Veganuary 2025: Inspiring journeys, tasty trends, and tips for going vegan

This year's Veganuary is expected to have grown even bigger than ever. Research shows that around 25 million people worldwide participated in Veganuary 2024 and nearly three–quarters of the UK population are aware of the event, regardless of their participation.

This month we chatted to Valerie Williamson and her partner Stephen Gibson about their vegan journey. Both are retired; Valerie is 73 and Stephen is 68, and they have been vegan for more than a decade. They have been together for 5 years, live in the Lancaster area and enjoy spending time with family and friends, particularly day trips and outings.

“Veganuary is a great initiative,” says Stephen. “I'm always sure to tell people about it.”

Valerie adds: “It's a great way to encourage people to try vegan food. My daughters are life–long vegetarians – they have done many vegan challenges, including Veganuary.”

Stephen is the only vegan in his family. He says they have been supportive of his choices, although Valerie's veganism has made a huge difference. “We eat mostly plant based wholefoods and we enjoy making a good chilli,” he says. Stephen adds that hummus is also popular with himself and Valerie. “We often buy it,” he says, “but it's easy to make too.”

Like many vegans, Valerie likes to cook using fresh ingredients. “We buy very little processed products; I prefer recipes packed full of fruit, veg and pulses,” she says. “I don't have an ingredient that I can't live without, but I do love coffee!” She says she was vegetarian for many years and became vegan primarily for the animals. “Health issues have also swayed me towards a plant–based diet,” she says. “With the support of my doctors, I've now been vegan for over 10 years.”

The popularity of Veganuary gives restaurants and caterers a good opportunity to provide plant-based options.

However, when starting your vegan journey, eating out can be a challenge. Stephen says: “We live in a rural market town, so eating out can sometimes be tricky. It would be great to see more vegan options on menus round here.”

Valerie continues: “As we are vegan for the animals, we prefer to dine out in 100% vegan restaurants.”

Valerie and Stephen like to visit Unity Diner in London, a vegan restaurant with a mission to educate the public about vegan food. Stephen says: ”They are a not–for–profit company which prioritises sustainability. I particularly like their plant–based burgers and tofish.”

For those who enjoy classic comfort foods like 'fish' and chips, VfL Chef Ollie’s tofu based recipe is worth a try. Vegan comfort food is becoming increasingly popular, with chefs predicting it to be a major trend for Veganuary 2025.

“Vegan comfort food is here to stay!” says VfL Chef Claire. “More and more people are seeking plant-based versions of their favorite comfort classics, such as burgers, mac and cheese, and indulgent desserts.”

VfL Chef Alex highlights the growing popularity of sticky toffee pudding, while Chef Justina notes that burgers aren't just for summer BBQs anymore: “They’re great all year round. Try pairing them with sweet potato fries for a tasty treat.”

If you're trying Veganuary, VfL's chefs give some tips for eating out:

Research restaurants: Check online or even call them to enquire about their food options to ask if they offer meat–free or allergy–friendly meals.

Research the menu: Once you find a restaurant that has some vegan–friendly options, review their menu and double–check they have vegan options and dishes that you like.

Ask for changes: Don’t be afraid to ask about substituting certain ingredients or altering the dish. Most restaurants are happy to help and will gladly customise their dishes to fit your diet and preferences.

Look for vegetarian or allergy–friendly dishes: Many vegetarian and allergy–friendly dishes are suitable for vegans. More and more restaurants are starting to offer allergy–friendly and dairy–free options.

Try ordering sides: If you can’t find any dishes that can be customised to be vegan–friendly, you can always order a range of sides to eat 'tapas style'.

Get started with vegan resources

If you’re considering Veganuary, VfL offers a range of publications to help you take your first steps:

Vegan Rescue Pack: Full of recipes, hints and tips and menu planners.

Vegan Baking: Discover how to create a range of tasty vegan bakes – from light, airy sponges to traditional puddings and eggless meringue.

Veganism – More than just a diet: A guide to help you identify hidden animal products and explain more about what to consider when shopping.