We love that Veganuary is for people of all ages and that our community is located all over the world.
Here, we meet 10 inspiring people who each took part in their 60s to find out why they joined in, how they found the vegan month and what happened next!
Vicki, California
“I took part in Veganuary in both 2023 and 2024,” Vicki told us. “For the first Veganuary I switched to 100% vegan food in January and kept going 99% vegan all year long. For the 2nd vegan January event I went whole food plant-based.”
Vicki had been living with elevated cholesterol levels and was on the border of prediabetes. She knew it was time to make some changes. “My entire body has changed thanks to switching my diet,” she reports.
“I lost 19 pounds that first year and since going to a whole food plant-based diet, I have lost another 11.6 pounds. I feel great.” As a result of this dietary change, Vicki no longer needs the statins she had been prescribed and is no longer a diabetes risk. “What I am doing is not a diet,” she says, “but a way of life.”
Vicki has found this dietary shift liberating. “As a former junk food junkie, I have to say I don’t miss that type of food at all. Learning how to cook differently has been a bit of a challenge, but a fun one. I’ve gone from BBQ’d meat, and a kid who never ate any vegetables, to whole food plant-based. There are so many wonderful chefs out there sharing delicious recipes that finding information is easy.”
Vicki’s advice? “For those just starting the journey, find a few recipes you love and go for it. A staple in my house is a veggie burrito. The choice of veggies you can add is endless. Give it a try, what have you got to lose?”
LuLu, West Sussex
Taking part in Veganuary changed LuLu’s life. She not only feels healthier generally and her joints no longer ache, but it also launched her career as a vegan chef!
In Veganuary 2024, LuLu nervously hosted a vegan event in her rural area. “We thought we would have to cancel through lack of interest at first and then the bookings started coming in and they just didn’t stop. We had 150+ covers over three lunches and so much interest for future events. I was only four months out of CNM Vegan Chef College and was blown away by the response.”
LuLu has met many like-minded people since embarking on her vegan journey and says “it feels good to be able to introduce people to a healthier way of living and at the same time show them that plant-based can look beautiful and taste delicious. Tasting is believing!” It certainly is LuLu!
Susan, Hampshire
“We just don’t know what we don’t know,” Susan explained, “and as a systems thinker, I see the way animals are treated is the same way that humans are treated.” Her philosophical thinking brought Susan to Veganuary 2024.
Susan has always loved vegetables and experimenting with food and Veganuary gave her a chance to do just that. “I’ve discovered paniyaram, Burmese tofu, Udon noodles, coconut chutney and one of my favourites, plain Dosa.”
Through veganism, she has rediscovered covina povera (peasant cooking) which takes whole, often humble, ingredients and transforms them into something wonderful. “I made some vegan elderberry cheese using grape molasses, discovered apple and sour cherry molasses, and invented tomato morning oats!” Susan’s cooking is putting us to shame!
She found that when she ate more vegetables and a range of grains, she felt less hungry, and she is reaping the benefits from this creative way of cooking and eating. “I feel lighter, and have better digestion,” she says. “And there is so much more to be made from our traditional food.”
Anne, Derbyshire
Anne took part in Veganuary 2022. “I decided to give it a try as I’ve been vegetarian for years but feel that killing and using animals is wrong and want to give my grandchildren the chance of a better planet,” she explains.
“The hardest part for me was finding a replacement for skimmed milk in my tea, but once I discovered oat milk worked there was no reason to go back to eating dairy. I don’t miss eggs or cheese. In fact, the thought of eating eggs makes me feel queasy.”
Through Veganuary, Anne discovered lots of new foods, some of which she liked (nooch is very much in), some she didn’t (soya milk is out). She also noticed she was starting to feel better. “My digestion has been better, and I manage my fibromyalgia better,” she says. “Plus, my teeth are healthier. I get a better score with my hygienist.”
Anne’s husband is vegetarian but is happy to make lots of tasty vegan dishes for them both to enjoy. “I did discover a fellow vegan at work,” says Anne, “which was a nice surprise.”
Morag, Devon
Morag took part in Veganuary after recognising the suffering in the dairy industry.
“The idea that milk and cheese is germinated by this healthy outdoor munching of dewy grass by happy cows is ridiculous. If only people would stop and think that milk can only be expressed by a pregnant cow and the sadness of removing a newborn from its mother, there might be a change.”
Morag has been vegetarian for 12 years and has taken part in each Veganuary since 2021. Today, she says she is a “closet vegan”.
While eating vegan at home, Morag is a keen sailor which means she sometimes has to compromise, particularly when sailing offshore. “I don’t preach but I do make delicious vegan food, and I have been able to persuade Skippers that at least vegetarian if not vegan is the sensible option on board.”
Morag’s husband eats vegetarian but has also removed eggs from his diet. “He didn’t like what they do to the little boy chicks,” Morag explained.
Now, they enjoy super salads, roasted cauliflower, cabbage soups, stuffed peppers, and a myriad of toppings for baked potatoes. “My old favourite is baked romano peppers stuffed with puy lentils, baby toms, vegan pesto and sprinkled with vegan parmesan. Simple, quick, and surprisingly very tasty. The sum of the parts is greater than the few ingredients.”
And while some people find significant changes when they switch to vegan foods, the great thing for Morag was that nothing changed! “I feel pretty much the same. There is no detriment to my strength or alertness from following a vegan diet, which is often an assumption of meat eaters. I lead a busy and active life and have continued to do so without dairy.
We asked Morag what she would say to people who think they cannot change a lifetime of food habits, and she told us: “You know it’s not true. If that was the case, I’d still be eating Farley’s rusks with hot milk for supper!”
Susan, Devon
“I had been vegetarian most of my life,” says Susan, “and decided that I would go vegan in my 60th year.” With such forethought, Susan says she spent her 59th year reading and researching, finding and trying different products, investigating dairy alternatives and sourcing new recipes. “On January 1st 2023, I became vegan and haven’t looked back,” she says.
Susan describes this as “a very conscious decision” and took part in Veganuary to gain more knowledge on this journey. She has found that she really loves to cook, especially pies, recipes with banana blossom and vegetable and nut loaves. “I am very grateful for Veganuary,” she says. “Thank you.”
Nageswaran Srinivasan, Kerala
Nageswaran participated in Veganuary 2024 and since then has maintained the switch from dairy products to soya milk. His bloodwork has shown that this has led to an increase in calcium, which is great news, and there were other positive outcomes, too.
“There have been good improvements in my health,” he says. “My cholesterol level, SGPT levels and glucose levels are all in control now.” That’s great news!
Alison, Sussex
Alison did Veganuary 2022 and hasn’t looked back. “I just felt generally better in myself, both mentally and physically,” she tells us.
“It has helped me lose weight, and I have also managed to learn a lot of lovely recipes that I can use when my cousin and her wife come for meals. They have been vegans for years and my cousin’s wife is a brilliant cook and baker, so I have a lot to live up to!”
Liz, Derbyshire
Liz is a keen runner in her late 60s and says that eating vegan is great for runners like her. Not only did her digestion improve but she noticed improvements in her skin and hair. “My hair still has colour,” she says, “and I don’t get spots!”
Barbara, Croydon
Barbara took part in Veganuary 2024. She has noticed some small but positive health changes, mostly relating to her digestive system.
But it’s not just about the food and health, important as they are. Barbara has met a community of like-minded animal lovers and environmentalists online. Plus, she has found a small group of vegan friends in her area who she values very much. Veganuary has the potential to change lives in so many ways!
Are you feeling inspired by these stories? Check out the experiences from Veganuary participants in their 50s.
