Eat healthy and support a good cause with Veganuary SG 2021

Go meat-free, eat organic foods and say hello to wholesome food in Singapore

Text: Joel T

The global movement of Veganuary started in 2014 promoting the consumption of only plant-based foods for the month of January. This year, Singapore is having her own rendition of this movement with Veganuary SG 2021. 

Launched in partnership with the Centre for a Responsible Future (CRF) and Green Monday, Veganuary SG 2021 brings together over 450 restaurants, retailers, hawkers, plant-based company supporters, as well as pledged individuals, in moving to a plant-based diet with the goal of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of people. If you’re thinking of trying veganism, now is the time to go on this healthy diet with wholesome, plant-based and organic food while supporting a good cause.

We sat down with the team at Green Monday, a Hong Kong-based social venture that focuses on environmentally sustainable initiatives, to learn more about Veganuary and what we can look forward to for this year.

How is the reception for Veganuary 2021 and how does it compare to 2020?

Green Monday (GM): Globally, Veganuary 2021 reached its target of 500,000 pledges within the first week of launch, and the number of pledges is set to grow. To draw a comparison, we had a total of 400,000 pledges for our Veganuary campaign in 2020. The reception is very positive and signals an increasing trend of vegan and vegetarian diets, a huge milestone for veganism in Singapore.

How much of a positive impact can we have on the world from the pledges?

GM: Based on the current number of pledges, we can look forward to substantial positive impacts on the world including: 

• 103,840 tonnes of CO2-eq (emissions from various greenhouse gases), equivalent to driving around the world almost 15,000 times

• 405 tonnes of PO43-eq (minerals and nutrients that cause the deterioration of water quality) saved, the same as 1,645 tonnes of sewage

• 6.2 million litres of water saved, the same as flushing the toilet almost half a million times

• According to the Vegan Society’s Veganalyser calculations, more than 3.4 million animals saved

What was the impetus for Green Monday to collaborate with Centre for Responsible Future (CRF)?

GM: There is definitely synergy between Green Monday, which advocates a plant-based diet once a week, and Veganuary SG 2021 which is encouraging folks to eat vegan food in January. By coming together with CRF, whose mission statements align very closely with us, we are able to ensure that the January campaign continues throughout the year and people are not going vegan on impulse. 

Can you share more on the role of Green Monday?

GM: Green Monday is a grassroots movement and we drive many of our activities from the ground up. One of our initiatives includes embracing Singapore’s unique hawker culture and making vegan food locally relevant and convenient for locals. We believe that with accessibility, we’ll be able to get better adoption and eventually make a collective impact on the environment, animals and our lives.

What are some common misconceptions about veganism?

GM: One of the most common is that vegan food is expensive. While it’s true that some plant-based meats have yet to reach price parity with conventional meat, many staple vegan foods — fruit, vegetables, beans, grains such as pasta, rice and bread and plant-based proteins such as tofu — are non-expensive and available at most supermarkets.

What about the rules when it comes to dairy?

Dairy is derived from cows and consequently this is a no-go for vegans, even if it's organic or direct from a farm. The reasons for not drinking milk are similar to the reasons people choose to become vegetarian: animal rights and welfare, environmental reasons, and health concerns. This principle applies to non-dairy products too, including honey and eggs.

What can we look forward to for Veganuary SG 2021?

GM: Supporters of the movement go beyond restaurants and cafes to include hawkers making vegan food accessible and challenging the assumption that vegan food is exclusive. There are also activities taking place this month such as vegan city tours, online business talks and food demos. We have a newsletter that the public can subscribe to to stay updated on Veganuary SG 2021 happenings.

Read on for more details on Veganuary SG 2021’s restaurant partners.

1.    Daily Green

Daily Green is a joy for vegans and vegan-curious eaters looking for vegetarian, plant-based dishes, and gluten-free options. Their first participation with Veganuary SG 2021, Daily Green is encouraging more diners to adopt a healthier lifestyle. They launched three new dishes — OmniMeat Chowder Soup, OmniMeat Cottage Pie and OmniMeat Pork Cutlet Curry Rice that will be available from 1 - 31 January, 2021.  

Address: Blk 431 Clementi Avenue 3 #01-296; Blk 721 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #01-2823; Blk 717 Yishun Street 71 #01-335. Full list of store locations and details on Daily Green

2.    COLLIN’S

COLLIN’S is an award-winning F&B brand with a mission to provide premium Western cuisine at great value to everyone. Throughout January, COLLIN’s is offering their Omni Luncheon Chef Salad prepared vegan-style by replacing the sesame dressing with a calamansi dressing.

Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #01-204/205; 8 Grange Road #B1-08/09. Full list of store locations and details on Daily Green

3.    Genius Central

Genius Central serves wholesome food that is as close to nature as possible and their cooking and preparation methods are based on the health of the 78 organs. Throughout this year’s Veganuary they’ll be organising a month-long Vegan challenge for customers, so do drop them a visit.

Address: Far East Square Amoy Street #01-01 7-13. Full list of details on Genius Central

4.    Gu Ma Jia

Gu Ma Jia is known for their award-winning Assam Fish Head and many other signatures, but they’re now replicating these signature fare with vegan ingredients. Since December, eight vegan dishes have been available from Vegan Assam Fish or Claypot Sesame Oil Chicken with Heura Chicken (plant-based chicken). New recipes come out this month so do keep a look out for them.

Address: Sennett Estate 45 Tai Thong Cres. Full list of details on Daily Green

5.    Privé

The Prive Group aims to encourage people to make better food choices by offering an all-inclusive vegan-friendly food. Their menu now includes Asian and Western plant-based dishes and gluten-free delights. For Veganuary SG 2021, Privé is highlighting their new vegan option, the Banana Blossom ‘Fish’ & Chips, that will only be available throughout January.

Address: Privé Tiong Bahru, 57 Eng Hoon Street, #01-88; Privé Keppel Bay, 2 Keppel Bay Vista. Full details and list of store locations on Privé

6.    Green Common

Launch recently on 19 January 2021, Green Common is Green Monday’s first concept store in Singapore. The wholesome cafe offers a variety of plant-based dishes and meat-free cooking staples, alongside a range of ready-made vegan meals from OmniMeat. It also doubles up as a grocery store for vegetarian, vegan, organic and natural foods, offering over 50 plant-based products for conscious shoppers.

Address: VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-169/170, S098585. Full details on Green Common

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