Veganuary - it's not too late to join!

Veganuary is a campaign to encourage people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month of January (we won't tell anyone if you start on the 2nd, it's better late than never!).
Over 1 million participants have taken part in the UK since 2014, and with 98% ready to recommend the challenge to a friend, we reckon there's no harm in giving it a go! Especially considering it's a great way to slash your carbon footprint and introduce some more fruit and veg into your diet. It's also easier than ever - more than 1200 new vegan products and menus were launched for Veganuary 2020.
There's no need to throw away all your meat & dairy leftovers either, all that food waste defeats the point! Next time you do a food shop, why not try swapping out even some of your usual groceries for vegan alternatives this month.

Find out more about Veganuary and sign up here

Still unsure? The Strathclyde Vegan Society has debunked some common misconceptions around veganism:

• Vegan food is expensive - Meat is a lot more expensive than vegetables, pulses and grains. Have a look at these cheap vegan recipes
• I couldn't live without X food - Veganism is not about what you lose, it is about what new recipes and knowledge you gain after choosing compassion over cruelty. Plus some of your favourite snacks might already be vegan - like Oreos!
• But meat tastes so good - An animal's will to live is stronger than our taste. Sensory pleasure cannot make a violent action more moral. Also vegan cooking can be really tasty!
• Eating meat is part of my culture - Culture also does not make an action moral, throughout history there have been instances where minorities have suffered because it was once culturally acceptable to ostracise certain groups. Just because something is ingrained into us it should not be viewed as moral.
• Animals eat other animals out of necessity - It has been proven that humans can survive solely on a plant based diet. Humans also can't be compared to other animals in this argument as we possess the knowledge of right and wrong, unlike other animals.
• Vegans are so extreme - What is really more extreme, the people that are trying to stop animal abuse, or the people paying for all the pigs, chickens, cows to be slaughtered?
• Pets are different than animals killed for meat - Saying that one species of animal deserves to be killed and another species deserves protection is arbitrary discrimination called 'Speciesism'
• Plants have feelings too - Plants are not sentient since they do not have a brain, central nervous system, pain receptors, etc. they can react to stimuli just like computers or viruses but you wouldn't say they have feelings.

Further mythbusting can be found here
Must watch documentaries and videos
Join the Strathclyde Vegan Society