The latest diet fad that hopes to make you feel fit and healthy in 2019 is to keep the booze and ditch the meat for January. Otherwise known as Veganuary, the craze hopes that people will give up meat to benefit both their individual health and the environment.
Figures released by VoucherCodes.co.uk has revealed the UK is now as likely to give up on meat as it is alcohol, as the trend of veganism continues to boom. Brits are set to avoid eating and using animal products as part of Veganuary in the New Year with one in 20 choosing not to consume meat or dairy products in January – making Veganuary as popular as those attempting Dry January.
Young adults (16 to 24 year olds) are particularly invested in veganism, with a tenth aiming to go vegan compared to seven per cent who are planning to go without alcohol.
A third of Brits said they undertake a New Year’s resolution to improve their health and well-being, while a quarter do it to challenge themselves. For some, however, it is an opportunity to prove they can achieve something they have previously failed to do.
A third of Brits (34 per cent) believe January represents an opportunity for ‘New Year new me’ and two-thirds have decided on a New Year’s resolution.
Perhaps prompted by overindulging in too much food and booze over Christmas, two out of five Brits hope to eat more healthily in the New Year. While the typical Brit claimed they would be able to eat healthy for just three months, the research found alcohol is a much tougher feat – particularly for men. A quarter (26 per cent) said they wouldn’t be able to do it at all while the average man wouldn’t reach the end of February. On the other hand, half of women (48 per cent) think they will still be going strong in July.
While we are pretty confident with plans for New Year’s resolutions, the longer-term future is out of our hands with Brexit expected to impact both the economy and jobs. The research discovered that millennials are most worried about money, as two out of five admitted that their top goal for the New Year is to be financially secure. Half believe it will be harder to save money in 2019 and plan to cut back as a result of Brexit, which caused three out of five to confess they will rely more heavily on sales and discounts.
Anita Naik, lifestyle editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “With Brits more environmentally aware than ever before, we’ve seen a real surge in people going vegan – and it’s interesting to see it overtake Dry January among young adults’ New Year’s resolutions. Meanwhile, it’s great that we will be looking to compensate for overindulging in the Christmas festivities by exercising more and eating healthily come 2019.
“However, the research has revealed a wave of uncertainty hitting the UK as a result of Brexit. Millennials will be particularly affected as financial insecurity will result in doubts over employment, as well as postponing huge decisions such as getting on the property ladder and popping the question.”
