Damp* Vegetanuary**

This is my fourth year of not eating meat and fish or drinking alcohol in January. (Slightly adjusts halo while waiting for applause to die down).

What’s been interesting to observe in this period is the massive expansion of the vegan food selection and 0% alcohol drink selection in supermarkets and restaurants. Totally unscientifically I’d estimate the choice is 4 times greater than when I started. And the quality has definitely improved.

Much of the offering comes from small independent producers, the rest from big brands jumping on the bandwagon, but this is the time to celebrate and not be cynical, so kudos to all of them.

Ethically sourced hats off to everyone who is trying to make a difference, however big or small.

‘* Damp – because 2 close friends had to move a birthday celebration from December to January and if I hadn’t drunk that night, they’d realise how boring I am. (I’m adding two more dry days in February to compensate).

‘** Veggie, not vegan - a fair amount of what I’m eating is vegan but I struggle to give up dairy and really, really hate tofu, so there you have it.