The Best Ways to Celebrate World Vegan Month
November isn't just a month that we spend debating whether it's too early to put up Christmas decorations or not.
It's also World Vegan Month, and we're here to help you celebrate in a few easy yet effective ways this year. Whether you're fully plant-based or simply ready to dip your toes in the cruelty-free waters of a vegan lifestyle, you can still do some good for you, the planet and animals everywhere with the following.
Leveling Up Your Meatless Mondays
If you haven't started incorporating "Meatless Mondays" into your routine yet, there's no better time to start than now. Even if you do cut out meat at least this one day of the week, use World Vegan Month to make those meat-free meals even more animal-friendly. To count as vegan, cut out dairy (there are plenty of vegan alternatives these days if you really can't quit cheese), eggs, honey and any other ingredients derived from animals. It's easier than you think, so try exploring some recipes online to get inspired.
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Also read about: The Best Vegan-Friendly Snack Ideas
Trying Some New Vegan Snacks
You don't need to give up your favorite snacks to celebrate World Vegan Month—you just need to try some new versions. You can find everything from vegan replacements for things like your favorite beef jerky and chocolate to fruit snacks and matcha lattes, so you certainly won't be settling the next time you reach for a plant-based solution the next time you're feeling hangry.
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Swapping Your Beauty Products for Vegan Versions
A lot of beauty products are made with ingredients that, whether you know it or not, require animals to produce. These ingredients don't do anything in terms of benefitting your hair or skin either, so why not make the swap to a cruelty-free version? Look out for labels that specifically say "vegan" to be sure, and shop for vegan brands like Better Natured for hair and CMYK for makeup to know that you're getting good stuff that's better for the planet, too.
Cutting (Out) the Turkey at Thanksgiving
Listen, we aren't telling you need to swap your turkey for a tofurkey this Thanksgiving (unless you really want to cause a family-wide divide at the table this year), but cutting the turkey out of your own "Turkey Day" plate can at least help show you that you really aren't missing much by skipping the meatiest part of your meals. Besides, we all know the mashed potatoes are the star of the show anyway.
(via Unsplash)
Also read about: Your Guide to Surviving Thanksgiving as a Vegetarian
Supporting Animals However You Can
Even if you can't cut meat from your meals or swap out all your go-to products for vegan versions, you can at least try to support animals and animal rights in some way. Even buying your Christmas presents a bit early (Black Friday, anyone?) from brands like Crown & Paw, Earth Rated and so many others can be a little thing that does a lot for a good cause.
Going totally plant-based isn't always easy, but it can be a whole some easier when you click HERE to check out our list of foods to know about if you're interested in eating less meat.