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Whether hosting a vegan for the holidays, trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into your diet, or just v-curious, it can be daunting to know where to start when cooking vegan meals. Simpler than most people think, the most difficult part of being vegan is the questions people ask; “What do you eat? Don’t you miss meat?” No darling, I miss the rainforest.
Ease into eating vegan by making the same foods you’d usually eat but swap out meat for lentils, mushrooms, tofu, or other plant-based substitutes. If you need some more inspiration (or just guidance on how to get started with a plant-based lifestyle), there are many wonderfully diverse vegan cookbooks available—many of which are by top NYC chefs who have mastered the art of vegan cooking. Scroll through below to check out some popular picks just ahead of Veganuary.