What I Learned Trying Veg-January

The flu halted my efforts, but I know what to do next time

I started January thinking I’d eat vegetarian for the month. It was my riff on Veganuary, the British push for people to give themselves a cleanse at the beginning of the year.

I got three weeks into Veg-January, and was waylaid by Influenza A. My doctor suggested that I eat some chicken soup to help clear my sinuses and get some protein, a problem I had faced when I was avoiding meat.

I hated giving up, but I learned a few things that might be helpful if you decide to shift away from your usual eating and drinking habits. I will certainly will go in better prepared next time.

Line up menu ideas

I feel a little chagrined because I have plenty of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks. Last year, I got a copy of Joe Yonan’s cookbook, Mastering The Art Of Plant-Based Cooking, which in retrospect should have been my textbook for this attempt.

Additionally, my brother gave me a beautiful cookbook, When Southern Women Cook, that I belatedly learned had many vegetarian choices.

I thought I could power through the month eating the kind of vegetarian dishes that I normally consume, like spinach pie, salads, sushi, and salmon. But there’s a difference in eating those things by choice and eating them because meat isn’t an option.

I should have sat down in late December and jotted down some menu ideas for each week. I could have allowed myself the flexibility to get a few takeout meals if I had planned a little better. Next time, I’ll put Post-Its in my books to keep me on track.