The media loves to throw around the word “vegan” as a catchall buzzword to describe every celebrity on a juice cleanse – or an athlete embarking on a new fitness plan that includes plant-based meals. As a result of this incoherent tossing around of a term that holds a much deeper meaning, people perceive going vegan as this whimsical, fitness-focused, dietary trend that can be abandoned once a weight loss goal is met, or a midnight craving for a bacon cheeseburger is calling.

December is one of the busiest times of year because of family, holidays, and travel. But December is also the time to prepare for 2015. If there are some health or life goals that wasn’t accomplished in 2014, this is usually the time people reflect on 2014 with the hopes of accomplishing them next year.