Personal finance expert shares tips on how to get involved with Veganuary this year, whatever your budget.

 

Running out of ideas or motivation this Veganuary? Look no further.

Veganuary encourages a plant-based diet for the first 31 days of the new year.

The idea for Veganuary was initially born in York back in 2014, and has since grown in enormous popularity, with more than 700,000 people signing up to take part across the world in 2023. In fact, Vatican City and North Korea were the only countries in the world that had no sign-ups last year!

US singer Billie Eilish was perhaps the most notable 2023 Veganuary sign-up, taking to social media and encouraging her 107 million followers to join her.

A vegan diet excludes consumption of all animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs. This differs from vegetarianism, which allows dairy products.

At first glance, some may find the idea of this lifestyle somewhat daunting, but it’s important to remember that there are many plant-based alternatives on the market to satisfy cravings, including bacon, chocolate, and cheese.

There are numerous benefits to switching to vegan, both in terms of the environment and your own personal health.

Following a vegan diet could help to improve kidney function, reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease, lower your blood sugar levels, and may even help to protect you against certain cancers.

In addition to this, research has suggested that, compared to a diet where 100g of meat was eaten a day, vegan diets resulted in up to 75% less water pollution, land use, and climate-heating emissions. It has also been revealed that vegan diets prevent the destruction of wildlife by 66%.

If a completely vegan diet isn’t for you, you can still reap the rewards by ‘going vegan’ one day a week.

Did you know that skipping one beef burger a week over the course of a year has the equivalent resource saving of taking your car off the road for 320 miles? Furthermore, avoiding milk and cheese for one day a week over 12 months has the same effect as removing your car from the road for up to five weeks!

“People sometimes assume that vegetarian and vegan diets are expensive and will add pounds onto the cost of our weekly shop, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve gathered some delicious, cost-effective vegan meal ideas, proving that a plant-based diet doesn’t need to break the bank.”

· Recipe one: Vegetable Bolognese

“We discovered this recipe on the official Veganuary website, which contains an enticing array of vegan dishes to suit every palate and foodie preference, from Greek and Chinese to child-friendly and BBQ. It also covers a wide range of allergies, too. You can find the recipe here.”

Serves 4 / £1.79 per serving.

· Recipe two: Kidney Bean Curry

“This hearty winter warmer is super-easy to rustle up, and comes in at just under £2 per serving. For this recipe, we are assuming that you already have vegetable oil, paprika, cumin, and garam masala powder in your store cupboard. If you don’t have these spices to hand, you can use curry powder as an alternative.”

Serves 2 / £1.91 per serving.

· Recipe four: Vegan mozzarella-style pizza with no-cook pizza sauce

“Who doesn’t love a pizza? For the sauce recipe, we collaborated with Emese Maczkó and Nándor Barta, founders of vegan cookery website My Pure Plants. We matched the sauce with this vegan pizza base recipe, and topped with a sprinkle of vegan cheese for the ultimate treat night win. Of course, you can jazz this up with any additional vegan toppings that take your fancy.”

Emese says: “Sieved tomato puree (also known as passata) is another budget-friendly pantry essential. For instance, it serves as the backbone of a no-cook pizza sauce, offering a quick and flavourful base for homemade pizzas. The only thing you need to do here is mix the tomato puree with the spices and herbs and it is ready to go on top of any pizza. But it is more than that - it is essential to create rich, tomato-based pasta sauces, stews, chilis, and soups.”

Makes one pizza, total cost £8.23.

· Recipe three: Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

“We were delighted to collaborate further with Emese to highlight another delicious vegan recipe – this time, a little something for those with a sweet tooth!” Dan says.

"Bananas deserve a special mention for their versatility and constant low price, making them a staple in vegan kitchens,” Emese says. “They can be used as a base for smoothies, ice cream, cookies, and many more things as vegans use bananas as an egg substitute in baking. These 3-ingredient banana peanut butter oatmeal cookies offer a simple, healthy, and delicious alternative to traditional cookies, using only bananas, peanut butter, and oats. They are versatile and customizable, allowing for various mix-ins like nuts or seeds, making them perfect for a quick snack or on-the-go breakfast.”

Serves 6 / 36p per serving.

“When switching to a vegan diet – even temporarily – it’s important to make sure that your nutritional needs are being met,” says Dan. “Try boosting your intake of vitamins and healthy fats with approved vegan snacks.”

1. Hummus with cucumber and carrot sticks.

2. Roasted chickpeas.

3. Nuts.

4. Granola.

5. Trail mix.

6. Guacamole and salsa with Pringles Original crisps (yes, they’re really vegan!).

7. Smoothies made with plant-based milk.

8. Fruit.

9. Rice cakes topped with avocado and vegan cheese.

10. Popcorn, cooked with plant-based oils rather than butter.

Dan adds, “Remember to always check the back of food packages to ensure that products are 100% vegan friendly - it’s helpful to look for the Vegan Society logo.”

-ENDS-

Viva Money is not a lender but is a fully regulated and authorised credit broker. Viva Money is a registered Trading Name of Digitonomy Limited, Registered in England and Wales (Company number 08385135), Registered Office; Steam Mill Business Centre, Steam Mill Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5AN. Digitonomy Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register under reference number: 690249. Licenced by the Information Commissioners Office, (registration number ZA007309).      

  

Website: https://vivamoney.co.uk/

  
Dan Whittaker - Personal Finance Expert at Viva Money   

  

Dan has worked in the consumer finance sector for over a decade in a number of roles, including developing and maintaining commercial partnerships, marketing, and digital development.   

   

Dan has strong market and product knowledge across a range of consumer finance products including, but not limited to, credit cards, savings, loans, and mortgages.

  
Emese Maczko, Co-Founder of My Pure Plants

Emese is a food photographer and co-founder of My Pure Plants. She is a self-taught baker but honed her skills through baking courses. In 2018, Emese delved into vegan desserts. Her recipes reflect her love for baking. After living across several countries, she infuses global inspiration into her vibrant vegan creations. She co-authored two cookbooks with Nandor: Express Vegan Cooking and Vegan Winter on a Budget. She is also a syndicated freelance food writer and featured contributor to several online publications.

Nandor is an experienced food writer, recipe developer, and content creator of the blog My Pure Plants. He co-authored two cookbooks, Express Vegan Cooking and Vegan Winter on a Budget. He believes in the importance of cooking from scratch and avoiding processed and artificial foods, making each meal an opportunity to nourish both the body and the soul.

*Prices correct as of 20th December 2023.