April 28, 2025
Whether you’re just starting to explore plant-based eating or you’ve been on this path for a while, CAA has helpful tools, tips, and encouragement for everyone. During Veg Week 2025, we sent out a series of daily emails to support those taking the Veg Pledge — a commitment to try more plant-based meals for one week. These emails were packed with practical advice, community tips, and expert guidance to help make the journey easier and more rewarding. Now you can benefit from this information as well!
We believe the insights from the series can help anyone on their compassionate journey. Whether you’re looking for meal inspiration, nutritional guidance, tips on talking to friends about your food choices, or simply motivation to keep going, there’s something here for you. These articles will be published individually on our blog and highlighted in upcoming newsletters — so be sure to follow along! Here are some highlights from each of them:
Day 1: Starting a Move to a More Compassionate Lifestyle
The series kicked off by celebrating everyone who took the Veg Pledge. We acknowledged that whether you’re trying vegan meals for the first time, eating vegan two meals a day, or already plant-based and encouraging friends to join — every step counts.
“By committing to one week of vegetarian or vegan eating, you are opening yourself up to a changed lifestyle — one that is better for the planet, spares animals from lives of suffering, and can improve your health.”
We also asked readers to reflect on their personal reasons for taking the pledge. As community member Hannah Milos said, “Keeping in mind your core motivation for being vegan… helps you stay on track.”
Day 2: Let’s Talk Nutrition — Yes, You’ll Get Enough Protein!
Many people worry about getting enough protein on a vegan diet. This email tackled that myth head-on. Spoiler alert: It’s not a problem! Every food has protein in it. Per calorie, broccoli has more protein than beef!
One of our community members, Phil Martens shares his tip: “Eat fruit, snack on nuts, eat legumes and a wide range of fresh vegetables and you’ll receive far more nutrition than the average meat eater. For example, tofu has all 9 amino acids.”
We highlighted nutritious vegan staples like tofu, lentils, beans, nuts, and soy products. Included are links to previous blogs by registered dietitians Lauren Plunkett and Suzy Sorensen who both share helpful information, and we included a food chart to make meal planning easier.
Day 3: Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Eating
The third email focused on affordability — another common concern. We explained that many whole-food plant-based staples like rice, beans, pasta, and frozen veggies are very affordable. Processed vegan products are great treats, but your budget can stretch further by focusing on the basics.
Jill Erickson of Rooted Green Wellness shared helpful shopping tips: “Buy dried legumes and frozen vegetables and fruits — they’re often cheaper and just as nutritious.”
Community members shared their own hacks too. Beatrix Olson said: “Do more home cooking! Vegan foods such as rice, pasta, vegetables, and legumes are easy to afford. It’s easy to look for recipes online or in cookbooks to find something that piques your interest, without the financial stress.”
Day 4: Favorite Recipes, Blogs, Cookbooks, and Restaurants
This day was all about helping people find their next favorite plant-based meal. We shared recommendations for popular food blogs like Cookie and Kate, PlantYou, and Nora Cooks, as well as great cookbooks such as Vegan Richa’s Everyday Kitchen, PlantYou, and Afro-Vegan.
Participants also shared go-to recipes like chickpea-cashew broccoli with garlic sauce, spicy peanut noodles, and vegan banana bread. And for those times when you prefer to eat out, our community shared their favorite restaurants.
Day 5: Talking to Others About Your Food Choices
Sometimes the hardest part of changing your diet is talking to friends and family about it. This day’s email offered tips on how to have kind, honest conversations that focus on your values.
Kim Milligan advised: “Keep the channels of communication open without judgment and share what being a vegan means to you personally.”
Sharing your personal story helps others understand your motivation and may even inspire them to learn more. One of the most important lessons: “It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress.”
Day 6: Learn More Through Films and Books
This day’s message was about deepening your understanding of related issues. We shared a list of powerful documentaries, blogs, and books recommended by the community. Some favorites included:
- Cowspiracy and Seaspiracy (films)
- Animal Liberation Now by Peter Singer
- This is Vegan Propaganda by Ed Winters
- The Smell of Money (documentary)
“Reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer really opened my eyes,” shared one of our community members. “It made me feel stronger in my choice.”
Learning more about the impacts of animal agriculture helps solidify your commitment and equips you to share facts with others.
Day 7: Where Do We Go From Here?
The final day of the series shared community reflections and practical advice for staying motivated, from making vegan versions of your favorite comfort foods to finding community through potlucks, events, and social media.
As one of our community members, Ronan Magnus, shared: “I really recommend building community around veganism. That could be as simple as making friends with the workers at a local vegan restaurant or joining a group (like CAA!). Having family and friends that are vegan are the primary reason I’m able to stay vegan so seamlessly.”
More Inspiration Ahead
We’ll be posting the full versions of each Veg Pledge support article on our blog soon, and will feature them in upcoming newsletters as well. Wherever you are in the vegan journey, these articles are full of useful info and inspiration.
Want to keep the momentum going? Follow @ExploreVeg on social media, join an upcoming event, or sign up for our weekly newsletter. You will get lots of support from CAA as you continue down a compassionate path.
