Living a healthy life full of well-being can be achieved by incorporating vegan cooking into your life. Not only can you see tangible benefits such as weight loss and health gains, many people who start eating a vegan diet also claim an increase in energy and vitality. Adopting a vegan diet may also broaden your awareness, socially and otherwise.

Here’s what Matt Ball, a long-time vegan advocate has written:

“Everyone should go at their own pace and remember that all steps towards veganism are positive. It is most important to focus on avoiding the products for which animals are bred and slaughtered. Animal by-products will exist as long as there is a demand for primary meat and dairy products. When it comes to avoiding items that contain small amounts of byproducts, vegans must decide for themselves where to draw the line. Some vegans will adjust their level of abstinence according to the circumstances. For example, as a consumer, you might make sure the bread you buy is not made with whey; but as a dinner guest, you may accept bread without asking to see the ingredients. These types of compromises can actually hasten the spread of veganism, in that they help counter the attitude that it’s very hard to be vegan.”

No need to overhaul your kitchen all at once if you’re just getting started with your plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle. Try a recipe or two at a time and build up your pantry as you go. Before too long, you’ll find you have a good inventory with pretty much everything you need on-hand and you’ll feel confident about branching out and creating your own dishes.