It was a no brainer for me to participate in Veganuary 2025—that is, eating vegan for the month of January—something I didn’t think was possible even a year ago. Whenever I used to think about trying a vegan diet, I used to immediately think about Parmesan cheese or ice cream and scream inside, No, I can’t and won’t do without them!
So, why am I so willing to try a vegan diet as part of Veganuary now? What changed? Well, I recently decided to test it out for a month for several reasons, which I’ll outline below, and realized there are several benefits to eating vegan. So much so that I’m sticking with it through January.
As a vegetarian for many years, I’ve always been conscious about factory farming and the impact on animals’ lives. But after I watched two Netflix documentaries, What the Health and The Game Changers, it strengthened my desire to remove all animal products from my diet. The documentaries both outlined the health benefits that a vegan diet can have, with the latter revealing that many of the world’s best athletes stick to a purely plant-based diet.
I wondered if I would feel any changes, too, and was curious enough to give it a try.
What is a vegan diet?
A vegan diet means completely avoiding animal products. This includes not only meat and fish, but all products that come from animals such as dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt) and honey.
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Switching to a vegan diet
While I was initially afraid of switching to a vegan diet, it ended up being quite easy in reality. As a vegetarian, I already avoid meat and fish anyway. I try to eat a healthy diet for the most part, and I typically use plant-based milk over cow’s milk.
What I found particularly difficult, however, was saying goodbye to my beloved cheese. I grew up in the country near a lot of dairy farms, and we used to have something with cheese at almost every meal. I couldn’t imagine eating a pasta dish without Parmesan.
But after a while, I got the hang of this too. There are now lots of vegan cheese options that taste surprisingly similar, and the ones made from ground pine nuts are full of protein and important fatty acids. Whenever I got a craving for sliced cheese, I was easily able to find several substitute products at the grocery store.
I also found I enjoyed testing my way through numerous recipes and trying several new things throughout my month being Vegan, something I hope continues in Veganuary. Beans in particular were previously a minor part of my diet and are now on my plate almost every day. It’s unbelievable how many great dishes you can conjure up from them!
Being vegan is a little more difficult when eating out, though. I live in a small town, and there aren’t as many vegan dishes on restaurant menus as there are in major cities. But if you look, you can still find vegan-friendly options in rural areas or ask for customization or swaps to make it work for you. Besides, everything is so expensive at the moment anyway that I found myself opting to dine in most nights of my vegan month. That way I had full control over the ingredients and save money in the process.
Benefits of a began diet
It didn’t take long to get used to my new vegan lifestyle. Whenever I got a craving for burgers and the like, I would treat myself to vegan substitutes. (I just made sure they didn’t contain too many flavor enhancers or other additives.)
The biggest advantage of Veganuary? I have become much more interested and knowledgable on the topic of nutrition. Now, I look more critically at the ingredients list in products and put them back on the shelf if necessary. I also cook a lot more myself and am better about including good-for-you foods like fruit, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, grains, etc.
I haven’t noticed a huge health difference, though I did lose some belly fat. The biggest difference, however, was my skin: After a month of eating vegan, I definitely had clearer skin than before. This was probably due to the avoidance of dairy products, which—like sugar—can cause blemishes.
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Also noticeable: I definitely felt like I had more energy than before, even after hiking trips, long bike rides, and the like. After a workout, I found myself ready to be active again more quickly than before.
Tips for eating vegan
Thinking about a vegan diet? Here are a few tips I learned that I’ll be taking into Veganuary.
Plan your 12 a day
The be-all and end-all of a vegan diet is balance. Sure, spaghetti with ready-made vegan Bolognese is quick and easy. However, that won’t cover everything you body needs in a day. It’s particularly important for vegans to not just rely on vegetables and fruit. Beans and other legumes provide protein, while you can get good carbohydrates from whole grains. In his book How Not to Die, Dr. Michael Greger summarized 12 foods that should be included in a vegan diet every day. You can download that list here.
Take part in things like Veganuary
You might find it easier to stick to your vegan diet if you have other like-minded people to talk to. If you try a 31-day challenge like Veganuary with a friend or two, you can check in with each other and share favorite recipes. Some companies also take part in Veganuary, offering more plant-based options on their menus and grocery store shelves, which makes things a little easier too.
Plan substitutes from time to time
Cheese, burgers, and even feta: There’s actually a vegan version of (almost) everything your heart desires and the taste often comes close to the original. Before you start a vegan diet, think about which non-vegan dishes you’ll miss the most and research options for substitutes.
Keep an eye on what supplements you might need
Vegans can get all the nutrients they need as long as they eat a balanced diet. With one exception: Vitamin B12 is a recommended supplement because it’s only naturally found in animal products. If you are prone to iron deficiency, you should also talk to your doctor to have your blood checked and pay attention to including more iron-rich foods, such as sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats, and dried fruit, in your diet.
Read moreThe 12 Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Vitamin B12
And how to change that.
My conclusion
After Veganuary ends, I think I’ll continue to try eating a predominantly vegan diet. However, I wouldn’t call myself “vegan.” At home, it’s easy to incorporate vegan dishes on a permanent basis. However, I don’t want to exclude or restrict myself when I go out to eat socially so I’ll make exceptions then.
And I will definitely be adding honey back into my diet. I mostly avoid sugar, so I only use honey for sweetening. For me, it remains the most natural and nutrient-rich way to add a little sweetness to a dish. Manuka honey, in particular, has several benefits so I already know I won’t be removing that from my grocery list in the future. That said, I’ll definitely be back on for Veganuary 2026!
A version of this article was previously published in Glamour Germany.
The post Veganuary 2025: I Ate a Completely Vegan Diet for a Month, and Here’s What It Did to My Body appeared first on Glamour.
