This is a good topic considering many of us are resolving (yet again), to eat healthier. And whole food, plant-based (WFPB) eating is such a good way to do this.

BUT, have you struggled with any of these issues when it comes to your attempts at eating a vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based diet?

• My friends and family just don’t understand or support my choice.

• My meals take so much TIME to prepare.

• All of this specialty vegan food is EXPENSIVE.

• It feels impossible to eat a plant-based, whole foods diet when eating out and traveling.

• I’m no vegan chef and everything I make tastes BLAND...there’s no variety!

The dieticians and chefs at VegHealth (www.veghealth.com, the online site where I first learned the simple basics to eating WFPB), say they hear these complaints ALL the time, and have some good answers. They’re convinced that for the most part, ALL of these things are pretty easy to overcome (that is, if you know how, obviously). The VegHealth folks do acknowledge that coping with the “well meaning” commentary from friends and family is a little tougher, however. But even this can be overcome given enough time and consistency from you.

In reality, eating 100% plant-based is a lot easier than you might think, if you know how to shop, how to prep for success, and have a collection of simple, delicious recipes to fall back on.

And there’s absolutely no need to spend exorbitant amounts of money on “special” vegan products or even shop at special grocery stores. It’s completely doable to whip up vegan meals using affordable produce and everyday ingredients that you’ll find in most large grocery stores.

Really. Here’s how in a nutshell, from the generous folks VegHealth:

First, start with burritos. You’ll save money and tons of time with WFPB cooking if you begin here. This is one food that does very well without animal protein. The idea is to prep a big batch of mix-and-match burritos.

And who doesn’t love burritos? But don’t you dislike having to chop, cook, and assemble lots of different ingredients every time you want one? So instead, get into the habit of prepping loads of different kinds all at once, then assemble and freeze them for quick lunches or easy dinners on nights when you don’t have time (or the inclination) to cook.

To get you launched, the VegHealth folks suggest these 4 easy mix-and-match burrito combinations:

• Rice or grain, sautéed mushrooms, cilantro and corn

• Rice or grain, white beans, broccoli, and sour cream

• Rice or grain, black beans, mushrooms, sautéed spinach

• Rice or grain, black beans, peppers and onions, cilantro and corn

And I’ll add my own suggestion to the mix: We also like rice or grain with kidney beans, green chilis, sautéed mushrooms, and diced tomatoes. Very filling.

Here’s how it works: on Saturday or Sunday, you roast a bunch of your favorite vegetables, cook a few grains (quinoa, brown rice, etc.), pop them into containers and refrigerate. Then, throughout the week, you just assemble different, fun combinations for a huge variety of flavors without any cooking involved!

And this works with more than just burritos! You can apply it to bowls, salads, wraps, and more. If you’re not familiar with a bowl meal, it’s nothing more than all sorts of plant foods arranged nicely (as the photo shows) into one bowl per person. And the beauty of the bowl approach (as well as burritos, salads, and wraps)? You can add animal protein for those in the family that aren’t interested in going strictly plant-based.

Just prep your favorite veggies and grains that can be mixed and matched, and make as many fun combinations as you like. And be sure to play with different seasonings or dressings to really give each combo its own taste.

So as you can see, whole foods, plant-based eating is simple. Really.