Veganuary: Healthy Eating & Happier Drains

January is the month of good intentions. We promise ourselves that we’ll eat better, exercise more, spend less, and finally stop pretending that slow draining sink “probably isn’t really a thing”.

Enter Veganuary. More veg. More home cooking. More pots, pans…. and yes, more opportunities for your drains to quietly sigh and say “Please Don’t”. 

Healthy For You. Questionable for your Drains.

Please don’t get us wrong… We’re huge fans of vegetables. But your drains are definitely less enthusiastic about:

• Potato Peelings
• Rice and Pasta
• Coffee Grounds
• Thick Soups and Sauces
• Cooking Oils (even Plant based ones)

I know we’ve mentioned it before, but once these hit cold January pipes, they don’t magically disappear. They hang around and before you know it, you’ve got a blockage that definitely wasn’t part of the New Year plan!

Common Veganuary Myth

It’s natural, so it’s fine down the sink… Sadly, your drains don’t care how wholesome your dinner was. They only care how sticky, starchy or oily becomes once it’s cooled down and clinging to the inside of a pipe.

So without further a-do, here’s a proper warming Veganuary recipe your drains will approve of (*with a bit of common sense at the washing-up stage)

One-Pot Lentil & Sweet Potato Stew

Comforting, filling and ideal for cold evenings when January is doing its best to dampen morale.

You Will Need:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tin coconut milk
• 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 500ml vegetable stock
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh coriander (optional, but makes you feel fancy!)

What to do:

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and soften the onion for 5 minutes.
2. Add garlic and spices and enjoy that smug “this smells amazing” moment.
3. Add everything else, give it a good stir, and bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Cook for 25–30 minutes until thick, hearty and deeply comforting.
5. Serve with bread, rice, or straight from the bowl while standing in the kitchen. No judgement.

*Important Post-Stew Drain Wisdom

This is where good intentions can go wrong.

Please:

• Scrape plates into the bin 
• Let leftovers cool and dispose of them properly
• Wipe oily pans before washing
• Do not rinse half a pot of stew down the sink and hope for the best

Your drains will thank you, by not gurgling loudly at 10pm

Veganuary Habits your Drains will Love

• Use a sink strainer (boring, effective, unglamorous a bit like us!)
• Compost veg peelings where possible
• Pour oils into a container, not the plughole
• Flush sinks with hot (not boiling) water after heavy cooking sessions

Small changes. Fewer Emergency Call-outs. Everybody Wins!

Good For You. Good For Your Home. Good For The Planet.

Best, David & Will