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Get healthy, help the environment, and show your love for animals

Alistair Schroff shares tips on how to observe Veganuary
vegan-meal
Plant-based cooking can be nutritious and delicious.

Lots of us start out the year wanting to focus on our health. We are also concerned about the environment and are looking for things we can do beyond taking our empties to our friends at the Burns Lake Recycling Depot. And, being kind folks, we want to do more acts of kindness.

Well, there is something awesome you can do that checks all these boxes, and this month is dedicated to just that. Veganuary was created as a celebration of kindness to animals, and all the amazing foods that don’t include animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy.

If you want to go all the way, you will make sure that everything that you purchase and prepare for meals this month comes from plants. But remember – every little step can add up!

Legumes like beans, peas, and lentils are loaded with protein, and they are cheap. Add nice whole grains like brown rice, and lots of great colourful veggies and you can make some amazing and healthful dishes. With all the food blogs and videos out there – all you must do is search for spicy vegan chili or tasty quick vegan stir fry to find new recipes for your old favourites.

Whole, unprocessed veggies are loaded with nutrients and avoid the junk. They are naturally lower in calories and higher in fibre, which most people are not getting enough of (this is a big factor in the rapid rise of colon cancer in young people).

You don’t have to be perfect, the more veggies you add, the more the bad stuff gets crowded out. And did you know your taste buds replace themselves every two weeks? That means hang in there if you are trying to do things like reduce your salt intake. You will adjust!

Even one all veggie day per week – like a Meatless Monday – would clear the air as much as taking tens of thousands of cars off the road if every Canadian got on board.

And while we all know local farmers who take the best care possible of their animals, most of the animal products you see in the grocery store come from animals that are raised in terrible factory farm conditions. You are a kind person, and more veggies equals less suffering.

So, make every meal a win-win-win situation, for Veganuary and all the rest of the months of the year, by filling up your plate with plants.

Want to win a free Food as Medicine: Cook and Learn course? Go to the Lakes Animal Friendship Facebook page or email valerie@lakesanimalfriendship.ca  and let us know why you want to add more plants to your diet in 2025! .We will add your name to a draw for this new course from “What’s Plant-Based Cooking, Good Looking”. In addition to plant-based recipes, tips and techniques, this course includes instruction and Q&A with a registered dietician!

Alistair Schroff is with Increased ACCESS (formerly Lakes Animal Friendship Society).