1. Start with What You Know

What are your favorite dishes? Chances are, you could make a plant-based version. Sure, you'll probably have to think of protein alternatives, but it's not an impossible mission. For example, if you love a good spaghetti bolognese, swap out the ground beef with cooked lentils. Or if you can't go without tacos just replace the meat with beans and top them with guacamole and pico de gallo. By reworking recipes that feel familiar, plant-based cooking doesn't feel as intimidating.

2. Learn Some Simple Go-to Substitutions

Some pantry and fridge staples made with animal products have easy plant-based alternatives, if you're excluding those foods from your diet. For example, you could get plant-based milk (made from soy, almond, oat, coconut, hazelnut, and so on) to replace cow's milk in your diet, whether it's to make a latte or use in baking. Butter is another easy swap, just use margarine or plant-based "butter" instead. Eggs are generally trickier, but applesauce and dairy-free yogurt work well in their place when you're baking.

3. Get Inspired by Seasonal Plant-Based Foods

If you don't know what to cook, think about what's in season. Visit a local farmer's market and pick out what looks intriguing. Then, research plant-based food recipes that make that ingredient the star of the dish. For instance, you could prepare a tangy tomato and zucchini galette in the summer when these veggies are abundant. In the winter, you could make a hearty bean stew with carrots and sweet potato. Sometimes, going through lists of seasonal veggies is the push you need to get creative.

4. Experiment with Different Cuisines

Once you feel more at ease with the basics of plant-based cooking, step outside your comfort zone and try recipes from other cuisines. In many parts of the world, plant-based foods are a staple of traditional diets. A lot of Indian dishes are vegetarian and can be tweaked to be completely plant-based. Middle Eastern cuisine is also abundant in plant-based food recipes like hummus (a chickpea paste), falafel (fried chickpea balls), and meatless dolmas (grape leaves stuffed with aromatic rice mixes). Trying new things is key to not getting bored with your food and constantly expanding your horizons.

5. Subscribe to a Meal Kit Service and Have Fun with Plant-Based Foods

Don't feel like coming up with a balanced and delicious meal all on your own? That's okay, it's what meal kits are for. Green Chef has many plant-based food recipes ready to ship to you, with all ingredients and instructions included. Not only is this a good way to sample more of what the plant-based food world has to offer, but it also makes cooking easier and more convenient—especially if you hate grocery shopping.