Today I have successfully completed my Veganuary plan ! After 4 weeks of veganism and detox (no animal products, gluten or alcohol) I’m feeling better, slimmer and rejuvenated. But would I go vegan full-time? No, I wouldn’t…

I did Veganuary primarily for health reasons – not because this is the latest “fad” or to show that I’m saving the planet. Producing many plants  (such as almonds, beans etc) use far more or at least the same resources as animals not to mention that certain (loved-by-vegans) ingredients, such as quinoa and avocado, have detrimental effects on societies in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, where local people can no longer afford their indigenous foods, so they are eating cheap, imported junk food. Then there is the world-wide soy production industry that destroys rain-forests in Latin America and Asia.

But what really gets me about this latest vegan diet Fad are the pastiche foods – jackfruit pretending to be “pulled pork”; the vegan “sausages” and “meatloaf”; vegan “halloumi” and “Parmesan”; Quorn “chicken slices” and “mince”. I’ve tried them all – they all taste synthetic and bland – some are downright vile. What’s wrong with eating vegetables as they are? Why make them into fake-meat products? There are so many tasty vegan and vegetarian dishes – curries, chillies, soups, stews, pastas, baked, grilled & roasted vegetables, falafels – that are delicious & nutritious celebrating vegetables as the leading ingredients!

Without any doubt we should reduce our meat & dairy consumption – for our own sake, for our own health, the by-product of which will be sustainable meat production.

From now on, I shall only eat meat once or twice a week – and only good quality, sustainable products. I’ll have fish/seafood twice a week and otherwise I’ll continue to enjoy my veggie curries and chillies (see my vegan recipes ). Why don’t you try this diet out too – I’ve called it The Wholeness Diet.

Related articles

• Spring Cleansing
• Harmonious Food combining
• Diets that work
• Healthy recipes
• Seasonal detox