Let's have fun with this friendly vegan guide for your curious mind. I love that you found your way here. Let's take a peek into what vegan life is..
Welcome to Vegan-Curious
If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I should eat more plants”—you’re in the right place.
I’m Kathy Patalsky, the writer, photographer, and longtime vegan behind Healthy Happy Life. I’ve been blending smoothies, photographing salads, and talking about tofu since long before vegan food went mainstream.
This isn’t a rulebook. It’s a friendly space to help you eat in a way that feels good, looks good, and does good—all without overthinking it.
(A modern, real-life 'try vegan' guide from Kathy Patalsky)
1. The Why — What Eating More Plants Is Really About
Vegan, plant-based, flexitarian—whatever word you choose, the heart of it is the same: food that connects you to your body, your values, and the world around you.
When I first went vegan, it was about compassion. Over time it became creativity—the challenge of transforming simple ingredients into something crave-worthy. Then it became wellness: energy that actually lasts, calmer digestion, better sleep.
There’s no single reason people go plant-based. There are a hundred little ones that stack up into something powerful.
2. The Mindset — Progress Over Perfection
If you take one thing from this page, let it be this: you don’t have to be perfect to be plant-based.
Start where you are. Add a smoothie. Swap the milk. Try Meatless Monday. Order the veggie tacos.
Food is personal and emotional. Some days you’ll crush it; other days you’ll grab fries and a coffee and move on. That’s real life—and it still counts.
“Progress tastes a lot better than perfection.”
3. Building Your Plant-Based Kitchen
Going vegan doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Most kitchens are already halfway there.
Pantry staples:
- – Beans, lentils, chickpeas
- – Rice, quinoa, oats, pasta
- – Nuts, seeds, nut butters
- – Canned tomatoes, coconut milk, broth
Fridge & freezer: - – Greens, herbs, tofu, tempeh
- – Frozen fruit for smoothies
- – Veggie burgers, edamame, tortillas
- – Non-dairy milks, yogurts, cheeses
Flavor heroes: - Olive oil
- nutritional yeast
- spices
- fresh herbs
- tamari
- miso
- tahini
- hot sauce
- lemon juice
- nut butters
- vegan butter
Keep your kitchen stocked with ingredients you actually like. That’s the difference between “plant-based” and “ugh, rabbit food.”
4. Everyday Meals That Actually Work
A plant-based day can be as low-maintenance or as fancy as you want. Here’s what it looks like in my real life:
- Breakfast: Banana-peanut-butter smoothie or avocado toast with everything bagel seasoning.
- Lunch: A giant salad with chickpeas, roasted veggies, and creamy dressing.
- Snack: Popcorn, trail mix, or whatever my kid left unfinished on the counter.
- Dinner: Pasta with cashew cream sauce or veggie tacos with guac.
- Dessert: Dairy-free ice cream or chocolate anything.
You don’t need 40 new recipes—just a few go-tos you can rotate forever.
(Find ideas → Easy Vegan Recipes)
5. Eating Out & Traveling Vegan
I’ve eaten vegan in airports, theme parks, tiny diners, and Michelin-star restaurants. The secret? Ask, smile, and improvise.
Most places have at least one vegan-friendly option; if not, build your own. Fries, salad, guac, bread—boom, dinner. And yes, you can travel with snacks; I’ve never regretted packing almonds and a protein bar.
Vegan life is flexible. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
(Find ideas → vegan travel stories)
6. Vegan Myths, Debunked
“It’s expensive.” Beans, rice, and veggies are still the cheapest foods in the store.
“I’ll never get enough protein.” Spoiler: you will. Tofu, lentils, tempeh, quinoa, peas, oats—it’s everywhere.
“I’ll miss cheese.” You might, at first. Then you’ll find one you love, or you’ll move on.
“It’s too restrictive.” Once you realize how many foods are naturally vegan, the world expands.
(Find ideas → vegan topics)
7. Nourishment Beyond Food
Healthy Happy Life has always been about more than recipes. It’s about creativity, motherhood, wellness, family, and showing up for yourself even when life feels chaotic.
Cooking is one of the ways I stay grounded — self-care in healthy foods + the art and practice of cooking.
When you start seeing meals as moments of care rather than chores, everything shifts.
(Read more → Wellness)
8. Cookbooks & Courses
If you want more structured inspiration:
– 365 Vegan Smoothies (Avery / Penguin Random House) — smoothie magic for every mood.
– Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) — everyday recipes that actually work.
Both were born out of the same idea as this page: eat plants, live your life, keep it joyful.
(Find my books → cookbooks)
9. Finding Your Flow
There’s no finish line here. The way you eat will evolve as you do. The goal is connection—to yourself, your people, and the planet.
So start where you are. Cook one thing. Try one new flavor. Let it be fun.
And if you ever feel stuck, this site will always be here: recipes, stories, and a community that’s been cheering for plants since 2007.
(Back to → Recipe Index)
That's just a taste of a plant-powered life! Keep reading my blog for more.
You've got this!
Kathy
