Waitrose.
Other sorts from
www.ethicalsuperstore.com
They have 20% off cleaning and household goods at the moment. 50% winter sale, too.

I don't work for them, by the way; nor does anyone I know.

Do you shop at a particular place, Jen?

It is possible to be vegan for January, then decide you want to continue. However many months, weeks, days you do it for, it helps the animals.

So far this year I haven't been out shopping. It's easier doing online shopping for vegan products.

So everyone’s got their own point of view. Some of us can see the point of others views, some of us don’t. My point is that I’m doing dry January and veganuary as I ate and drank too much over Christmas and new year and wanted to cut down. Some others in the family are doing it and we can support each other, share recipes etc. I hope to continue with cutting down on alcohol and dairy products in the months to come. So hopefully it will last for more than a month. Sorry if people don’t see the point of that, I’m not asking anyone else to do it, but I know a few people are and I wondered how they were doing.

Watermeadow, I have a recipe book by Arto der Haroutunian called Vegetarian Dishes from the Middle East, half of which are vegan.
It's over 30 years old!

Except that it’s their point of view

I don't see the point of anyone saying they don't see the point.